Austria

Operating a business

Different types of companies	Number of partners/shareholders	Maximum and/or minimum capital	Liabilities	Registration fees
Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH) is a Private Limited Company.	Minimum 2 partners. nb: 1 member for a sole proprietorship GmbH.	Minimum 35,000€. 50% totally subscribed and released at the creation.	Partners' liability is limited to the amount contributed.	0.55% of the capital plus about 70€
Aktiengesellschaft (AG) is a Public Limited Company.	Minimum 2 shareholders	Minimum 35,000€. 25% totally subscribed and released at the creation.	Partners' liability is limited to the amount contributed.	10 to 15% of the capital.
Offene Handelsgesellschaft (OHG) is a general partnership.	Minimum 2 partners.	No minimum capital.	Partners' liability is joint and several for social debts.	Lower expenses as compared to the GesmbH
Kommanditgesellschaft (KG) is a limited partnership	Two types of partners: active partners and sleeping partners.	No minimum capital.	Liability of active partners is unlimited. Liability of sleeping partners is limited to the amount contributed.	Lower expenses compared with the GesmbH

Business setup procedures: The registration request must be made with the Trade Register of the court where the company is located. The company is set up as soon as the statuses, as a company in process of formation, are signed. However, the registration grants the legal entity.