{"id":1764,"date":"2019-03-08T18:39:48","date_gmt":"2019-03-08T18:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/?page_id=1764"},"modified":"2025-04-10T02:50:16","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T23:50:16","slug":"estonia-private-limited-company-ou","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/et\/estonia-private-limited-company-ou\/","title":{"rendered":"Private Limited Company (O\u00dc) in Estonia"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"has-vivid-cyan-blue-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-37a81c4a53a4485f890b32c00b269faf\"><strong>2025 Guide<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"256\" data-end=\"585\">A <strong data-start=\"258\" data-end=\"285\">private limited company<\/strong> (Estonian: <em data-start=\"297\" data-end=\"307\">osa\u00fching<\/em>, abbreviated <strong data-start=\"321\" data-end=\"327\">O\u00dc<\/strong>) is the most popular business form in Estonia. It is a legal entity with <strong data-start=\"401\" data-end=\"438\">share capital divided into shares<\/strong>, and it is <strong data-start=\"450\" data-end=\"503\">liable for its obligations with all of its assets<\/strong>. Importantly, shareholders are <strong data-start=\"535\" data-end=\"560\">not personally liable<\/strong> for the company\u2019s debts.<\/p>\n<blockquote data-start=\"587\" data-end=\"705\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"589\" data-end=\"705\">\ud83d\udd17 <a target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"592\" data-end=\"705\">Legal reference: Estonian Commercial Code<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"707\" data-end=\"710\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"712\" data-end=\"740\"><span style=\"color: #3366ff;\"><strong data-start=\"716\" data-end=\"740\">Capital Requirements<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"742\" data-end=\"1035\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"742\" data-end=\"779\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"744\" data-end=\"779\"><strong data-start=\"744\" data-end=\"770\">Minimum share capital:<\/strong> \u20ac2,500<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"780\" data-end=\"823\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"782\" data-end=\"823\"><strong data-start=\"782\" data-end=\"818\">Minimum nominal value per share:<\/strong> \u20ac1<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"824\" data-end=\"937\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"826\" data-end=\"937\">If all founders are <strong data-start=\"846\" data-end=\"865\">natural persons<\/strong> and capital is under \u20ac25,000, the payment of capital may be deferred.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"938\" data-end=\"1035\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"940\" data-end=\"1035\">Until the full contribution is paid, founders are <strong data-start=\"990\" data-end=\"1011\">personally liable<\/strong> for the unpaid portion.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"1037\" data-end=\"1040\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1042\" data-end=\"1070\"><strong data-start=\"1046\" data-end=\"1070\">Management Structure<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4 class=\"\" data-start=\"1072\" data-end=\"1097\"><strong data-start=\"1077\" data-end=\"1097\">Management Board<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1098\" data-end=\"1302\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1098\" data-end=\"1124\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1100\" data-end=\"1124\">Mandatory for every O\u00dc<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1125\" data-end=\"1202\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1127\" data-end=\"1202\">Must have <strong data-start=\"1137\" data-end=\"1168\">at least one natural person<\/strong> with full active legal capacity<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1203\" data-end=\"1255\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1205\" data-end=\"1255\">Board members <strong data-start=\"1219\" data-end=\"1253\">do not need to be shareholders<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1256\" data-end=\"1302\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1258\" data-end=\"1302\">The board directs and represents the company<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 class=\"\" data-start=\"1304\" data-end=\"1341\"><strong data-start=\"1309\" data-end=\"1341\">Supervisory Board (Optional)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<ul data-start=\"1342\" data-end=\"1434\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1342\" data-end=\"1365\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1344\" data-end=\"1365\">Not required by law<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1366\" data-end=\"1434\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1368\" data-end=\"1434\">May be included if provided for in the <strong data-start=\"1407\" data-end=\"1434\">Articles of Association<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"1436\" data-end=\"1439\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1441\" data-end=\"1489\"><strong data-start=\"1445\" data-end=\"1489\">Residency and Local Contact Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1491\" data-end=\"1603\">If <strong data-start=\"1494\" data-end=\"1511\">more than 50%<\/strong> of the management board members <strong data-start=\"1544\" data-end=\"1584\">do not reside permanently in Estonia<\/strong>, the company must:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1605\" data-end=\"1783\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1605\" data-end=\"1679\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1607\" data-end=\"1679\">Appoint a <strong data-start=\"1617\" data-end=\"1641\">local contact person<\/strong> and provide an <strong data-start=\"1657\" data-end=\"1677\">Estonian address<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1680\" data-end=\"1783\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1682\" data-end=\"1783\">Foreign shareholders must also provide a <strong data-start=\"1723\" data-end=\"1756\">residential and email address<\/strong> to the Commercial Register<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote data-start=\"1785\" data-end=\"1847\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1787\" data-end=\"1847\">\ud83d\udd17 <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/ariregister.rik.ee\/\" target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"1790\" data-end=\"1847\">e-Business Register portal<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"1849\" data-end=\"1852\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"1854\" data-end=\"1883\"><strong data-start=\"1858\" data-end=\"1883\">Auditing Requirements<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1885\" data-end=\"1959\">An <strong data-start=\"1888\" data-end=\"1899\">auditor<\/strong> is mandatory if the O\u00dc exceeds certain thresholds, such as:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"1961\" data-end=\"2045\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1961\" data-end=\"1980\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1963\" data-end=\"1980\">Annual turnover<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"1981\" data-end=\"2013\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"1983\" data-end=\"2013\">Total assets (balance sheet)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2014\" data-end=\"2045\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2016\" data-end=\"2045\">Average number of employees<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2047\" data-end=\"2158\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2049\" data-end=\"2158\">\ud83d\udd17 <a target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2158\">Auditors Activities Act \u00a791<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2160\" data-end=\"2251\">The Articles of Association may also require an auditor even if the thresholds are not met.<\/p>\n<hr class=\"\" data-start=\"2253\" data-end=\"2256\" \/>\n<h3 class=\"\" data-start=\"2258\" data-end=\"2303\"><strong data-start=\"2262\" data-end=\"2303\">Other Legal Business Forms in Estonia<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul data-start=\"2305\" data-end=\"2492\">\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2305\" data-end=\"2340\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2307\" data-end=\"2340\"><strong data-start=\"2307\" data-end=\"2338\">Public Limited Company (AS)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2341\" data-end=\"2373\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2343\" data-end=\"2373\"><strong data-start=\"2343\" data-end=\"2371\">General Partnership (T\u00dc)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2374\" data-end=\"2406\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2376\" data-end=\"2406\"><strong data-start=\"2376\" data-end=\"2404\">Limited Partnership (U\u00dc)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2407\" data-end=\"2446\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2409\" data-end=\"2446\"><strong data-start=\"2409\" data-end=\"2444\">Commercial Association (\u00fchistu)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"\" data-start=\"2447\" data-end=\"2492\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2449\" data-end=\"2492\"><strong data-start=\"2449\" data-end=\"2474\">Sole Proprietor (FIE)<\/strong> \u2013 for individuals<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote data-start=\"2494\" data-end=\"2611\">\n<p class=\"\" data-start=\"2496\" data-end=\"2611\">\ud83d\udd17 <a target=\"_new\" rel=\"noopener\" data-start=\"2499\" data-end=\"2611\">Compare business types \u2013 e-Estonia<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2025 Guide A private limited company (Estonian: osa\u00fching, abbreviated O\u00dc) is the most popular business form in Estonia. It is a legal entity with share capital divided into shares, and it is liable for its obligations with all of its assets. Importantly, shareholders are not personally liable for the company\u2019s debts. \ud83d\udd17 Legal reference: Estonian [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1764","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_likes_enabled":false,"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/et\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1764","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/et\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/et\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/et\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/et\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1764"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/et\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1764\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/virtualofficeinestonia.com\/et\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1764"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}