Guide
Registering in the Austrian company register (Firmenbuch)
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In this article, you will learn:
- what the company register (Firmenbuch) is,
- who must be registered in the company register, and
- how you can complete this registration conveniently online, today.
What is the company register?
The company register (Firmenbuch) is a directory that anyone can consult. It contains information about companies – for example the company’s registered office, its ownership structure, its managing directors and so on. This means anyone can obtain information that may be important for doing business with a company.
Who must be registered in the company register?
All partnerships and corporations must be registered in the company register. These include:
- OG (general partnership)
- KG (limited partnership)
- GmbH (limited liability company)
- AG (public limited company)
- Cooperatives
Sole proprietorships must also be registered if:
a) they achieve a turnover of EUR 1,000,000 or more in one business year, or b) they generate a turnover of EUR 700,000 or more in each of two consecutive business years.
First of all, the formation of the company must be registered. The deletion of a company must also always be registered with the company register when the company is dissolved. In addition, an entry in the company register is required whenever important information about the company changes. This includes, for example:
- The appointment or dismissal of a managing director.
- A change of the company’s address.
- An amendment to a GmbH’s articles of association.
Registering in the company register in practice
As a rule, an application for registration in the company register must be notarised (see Section 11(1) UGB). Specifically, the signature on the company register application is notarised. Such a signature notarisation by a notary can also be completed conveniently online via notarity. You can find out more about this here.
The electronic signature on the application is notarised in a video call with a notary. The process can be completed online in a few minutes. Appointments are available flexibly and at short notice.
Partner notaries on the notarity platform will then also be happy to handle the submission to the company register. Alternatively, your lawyer can take care of this.
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