Europe
Limited liability company (GmbH) · €10,000 capital; normally €5,000 cash paid initially · a notarial company agreement is normally required
Trade-licence manager · must live in the EEA or Switzerland
For a licensed trade the company names a trade-law manager who lives in Austria, the EEA or Switzerland and is a legal representative or at least half-time employee. Non-EEA nationals need an Austrian residence permit.
€10,000 capital; normally €5,000 cash paid initially
Formation and registration costs are additional. The stated cash payment is the usual minimum, not the total amount committed by shareholders.
Ecosystem evidence, not proof of demand for your product. Validate customers, competition and economics before investing.
Austria’s investment agency describes connections to the DACH region. Check where your target buyers are and whether local sales or delivery capacity is needed.
Equipment and software businesses can assess relevant development partnerships.
This separate legal entity is registered in the Firmenbuch. Prepare its company agreement and management arrangements before filing.
The simplified one-person electronic formation route is a specific exception. A foreign corporate parent should not assume it qualifies for that exception.
The simplified service is not a universal procedure for every foreign-owned company or ownership structure.
The start-up founder route requires an innovative business plan, management control, at least €30,000 company capital with 50% equity, and 50 points. The initial Red-White-Red Card lasts up to 24 months.
National observations help frame the market. They do not measure demand for your specific product.
107.0% of GDP
2025
91.9% of population
2025
US$579bn
USD · 2025
0.6%
2025
9.21m
people · 2025
Tell us what you sell, where you operate and what you want to achieve.
Information on this page is compiled from official and public sources, linked and dated next to each item. It is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice, and rules change. Please confirm with the source or a qualified adviser before acting. ExpandUs Global accepts no liability for decisions made using this information.
