When two or more partners decide to jointly open a company in Norway, they can register the new enterprise as a general partnership so that the liability of the business to be supported in its entirety by all the partners.
There are two main types of partnerships in Norway, on which our consultants in company formation in Norway can give complete information.
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Main features of the general partnership in Norway
When investors intend to form together a new business entity, they can choose from two main types of partnerships in Norway who differ from each other in the way the financial responsibility is attributed to the participants: the general partnership (ANS) and the general partnership with shared liability (DA). Firstly, in a general partnership (ANS) the partners bear unlimited liability for the company, so in the eventuality of debt, when one of the partners is unable to pay, the other will have to cover the total debt of the enterprise.
According to the Company Law in Norway, the partners who establish together a ANS can be natural persons as well as legal persons, such as other companies. The address of the office for the ANS must be a location in Norway.
You can call on our consultants in company formation in Norway for a detailed description of the legal structures in this country and on the advantages of each type of general partnership that you can form.
How to open a general partnership in Norway?
The basic steps for opening a general partnership in Norway consist of the name reservation and business registration. In order to register a new company the owners must provide several documents such as the articles of association and a proof of the minimum capital deposited to a local bank.
The application for a general partnership in Norway must be submitted to the Business Register in order to receive the approval of functioning from the authorities. In Norway, the verification of the documents which results in an official response is processed in the shortest time, in order to avoid the delay of the business activity in this country.
Documentation requirements to open a general partnership in Norway
To register a general partnership (ANS or DA) in Norway, you need to submit several key documents and fulfill specific requirements. Below you can find a list of the primary documents and steps:
1. Registration form;
2. Partnership agreement;
3. Identification documents: ID of all partners;
5. Partnership’s name: proposed business name;
6. List of partners;
7. General manager/contact person: if applicable;
8. Tax and VAT Registration proof;
9. Shareholder’s certificate: if relevant;
10. Confirmation of auditor appointment: if required;
11. Capital contribution documentation: if applicable.
For more information regarding the documentation process in this matter and the steps to open a Norwegian company, our specialized company formation agents in Norway are at your disposal.
Organizational roles in a general partnership in Norway
In a general partnership in Norway, the mandatory roles are the partners themselves. If the partnership does not have a board, it must designate a person to fulfill the role of general manager, business manager, or contact person. Positions like accountant, board members, signatories, and those with power of attorney are optional and not required for registration.
Mandatory Roles:
- Partners: at least two required;
- General manager / business manager / contact person: must be appointed if no board exists;
Optional Roles:
- Accountant;
- Board members;
- Signatories;
- Power of attorney: not mandatory for registration but can be added;
- Auditor: required if the operating revenue is larger than NOK 7 million, the balance sheet is larger than NOK 27 million and the company has more than 10 full-time employees.
Find support from our agents specialized in Norwegian company formation in order to follow the steps in opening a general partnership in Norway.
VAT registration in Norway
In Norway, the process of obtaining a VAT number can take some time, depending on a number of factors, such as having a comprehensive application file. If you need help obtaining your registration number as quickly as possible, you can rely on our team. You will receive assistance from our company incorporation specialists in creating and completing the necessary papers for VAT registration in Norway. Registering for taxes and for VAT are two of the most important steps to take in order to open a company in Norway. The first will enable you to lawfully register every financial operation, whilst the second will enable you to sell goods and services to clients abroad, as well as to obtain an EORI number.
The main law for VAT registration in Norway outlines requirements that apply to both domestic and foreign businesses, as well as to sole proprietors who voluntarily register for this tax. They can also get a lot of advantages, such as VAT refunds, depending on various aspects. For guidance on the advantages of having a VAT number, our team of professionals is at your disposal.
Business statistics in Norway
According to official data, the business sector in Norway is flourishing and presenting some impressive numbers:
- In 2024, there were 729,799 companies registered in Norway;
- The Norway-based companies represent 1.38% of all the sales generated in Europe in 2024;
- The services sector has the largest number of companies from the entire business industry in Norway: 305,728.
Do not hesitate to contact our specialists in company registration in Norway in order to help you organize your business as a general partnership in this country. We can also advise on tax legislation matters.