Italy

Operating a business

Setting up a company

Legal business entities

Different types of companies	Number of partners/shareholders	Maximum and/or minimum capital	Liabilities	Registration fees
La Societa a responsabilita limitata (SRL) is a limited liability company.	no minimum number : 1 partner for an SRL of one person.	10 000 EUR minimum, 3/10 fully subscribed and paid up at the creation of the company.	Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.	1% of the cash capital
La Societa per azioni (SpA) is a public limited company	minimum 2 shareholders.	10 000 EUR minimum, 3/10 fully subscribed and paid up at the creation of the company.	Their liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.	1% of the cash capital
La Societa in nome Collettivo (SNC) is a general partnership	minimum 2 partners	no minimum capital.	Their liability is joint and indefinite.	Fees less than those of an SRL
La Societa in Accomanditari Semplice (SAS) is a limited joint-stock partnership .	There are two types of partners, the active partners and the silent partners.	no minimum capital.	The liability of the active partners is unlimited.	Fees less than those of an SRL
La Societa Cooperativa (SC) is a cooperative society.	minimum 9 partners	no minimum capital.	Their liability is limited or unlimited according to the Articles of Association.	Fees less than those of an SRL

Business setup procedures: The Articles of Association must be drawn up in a deed authenticated by a lawyer.They must be filed within 30 days of being drawn up with the Company Register, then with the local Tribunal of the province where the company has been formed. Registration with the local Chamber of Commerce is also required and an advertisement in a journal of legal notices.
The competent organization: The administrative procedures must be analysed by a legal affairs office of the Ministry of Justice.

The activity of the company is subject to abilitazioni (certificate of professional aptitude), to autorizzazioni o licenze (licenses) and to the denuncia di inizio attività (declaration of beginning of activity).
Chambers of Commerce provide companies with support services in training and internationalization and gather necessary economic information concerning aspects of entrepreneurial activity.

Working conditions

Legal weekly duration

40 hours.

Retirement age

65 with a minimum of 25 years' contributions.

Working contracts

The work contract is governed by legal provisions and to a lesser extent by collective agreements.
The work contract, conditions of hiring and dismissal are quite strict.

There are open-ended contracts, fixed term contracts, or contracts for specific tasks or occasional services.

Cost of labor

Minimum wage: There is no legal minimum wage.
Average wage: About 1 100/1 200 EUR per month. It is one of the lowest in Europe.
Social contributions: Social security contributions paid by employers: 30 %
Social security contributions paid by employees: 10%