Starting a business in Portugal
Legal Forms of Companies
- The Sociedade por quotas de responsabilidade limitada (Lda): Limited Liability Company
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Number of partners: Two partners minimum. There may be one partner only in the case of a Single Person Private Limited Liability company (SUQ).
Capital (max/min): Minimum EUR 1.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.
- The Sociedade anonima de responsabilidade limidada (SA): Public Limited Company
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Number of partners: Five partners minimum; they may be foreigners and non-residents.
Capital (max/min): 50,000 EUR minimum, entirely taken up, with the obligation to release at least 30%.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.
- The Sociedade em nome colectivo: General Partnership
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Number of partners: Two partners minimum.
Capital (max/min): No minimum share capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is joint and indefinite regarding third parties.
- The Sociedade em comandita: Limited Joint-stock Partnership
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Number of partners: Two partners minimum, with active partners and silent partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum share capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is indefinite for active partners, and limited to the amount of capital contributed for silent partners.
Setting Up a Company |
Portugal |
OECD |
Procedures (number) |
6.0 |
5.2 |
Time (days) |
6.5 |
9.5 |
Source: Doing Business, 2016
- Business Setup Procedures
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Consult Doing Business Website, to learn about procedures to start a Business in Portugal
Trade Register, in Portuguese
Find out more about Operating a Business in Portugal on GlobalTrade.net, the Directory for International Trade Service Providers.
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Latest Update: June 2022