How to Register a Business in Europe in 7 Easy Steps [2023]

• Capital investment of €35,000
• At least one shareholder
• At least one managing director (does not need to be an Austrian citizen)

• Minimum share capital of €70,000
• One shareholder

• Unlimited liability for all partners
• At least two partners

• Unlimited liability for at least one partner
• At least two partners

• at least two shareholders

Additional options:
• Dormant Partnership (stG)
• Registered Civil Law Partnership (EEG)
• Societas Europaea (SE)
• Sole Proprietorship Foreign company branch or representative office

• Minimum share capital of €61,500
• Articles of association published in Belgian Official Gazette
• Documents filled out in French or Dutch
• Two-year preliminary financial plan
• At least two shareholders and three directors
• Annual statutory audit

• Financial plan
• Bank account in the EU, Norway, Iceland, or Lichtenstein
• At least one shareholder
• Minimum of one director

• Minimum share capital of €1
• Articles of association signed by all shareholders
• Possess a Bulstat (tax) registration number
• Monthly VAT returns must be filed if turnover is more than €25,000 or in case of voluntary VAT registration

• Minimum share capital of approx. €25,000
• At least three board members
• Shares can be transferred by endorsement to a new shareholder/s
• Annual audit

• Bulgarian or EU resident

• No minimum share capital
• One to 50 shareholders
• At least one director and one secretary
• Registered office in Cyprus
• Submit an application to Cyprus Registrar of Companies

• No minimum share capital
• One to 50 shareholders
• At least one director and one secretary
• Registered office in Cyprus
• Submit an application to Cyprus Registrar of Companies

• Two to 20 partners
• At least one partner with unlimited liability
• Register with Registrar of Companies

• At least one director and one shareholder
• Minimum share capital of 1 Kč
• Simple Ownership structure
• Memorandum of association

• At least one director and one shareholde
• Minimum share capital of 1 Kč
• Simple Ownership structure
• Memorandum of association

• Minimum share capital 2-million Kč (€70,000) and 20-million Kč (€700,000) if via public offering
• Two-tier system of management and supervisory boards
• Reserve fund from profits to be built up to 20% of registered capital

• Branch is part of a foreign parent company
• Possesses a trade license
• Accounting records in Czech language

• Minimum share capital of 500,000 Kr. (€67,000)
• At least one director upon incorporation, with no residency requirement
• At least three members of the board of directors
• CVR (company registration number) provided by the Danish Business Authority

• Minimum share capital of 50,000 Kr. (€7,000)
• At least one director and one shareholder
• CVR (company registration number) provided by the Danish Business Authority

• Partnership agreement

• Articles of association or deed of incorporation

• Minimum share capital of €2,500
• At least one shareholder who is an individual
• At least one director who is an individual
• Official representative if not all members of the board are Estonia or EU residents
• Audited accounts

• Minimum share capital of €2,500
• At least one shareholder who is an individual
• At least one director who is an individual
• Official representative if not all members of the board are EU residents

• At least two partners
• No capital requirements or financial reporting obligations
• Branch of a foreign company

• At least one general partner and one limited partner
• No capital requirements or financial reporting obligations

• No capital requirements or financial reporting obligations

• MMinimum share capital of €80,000
• At least three board directors plus a managing director
• Memorandum of incorporation and articles of association
• Annual audit
• Financial statements must be filed within 8 months after the financial period has ended
• Corporate income tax rate of 20%
• Turnover of at least €40,000,000
• Balance sheet of at least €20,000,000
• Employs at least 250 people

• Minimum share capital of €2,500
• At least one board director and one deputy
• Memorandum of incorporation and articles of association
• Financial statements must be filed 8 months after the financial period has ended
• Income tax return should be filed with the Tax Administration within 4 months after the financial period has ended
• Corporate income tax rate of 20%

• General or limited partnership
• Private trader
• Branch of a foreign company

• The minimum share capital is 5 €37,000
• At least seven shareholders
• Shareholders are liable up to the limit of their capital contribution
• Accounts must be audited in line with statutory requirements
• Top managers are treated as employees for tax and social security purposess

• Minimum share capital is €1, but banks prefer at least €4,000
• At least one shareholder
• Shareholders are liable up to the limit of their capital contribution
• Accounts must be audited in line with statutory requirements
• Top managers have more onerous tax and security rules than SA managers

• Minimum share capital is €1, but banks prefer at least €4,000
• At least one shareholder and director
• Shareholders are liable up to the limit of their capital contribution

• Minimum share capital of €25,000 (50% minimum to be paid up front)
• At least one shareholder

• Minimum share capital of €1
• At least one shareholder

• Standard form for major public companies
• Minimum share capital of €50,000
• At least one shareholder
• Subject to heavy regulation as a listed company

• 2 partners, one of whom can be a GmbH company

• Profits are subject to individual income tax rates

• Minimum share capital of €4,500 that must be paid up at formation, with at least 50% in cash
• At least two shareholders
• Statutory financial reporting requirement

• Minimum share capital of €60,000
• Board of directors and auditors

• Minimum of two partners
• No minimum share capital required, but usually €1,000

• Foreign parent company must meet Greek share capital requirements
• Foreign parent is responsible for legal and tax affairs of branch
• Branch is required to register with Greek authorities
• Minimum of one director
• Formal accounting requirements must be met
• Must appoint a local representative who is jointly and severally liable for payment of taxation unless the client opts for a company limited by shares, where they will only need a proxy for the Greek tax authorities
• Bank guarantee may also be required

• At least one shareholder and one director
• VAT registration (included with company registration)
• Corporate shareholders are permitted
• Registered address or virtual office required
• Minimum share capital of 5,000,000 fr (approx.€16,000) to be declared
• Appointed accountant
• Hungarian bank account
• Articles of incorporation or foundation

• List of shareholders (at least two
• Registered address or virtual office
• Minimum share capital of 20-million fr (approx. €64,000)
• Appointed accountan
• Hungarian bank account
• Articles of foundation or incorporation

• The choice of a company name must be approved by the Registrar of Companies and must be sufficiently different from any other company name on the register (generic words like "holdings", "Ireland", "international", "trading", etc. can't be used)
• Every company must have a registered office address within Ireland
• Corporation tax registration
• May have a single director, but must appoint a separate secretary if this is the case
• At least one shareholder (single member company) and a maximum of 149
• Newly incorporated companies should demonstrate an activity/trade within Ireland if they wish to register for VAT
• Company constitution setting out governing rules

• Activities are limited by purpose set out in memorandum of incorporation and articles of association
• At least one shareholder
• At least two directors
• Name must end in DAC or CGA

• No share capital necessary
• At least one member
• At least two directors

• At least two directors: at least one must be an EEA resident
• If neither director is an EEA resident, a company may alternatively place a bond to the value of €25,394.76 with the Company Registry
• The maximum number of directorships allowable is 25

• At least two directors; at least one must be an EEA resident
• If neither director is an EEA resident, a company may alternatively place a bond to the value of €25,394.76 with the Company Registry
• The maximum number of directorships allowable is 25

• At least one shareholder
• At least two directors
• Minimum issued share capital of €25,000, at least 25% of which must be paid up before company commences business

• At least two directors; at least one must be an EEA resident
• If neither director is an EEA resident, a company may alternatively place a bond to the value of €25,394.76 with the Company Registry
• The maximum number of directorships allowable is 25

• Minimum share capital of €10,000
• Accounts to be filed annually with the Registrar of Companies

• Minimum one director
• Minimum share capital of €120,000
• No restrictions on foreign investors
• Accounts to be filed annually with the Registrar of Companies

• Foreign parent responsible for all liabilities of Italian branch
• Minimum one director
• Accounts to be maintained, but no reporting requirements

• Minimum share capital of €2,800, with at least half to be paid up at registration
• At least one director

• Accounts to be maintained in line with statutory requirements
• At least one employee

• Minimum share capital is €36,000 which must be fully paid up before registration
• Two-tier system comprising management and supervisory boards
• Accounts to be audited and filed with authorities

• Foreign-owned branch
• Taxed at same rate as Latvian company (20%)
• Reporting and audit requirements are same as for Latvian companies
• Profits can be repatriated without withholding tax
• Dividends transferred abroad are subject to 10% withholding tax

• Not allowed to trade or do business
• Only permitted to advertise and promote their company
• Regarded as an effective low-cost means of establishing a presence

• Minimum share capital of. €40,000, at least 25% to be paid up at incorporation
• At least one shareholder
• Auditors to prepare annual financial statements
• Company and its shareholders have limited liability
• Must appoint a supervisory council or “board of management

• Minimum share capital of €2,500, at least 25% to be paid up before incorporation
• At least one shareholder
• Auditors to prepare annual financial statements
• Company and its shareholders have limited liability
• Must appoint a supervisory council or “board of management”

• Unique business name
• At least two partners (can be individuals or legal entities)
• Registration with the Lithuanian Center of Registers

• Foreign parent company is responsible for all liabilities
• Branch office can conduct trade within scope set by parent
• Representative office can promote business but cannot trade
• At least one manager must reside in Lithuania
• No formal auditing requirements

• Minimum share capital of €31,000
• At least three directors
• PAt least one shareholder
• Registered office in Luxembourg
• Audited accounts if the company exceeds a certain size

• Minimum share capital of €12,500 with at least €100 value
• At least one member
• At least one director
• Registered office in Luxembourg
• Audited accounts subject to size
• Share capital can be used to pay incorporation fees

• General partnership
• Special limited partnership
• Branch of foreign company

• Minimum share capital of €1,200, with 20% paid up front
• Fewer than 50 shareholders
• At least two members at incorporation

• Minimum share capital of approximately €47,000, with 25% paid up
• At least two shareholders
• Registered office in Malta
• Statutory auditor appointed

• Foreign companies can open subsidiaries or branch offices in Malta
• Holding companies are tax exempt

• Minimum share capital of €45,000
• At least 20% of the authorized share capital must be issued
• No nationality requirement for shareholders
• Audited accounts must be filed with the Chamber of Commerce

• Minimum share capital of €.01
• Shareholders’ liability is restricted to capital contribution
• No nationality requirement for shareholders
• Audited accounts must be filed with Chamber of Commerce

• Unique business name
• At least two partners
• Registration with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce

• Foreign parent responsible for all liabilities of the Dutch branch
• Registration with Chamber of Commerce
• Minimum of one director
• No formal accounting requirements

• Minimum share capital 30,000 kr (approx. €3,500), fully paid up
• At least one shareholder
• Board of directors required, 50% of whom are resident in Norway or in EU/EEA country

• Minimum share capital is 1,000,000 kr (€112,000), fully paid up
• At least one shareholder
• Board of at least three directors
• 50% of board members must be resident in Norway or in a EU/EEA country
• General manager and auditor appointed

• A foreign company may establish a branch in Norway provided that the foreign company is registered in its home country
• Companies residing outside the EU must obtain permission from the Minister of Industry
• The branch must be registered with the Register of Business Enterprises

• Minimum share capital is 5,000 zl (approx. €1,200), to be fully paid up
• Minimum one director
• No restrictions on foreign shareholders
• Annual accounts to be prepared and held at company offices

• Minimum share capital 100,000 zl (€24,000), at least 25% to be paid up
• Two-tier system comprising management and supervisory boards
• Minimum 8% of annual profits to reserve fund (up to maximum one-third of share capital)
• Annual accounts and independent audit required

• Registered partnership: All partners have equal and unlimited liability
• Limited partnership: Some partners have limited liability)
• Professional partnership: Some concessions regarding partner liability
• Limited joint-stock partnership: Includes partners and shareholders

• Owner has unlimited liability
• Profits are subject to Polish income tax at individual rates

• Minimum share capital of €50,000
• At least one corporate or five individual shareholders
• At least two directors, unless share capital is below €120,000
• Stringent accounting and auditing requirements

• Minimum share capital €1
• No restrictions on foreign shareholders/directors
• At least one director
• Liabilities are limited to the amount invested

• Minimum share capital of €45
• Must have between 1 and 50 shareholders
• Shareholders may be Romanians or foreign nationals
• Low administrative and reporting requirements

• Minimum share capital of €25,000, of which at least 30% must be paid up front
• Mandatory if company is involved in banking or insurance
• Minimum of two shareholders and one director
• Three censors to oversee financial reporting

• Partnership
• Branch
• Representative office

• Share capital of €7,500
• Maximum 50 shareholders
• Must hold a Slovenian bank account
• Articles of association

• Share capital of €25,000
• Articles of association
• Registered with Agency of Republic of Slovenia for Public Legal Records and Related Services

• Articles of association of parent company
• Business statement for the last year of activity of parent company
• Parent company fully liable for debts of branch
• Representative in Slovenia

• Minimum share capital is €60,000, at least 25% paid up front
• At least one shareholder
• Annual audit

• Minimum share capital is €3,000, all paid up
• At least one shareholder

• One owner with unlimited liability

• Two or more proprietors with unlimited liability

• General or limited partnership
• Branch or representative office

• One board member, plus a deputy
• Minimum share capital is 25,000 kr (approx. €2,600)
• Board is liable for the company debts

• At least three board members
• Minimum share capital of 500,000 kr
• The board is liable for company debts

• The branch must have a managing director who is a resident of an EEA country
• Taxed on its profits as if it was a Swedish limited company, but losses may be tax-deductible in the foreign company’s jurisdiction
• All branches are required to file annual accounts of the parent company
• Annual tax return must be filed

• Run by a single individual who is personally liable for all debts that may be incurred
• Annual accounts are required as an appendix to the owner’s personal tax return

• Minimum share capital is 20,000 Fr (approx. €12,320)
• No restrictions on foreign ownership
• Minimum of two people required to establish the company
• One of the directors must be a Swiss resident

• Minimum share capital is 100,000 Fr (approx.€ 1,600)
• At least 50% of share capital to be paid up front
• Shareholders can remain completely anonymous
• Majority of board directors must be Swiss residents

• Minimum one shareholder
• Minimum share capital of 10,000 TL, and one-quarter should be paid before registration

• Minimum of one shareholder
• Board of directors
• Minimum share capital to establish a Joint Stock (AS) company is 50,000 TL, one-quarter of the minimum share capital should be paid before registration

• At least three founders

Brussels Economy and Employment

e-Građani

Cyprus Gov Portal

Danish Business Authority

RIK

Guichet-entreprises

ELSTER

e-YMS

CRO

The National Business Registry

The Register of Companies

Registru Centras

Luxembourg Business Registers

Malta Business Registry

ePortugal

Registro Mercantil Central