How to found a GmbH in Austria (2024 rules)

Quick facts

Minimum capital	10.000 € (seit 2024)
Minimum founders	1
Liability	limited to share capital
Accounting	Double-entry bookkeeping
Taxation	Corporate tax 23%
Commercial register	mandatory
Notary required	yes (deed of formation)
Time to set up	2–4 w

When does this form make sense?

Choose a GmbH if you want to limit personal liability, raise investor money, protect a brand or plan an exit. Typical: tech startups, scaling service companies, family businesses passing to the next generation.

Less suitable if you are testing a small side business — running cost and bureaucracy exceed the benefits below ~50,000 € annual turnover.

Required documents

Passports/IDs of all founders and managing directors
Registration certificates (Meldezettel)
Articles of association (Gesellschaftsvertrag) signed before a notary
Bank confirmation of paid-in capital
Appointment of managing director(s)
Confirmation of business address
Beneficial owner form (WiEReG)
Criminal record extracts from home countries for foreign founders

Founding steps

Reserve the company name — check availability in the Firmenbuch.
Notary appointment: sign the articles of association; declaration of setup.
Open a capital account at an Austrian bank and pay in at least 5,000 € (half of the minimum) in cash.
Commercial register entry — the notary files the application electronically.
Tax office registration (form Verf 15) — receive tax number and corporate tax ID.
Beneficial owner filing (WiEReG) within four weeks.
Trade registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) — the GmbH itself is the trade holder, a managing director acts as "gewerberechtlicher Geschäftsführer".
Set up bookkeeping — full double-entry accounting is mandatory from day one.

Costs

Minimum share capital: 10,000 €, of which 5,000 € must be paid in cash
Notary: 600–1,500 €
Commercial register fee: approx. 400 €
Lawyer (optional, for complex shareholder agreements): 1,000–3,000 €
WKO membership fee: 100–400 € per year
Tax advisor (yearly accounts): 1,500–4,000 €

Typical total setup: 2,000–5,000 € (plus the paid-in capital).

Taxes & social insurance

Corporate tax (KöSt): 23 % on profits (from 2024).
Minimum corporate tax: 500 € per quarter in years 1–5, 875 € from year 6 onwards.
Dividend tax (KESt): 27.5 % when profits are distributed to private shareholders.
VAT: 20 % standard, 10/13 % reduced.
Managing director: employee social insurance (ASVG) if shareholding < 25 %; otherwise GSVG/SVS self-employed scheme.
Mandatory annual financial statements to Firmenbuch.

Pros

Liability limited to company capital
High credibility with banks, customers, investors
Attractive for employee stock programmes and exits
Profits kept in the company are taxed at a flat 23 %
Easy to transfer shares

Cons

Minimum capital 10,000 € (5,000 € cash)
Notary, commercial register and accounting overhead
Mandatory filings (WiEReG, annual accounts)
Minimum corporate tax even with losses
Distributions to shareholders are taxed twice (KöSt + KESt)

Common mistakes

Missing WiEReG beneficial-owner filing — fine up to 200,000 €.
Thinking the full 10,000 € must be paid in cash — only 5,000 € required (the rest is a future liability to the company).
Confusing managing director ASVG/GSVG status when the shareholding changes.
No shareholder agreement on vesting or exit — unpleasant surprises in year 3.
Forgetting to update articles when business address or managing director changes.