Starting a business in Austria

Legal Forms of Companies

Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung (GmbH) is a Private Limited Company.

Number of partners: One or more partners with no maximum.
Capital (max/min): Minimum EUR 35,000. 50% totally subscribed and released at the creation.
Shareholders and liability: Partners' and shareholders liability is limited to the amount contributed.

Aktiengesellschaft (AG) is a Public Limited Company.

Number of partners: One or more partners with no maximum.
Capital (max/min): Minimum EUR 70,000. 25% totally subscribed and released at the creation.
Shareholders and liability: Partners' and shareholders liability is limited to the amount contributed.

Offene Handelsgesellschaft (OHG) is a general partnership company.

Number of partners: Minimum 2 partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: Partners' liability is joint and unlimited for social debts.

Kommanditgesellschaft (KG) is a limited partnership.

Number of partners: Minimum 2 partners. Two types of partners: active partners and sleeping partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability of active partners is limited to capital, with at least one partner having unlimited liability. Liability of sleeping partners is limited to the amount contributed.

The Competent Organisation

Office of the Commercial Register

Company Directories

Compnet, Looking for a company (in Deutsch)

Source: Doing Business, 2016