Guide · Company Formation
Company Formation in Austria: The Address Comes First.
Notary, bank, company register: most founders think about contracts and capital first. Yet timelines most often slip over one inconspicuous detail that has to be in place at the very start: the business address. This guide walks through forming a company in Austria from the address perspective.
Note: this guide is practical orientation from the perspective of an address and office provider, not legal or tax advice. For your specific case, a notary and tax advisor are the right contacts.
01The core point
Do I need an Austrian address before my company exists?
Yes. The business address is a mandatory part of the application to the Austrian company register (Firmenbuch) and must therefore be in place before the company is registered. Without a registered address in Austria there is no register entry, and without that entry there is no GmbH.
The order of operations surprises many international founders: the address is not paperwork you sort out after incorporation, it is a prerequisite for it. It appears in the articles of association, in the register application and later publicly in the company register. Courts, the tax office and authorities serve documents to this address from day one.
Registered means a physical address where documents can be legally served. A PO box does not qualify, and a pure letterbox setup without a real location is risky. We explain in detail what makes an address valid in our separate guide on registered addresses.
The practical consequence: founders should secure the address as the very first step. A professional business address is ready the same day and starts at 49 euros per month at 1010.works, while notary appointments and bank accounts need lead time anyway.
02The process
Forming a GmbH in six steps, from the address perspective.
This is how a typical GmbH formation in Austria unfolds. The address enters the picture earlier than most expect.
- 01
Choose legal form and company name
The GmbH is the most common limited liability company in Austria. The name must be distinctive and must not mislead. A quick search in the company register beforehand saves correction loops at the notary.
- 02
Secure the business address
Before the notary appointment, the company needs its seat and business address. A registered address such as Seitenstettengasse 5/37, 1010 Vienna is available immediately and meets the requirements for the company register and imprint.
- 03
Articles of association at the notary
The articles of association or declaration of establishment are executed before a notary. The company seat and business address are already part of these documents, which is why the address must be fixed before this appointment.
- 04
Deposit the share capital
Since 2024 the minimum share capital of a GmbH is 10,000 euros, of which at least 5,000 euros must be paid in cash. The bank issues a confirmation of the deposit, which is required for the register application.
- 05
File with the company register
The company is filed with the register court, including its business address, managing directors and the bank confirmation. With the entry, the GmbH comes into existence as a legal entity, reachable at its registered address.
- 06
Tax number, VAT ID and trade license
After registration come the tax office registration, the VAT ID and, depending on the activity, the trade license. These procedures also run through the registered business address: that is where the official decisions arrive.
03Founders from abroad
What non-residents need to register a company in Austria.
Forming a GmbH in Austria does not require Austrian citizenship. Shareholders and managing directors residing abroad are possible. Four things are worth preparing:
- A valid passport or ID card for identity verification at the notary. Depending on your country of origin, certified or translated documents may be required.
- A registered business address in Austria. It is the prerequisite for the company register entry and the place where all official mail arrives, even while you are abroad.
- A bank account for depositing the share capital. Austrian banks run their own identity and source-of-funds checks, which is often the slowest step for non-residents.
- A reliable mail process. With scanning and digital delivery you read official mail the same day, from anywhere. The 1010.works Premium plan additionally includes acceptance of RSb letters under a postal power of attorney.
Planning an incorporation beyond Austria? Our sister service euincorp.com supports EU-wide formation projects.
04Answered directly
Common questions about formation.
How much share capital does a GmbH in Austria require?
Since 2024 the minimum share capital is 10,000 euros, of which at least 5,000 euros must be paid in cash. The bank confirmation of the deposit is part of the company register application.
Before 2024 the minimum was considerably higher; the reduction to 10,000 euros has made forming a GmbH noticeably cheaper. On top of the share capital come formation costs for the notary and registration, which depend on the individual case. Your notary will quote binding figures.
Can a foreigner register a company in Austria?
Yes. Shareholders and managing directors of an Austrian GmbH need neither Austrian citizenship nor residence in Austria. What is mandatory is a registered business address in Austria.
In practice, the hurdles for non-residents are organizational: notary appointments, bank accounts and certified documents need lead time. Certain regulated trades carry additional licensing requirements, which you should clarify with professional advisors beforehand.
How long does it take to register a company in Austria?
From the notary appointment to the company register entry usually takes a few business days to a few weeks, depending on workload and completeness of documents. The business address is the fastest building block: it is ready the same day.
Three factors typically set the pace: the next available notary appointment, opening the account for the share capital, and processing at the register court. Founders who have the address and documents ready in advance shorten the chain considerably.
05The first step
Your formation address in Vienna’s first district, from 49 euros per month.
1010 Works GmbH provides a registered business address at Seitenstettengasse 5/37, 1010 Vienna, with a real office behind it: mail reception, self-pickup Mon to Sun, scanning and a meeting room. Business addresses have been provided at this location since 2015.
For founders this means: secure the address today, see the notary tomorrow. From 49 euros per month with yearly billing, cancelable monthly, no setup fee.
Founding starts with a good address.
Seitenstettengasse 5/37, 1010 Vienna: ready for the company register, your imprint and the first official letter.
See plans and pricing