Establishing a Company in Austria

Atomic Answer: Establishing A Company In Austria is a critical component of the Canadian immigration framework. As of 2026, applicants navigating this pathway must adhere to the latest IRCC guidelines, ensure all documentation is properly prepared, and meet the specific eligibility requirements. Processing times and exact costs will vary based on individual circumstances.

What You Need to Know About Establishing a Company in Austria

The Republic of Austria is among the countries preferred by foreign investors to establish a business due to its central location in Europe, market opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises and the speed of the company establishment procedure.

Austria ranks 27th in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index for 2024. Small and medium-sized enterprises are of great importance in the Austrian economy. Small and medium-sized enterprises, which make up 99% of the Austrian business economy, provide employment for approximately 2,000,000 people.

What are the Types of Companies in Austria?

The types of companies that can be established in Austria are listed below.

• Limited company
• Incorporated company
• European company
• Sole Proprietorship
• Partnership company

Austrian Limited Company

An Austrian limited company is a type of company that is considered independent of its owners. Individuals who establish a limited company in Austria are not liable for anything other than the initial capital provided when establishing the company. A limited company, defined as a legally independent entity, is the most common type of company in Austria. In order to establish a limited company in Austria, a lot of paperwork, such as articles of association, and a minimum capital of 35,000 euros are required.

Austrian Joint Stock Company

Austrian joint stock companies are a type of company preferred by large companies. Similar to the limited company structure, the joint stock company requires larger capital during the establishment phase. Establishing a joint stock company in Austria with large capital makes it more ideal for large companies.

Austrian Partnership Company

Austrian partnership companies are divided into two types: general partnership and limited partnership. A general partnership company established in Austria does not require any formalities other than registering the business. A general partnership company, which does not have the characteristics of a corporate company, does not need an initial capital during the establishment phase. However, the partners who will establish a general partnership company in Austria must assume all the responsibilities of the company.

The Austrian limited partnership company imposes limited liability on one partner and unlimited liability on the other. The partner with unlimited liability is in a position such as a director or manager of the company.

Austrian Sole Proprietorship

A sole proprietorship in Austria is a type of company established by self-employed and self-employed individuals. The smallest type of company in Austria, a sole proprietorship must be insured by the Austrian Social Insurance Agency for Business. In a sole proprietorship, the person who establishes the company operates the company alone with unlimited liability.

Can Turkish Citizens Establish a Company in Austria?

Yes, Turkish citizens who meet certain criteria can establish a company in Austria.

Conditions for Establishing a Company in Austria

If you are planning to establish a company in Austria, you must first meet the conditions listed below.

• Foreign investors are required to obtain a residence permit or visa.
• You must be over 18 years old.
• The person who wants to establish a company must not have a criminal record.
• You must apply for a trade licence at the local administration of the region in which you will reside in Austria.
• You must register your company in the Austrian Trade Register.

The Process of Establishing a Business in Austria

In order to establish a business in Austria, the first step is to obtain the appropriate visa type and residence permit. The first step after obtaining an Austrian residence permit is to register and approve the company with the Austrian Trade Registry. Registration with the Austrian Trade Registry can be done online. The next step in establishing a company is to prepare the company's legal documents and have them notarized. The approved company documents are sent to the trade registry and approved.

To set up a business in Austria, you need to open an account with an Austrian bank. Opening an account with an Austrian bank is a necessary step to reduce transfer and conversion costs. The next step is to obtain permission from the Chamber of Economy for the company established in Austria. The final step is to register the company/business with the tax office and obtain a business license from the local district authority.

Establishing an Online Company in Austria

To set up an online company in Austria, you must follow the normal company formation process and the company must comply with Austrian law. The online company must comply with Data Protection Laws. If additional protection is desired for companies in Austria, the company must be registered with the Trademark Office.

How Long Does It Take to Establish a Company in Austria?

The process of establishing a company in Austria takes a maximum of 30 days, provided that the necessary documents are obtained and the conditions are met. While the reservation of a company name in Austria is made online in a few hours, the preparation of the legal documents and their notarization takes two days.

The time required to document the commercial registry of a company to be established in Austria is 6 days, and opening a corporate bank account takes 1 day. The application for the establishment of a company's business license takes a few hours. The longest process for establishing a company in Austria is the two-week registration process with the tax office.

How Much Does It Cost to Form a Company in Austria?

The cost of establishing a company in Austria varies depending on the type of company. The capital required to establish a limited company in Austria is 35,000 euros, while the minimum capital required for a joint-stock company is 70,000 euros.

To establish a limited company in Austria, in addition to the capital, it is necessary to pay 47.30 euros for the commercial license, 32 euros for the business registration fee and 102 euros for the social contract.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most frequently asked questions and answers to our center about establishing a company in Austria and Austrian companies are listed below.

What Visa Should I Get to Start a Business in Austria?

To set up a business in Austria, you can get a red-white-red card or an investor visa. People who want to invest in Austria have the right to work and reside for up to 2 years with the Austrian red-white-red card. In Austrian red-white-red card applications, the person's work experience, professional achievements, language skills, etc. are scored and the total score determines the right to a red-white-red card work permit.

Another option for people who want to establish a company in Austria is the investor visa. The Austrian investor visa , which is obtained by applying to the Austrian foreign missions in the country of residence, offers the opportunity to invest and reside in Austria for a certain period of time, provided that the necessary conditions are met.

Can I Set Up a Company and Settle in Austria?

Yes, foreign citizens who will invest by establishing a company in Austria can benefit from the residence permit application.

People who want to establish a company and settle in Austria also have the opportunity to obtain Austrian citizenship if they meet the necessary conditions and obtain a residence permit. The Austrian government has a practice that allows investors who receive a residence permit to apply for Austrian citizenship after 6-10 years.

What is the Taxation System for Companies in Austria?

All businesses in Austria are required to pay value added tax. Companies located in Austria with an annual income of over 30,000 euros are required to pay 20% of their income as value added tax.

Companies with annual revenues of less than 30,000 euros do not have to pay VAT, but are subject to income tax. In Austria, the income tax that companies must pay ranges from 23% to 50%.

Companies established in Austria must pay corporate income tax every 3 years. The corporate income tax in Austria is 25%; however, companies established in Austria are also subject to a 25% profit tax.

What are the largest Austrian companies?

The largest Austrian companies are listed below.

• OMV Group
• Erste Group
• Raiffeisen Bank
• Voestalpin
• Vitane Insurance Group
• Strabag
• Verbund
• BAWAG PSK
• Uniqa Insurance Group

What are the Turkish Companies in Austria?

Turkish companies operating in Austria are listed below.

• Do & Co
• Black Gastro
• Onmaz Car Wrapping
• Salary Furniture
• Armin Handels GmbH
• GMS Food & Drink Handels GmbH
• Tulpe Restaurant
• Kamu-Parts Autoteile & Zubehör
• Handy Vienna
• Pantry Nuts
• Op. Dr. Can İşler

Turkish investments in Austria are concentrated in sectors such as food and construction. The amount of investment made by Turkish citizens in Austria between 2002 and 2019 is 552 million dollars. Turkish citizens living in Austria have established 6,500 businesses in Austria.

What are the advantages of starting a business in Austria?

The advantages of starting a business in Austria are listed below.

Workers and employees working in Austria are highly educated and hard-working.

The start-up of a company established in Austria is fast. The established company is registered within an average of one week.

Establishing a company in Austria is simple. It is possible to establish a company with a single general manager, tax return, annual financial statements and a registered address.

In Austria, there are privileges for newly established companies, such as establishing a company with lower capital.

Austria is located in one of the central regions of Europe. Vienna International Airport, located in Austria, where a new company will be established, provides transportation to 40 countries.