START A COMPANY / EUROPE
How to register a company in Austria
Austrian companies are entered in the Firmenbuch. The GmbH needs EUR 10,000 capital (half paid in), notarial articles and court entry. Sole traders register a trade licence (Gewerbeanmeldung) with the local authority.
- REGISTRY
- Firmenbuch (Austrian commercial register), filed via the Business Service Portal USP
- ONLINE
- Partly online
- FROM
- €0 (≈ £1)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Non-residents can found a GmbH and be managing directors. Non-EU managers may need a work permit. A bank account is required for the capital, and a notary is needed unless you use the online one-person route with ID Austria.
SOLE TRADER
Einzelunternehmen: Einzelunternehmen (sole proprietorship)
Freelancers and small traders starting with no capital and minimal formalities.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 owner
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1-2 weeks
Steps
Check whether your activity is a regulated trade (needs proof of qualification) or a free trade.
Register the trade (Gewerbeanmeldung) with the district authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft or Magistrat), or via the USP portal.
Complete the tax office questionnaire (Fragebogen) on FinanzOnline to get a tax number and VAT ID.
Register with the Social Insurance Fund for the Self-Employed (SVS); this is usually automatic after trade registration.
Join the Chamber of Commerce (WKO), mandatory for trade holders.
Open a business bank account (optional) and set up bookkeeping.
Documents
- Passport and proof of address
- Proof of qualification for regulated trades
- Criminal-record excerpt (some trades)
- Tax questionnaire (Fragebogen)
Official fees
Trade registration is generally free for start-ups under the New Business Promotion Act; some regulated trades carry administrative charges (unverified).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | €0≈ £1 | DIY: official registration usually free for new businesses |
| With an accountant or agent | €400≈ £340 | Accountant helps with registrations and first set-up, about |
| Full service | €1,200≈ £1,000 | Tax adviser handles trade licence, tax, SVS and bookkeeping set-up, about |
Every year
- Annual income tax return
- Monthly or quarterly VAT advance returns
- SVS social insurance contributions
- Chamber of Commerce membership fee
- Bookkeeping or simple income-expense accounts
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: exact fee waiver conditions for regulated trades.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
GmbH: Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (limited liability company)
Most start-ups and owner-managed companies wanting limited liability.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder and 1 managing director
- Minimum capital
- EUR 10,000 (at least EUR 5,000 paid in cash on founding)
- Time
- 2-4 weeks
Steps
Choose a company name and registered address in Austria; check the name against the Firmenbuch.
Open a bank account for the company in formation and pay in at least EUR 5,000.
Draft the articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag) and have them notarised, or use the online one-person GmbH route on USP with ID Austria.
Appoint the managing director(s) and file specimen signatures.
File the application with the commercial court (Firmenbuch), through the notary or USP.
Receive the Firmenbuch number; the GmbH exists on entry.
Register with the tax office (FinanzOnline), social insurance (ÖGK/SVS) and the WKO.
Documents
- Passports of shareholders and managers
- Notarised articles of association
- Bank confirmation of capital
- Registered office evidence
- Tax questionnaire (Fragebogen)
- Beneficial owner report
Official fees
Notary about EUR 800-1,500; court registration and gazette about EUR 400-600 (about EUR 450 per one source). New-business fee waivers may apply.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | €1,200≈ £1,000 | DIY: notary and court fees, excluding EUR 10,000 capital, about |
| With an accountant or agent | €2,000≈ £1,700 | With an agent or tax adviser preparing documents, about |
| Full service | €3,500≈ £3,000 | Law firm and notary, registered address and bank help, about |
Every year
- Annual financial statements filed with the Firmenbuch
- Corporate income tax return (KöSt 23%) and minimum tax
- VAT returns monthly or quarterly
- Payroll and social insurance filings
- Update the beneficial owners register when ownership changes
Good to know. Since 1 Jan 2024 minimum capital is EUR 10,000 (was EUR 35,000). Austria also has the FlexCo (flexible company) since 2024. Unverified: online route fee levels.
PARTNERSHIP
OG: Offene Gesellschaft (general partnership)
Two or more people trading together who accept personal liability and want low formalities.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 2 partners
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 2-3 weeks
Steps
Agree a partnership agreement among the partners (written form recommended).
Register the trade with the district authority if the activity is a regulated trade.
File the application to enter the OG in the Firmenbuch with certified signatures.
Register with the tax office through FinanzOnline and get a VAT ID.
Register partners with the SVS and the OG with the WKO.
Open a business bank account.
Documents
- Partnership agreement
- Passports of partners
- Certified signatures
- Trade licence if required
Official fees
Firmenbuch entry and signature certification about EUR 200-500 (unverified).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | €300≈ £260 | DIY: Firmenbuch entry and signature certification, about |
| With an accountant or agent | €900≈ £770 | With a tax adviser preparing filings, about |
| Full service | €2,000≈ £1,700 | Lawyer drafts agreement and handles registration, about |
Every year
- Partnership tax return with profit allocation
- Partners' income tax returns
- VAT returns
- SVS contributions per partner
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: partnership register fees.
After you register
- Register for tax and VAT through FinanzOnline; the small-business VAT exemption limit is EUR 55,000 turnover (unverified for 2026).
- Register employees with ÖGK for social insurance within the deadline, and yourself with SVS if self-employed.
- Join the Chamber of Commerce (WKO).
- Obtain the trade licence (Gewerbeberechtigung) or other licences for regulated activities.
- Register beneficial owners in the WiEReG register of beneficial owners.
- Open a business bank account.
Sources
Checked against:
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Europe
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.