GmbH, FlexCo and Austrian subsidiary formation for international founders and foreign companies — with the ownership, notarial, banking and post-registration structure decided before anything is filed.
An Austrian company has to work for its shareholders, directors, bank, accountant, customers and tax position at the same time. So we start by mapping the activity, the ownership chain, where management actually sits, the expected transactions and the commercial reason for using Austria — before a single document is drafted.
A structure can be legally registrable and still be operationally weak. The Firmenbuch may accept a company while a bank, tax office or licensing body is still asking for evidence that the declared Austrian business is real and internally consistent. Those questions are cheaper to answer before filing than after a rejection.
Not a register entry. A company that can sign, invoice, bank and stay compliant — with legal documents, operations and commercial logic that agree with one another.
The right answer depends on governance, investors, the parent company, employee participation and how permanent the Austrian operation is meant to be.
The standard choice for Austrian operating businesses, consulting firms, holdings and subsidiaries that need a familiar governance framework.
Read the GmbH guideA modern Austrian form for founders expecting investment rounds, employee participation or shareholder arrangements that will change.
Read the FlexCo pageAn Austrian GmbH or FlexCo owned by an existing foreign company, creating a separate Austrian legal and operating entity.
Read the subsidiary guideThe sequence shifts with the shareholder profile and the banking route, but the underlying logic stays the same — and the order is what keeps the file out of trouble.
Activity, shareholders, director, tax residence, expected revenue and the Austrian commercial rationale are mapped before documents are drafted.
We prepare the company data, shareholder evidence, business purpose and the documents required from individuals or foreign corporate shareholders — including apostilles and certified translations.
The Gesellschaftsvertrag — or an Errichtungserklärung for a single-member company — is prepared and the notarial process coordinated, including a remote route where available.
The capital contribution is arranged and the banking profile prepared around ownership, activity, countries, clients and transaction flows.
The incorporation is submitted to the competent commercial court and the company receives its Firmenbuch registration and company number.
Tax registration, VAT questions, accounting handover, beneficial ownership and the first corporate calendar are coordinated after registration.
We coordinate the legal and operational chain so you know which document belongs to which stage, and who owns the next action.
Identity, ownership, management and foreign-company documents checked before they reach the notary or the court.
Articles, resolutions, declarations, powers and supporting records prepared around the actual structure.
Signing route, identification requirements and appointment sequence organised in advance.
The formation package coordinated for submission to the Firmenbuch, with follow-up questions handled.
The company story, source of funds, client geography and expected transaction flow turned into a coherent bank file.
A clear next-step list for tax, accounting, beneficial ownership, invoicing and recurring corporate duties.
Most formation pages stop at registration. Most founder problems begin immediately afterwards.
Austrian banks want a complete commercial explanation, not only a passport and a Firmenbuchauszug.
Explore banking support 02Activity, customers and cross-border flows determine which registrations and reporting processes apply.
Read the tax guide 03Residence, authority, remuneration and where decisions are actually made all shape the compliance picture.
Read the director guide 04Changes, resolutions, annual accounts and beneficial-ownership information have to stay aligned over time.
Request ongoing supportFinal scope depends on the shareholders, the document jurisdictions, the chosen form and any banking or tax requirements.
Fees shown are professional fees for our coordination work. Notarial, court, translation, apostille and banking charges are billed separately by the providers concerned.
Documents, notary, share capital, registration, banking — and the mistakes that delay foreign founders.
Read the guide REMOTE FORMATIONHow digital notarial signing works and what can still require physical documents.
Read the article SHARE CAPITALThe 2024 change, the €5,000 initial cash contribution, and what outdated guides still get wrong.
Read the articleThe useful comparison is not "which country is best" but which jurisdiction matches your customers, banking, tax residence, substance and operating reality.
Two GmbH systems with different banking, capital and market-entry logic.
Compare 02Institutional credibility and conventional banking versus digital administration.
Compare 03EU operations and legal infrastructure versus speed, residency and Gulf positioning.
CompareThese answers are general. The shareholder jurisdiction, business activity and management location can change the practical result.
Yes. An Austrian GmbH may have a single foreign individual or corporate shareholder, and the founder's nationality is not itself a barrier to Austrian ownership. Documents, sanctions screening, banking and the commercial rationale still matter.
The statutory minimum for an Austrian GmbH and for a FlexCo is €10,000. In the usual cash formation, at least €5,000 is paid in before registration. Older references to €35,000 describe the position before the 2024 reform.
Remote notarial signing can be available, including video-based identification and electronic execution. The exact route depends on the shareholder structure, the documents, the notary and the identification requirements.
A foreign non-resident may generally act as managing director. Immigration status, availability, effective place of management, tax residence and banking expectations should all be reviewed before the appointment is made.
No. Banks run their own KYC and AML review. Ownership, the countries involved, source of capital, expected customers, the website, contracts and the transaction profile all influence the decision.
A FlexCo is particularly relevant where employee participation, external investment or changing shareholder structures are expected. The GmbH remains the familiar default for conventional operating businesses.
Send the founder countries, the activity, expected customers, preferred structure and target date. We will identify the formation route and the issues that need to be solved before filing — rather than discovering them one rejection at a time.