Select the type of the legal person to be established
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Private limited company
minimum capital of 1 euro cent
the smallest share of one shareholder is 0.01 euros.
founders may be natural or legal persons
the memorandum and articles of association are necessary for the establishment and are replaced by the standard articles of association in the e-Business Register
there must be a management board
the requirement to submit the annual report
establishment state fee 265€
Sole trader
offers goods or services for a charge in its name
Place of business is in Estonia
no capital requirement
there is no need for the memorandum and articles of association
is responsible for liabilities with all of its assets
the possibility of temporary suspension or seasonal or temporary operation
no requirement to submit the annual report
establishment state fee 20€
Non-profit association
a voluntary association of persons, the objective or main activity of which shall not be the earning of income from economic activity
operates only to achieve the objectives specified in its articles of association
founders may be both natural and legal persons and there must be at least two of them
the highest body is the general meeting of its members
there must be a management board
the requirement to submit the annual report
non-profit associations also include artistic associations and religious associations
establishment state fee 30€
General partnership
at least two partners, who are solidarily liable for the obligations with all of their assets
partners may be natural or legal persons
shall operate on the basis of a partnership agreement, which also determines the amount of the contributions of the partners
the general partner has an obligation to participate in the management
no requirement to submit an annual report unless the general partner is a public limited company, private limited company, commercial association or non-profit association
establishment state fee 20€
Limited partnership
at least two partners, where the general partner is liable with all its assets and the limited partner is liable to the extent of the amounts of its contribution
partners may be natural or legal persons
shall operate on the basis of a partnership agreement, which also determines the amount of the contributions of the partners
a limited partner shall not have the right to manage or represent the limited partnership, unless the partnership agreement prescribes otherwise
no requirement to submit an annual report unless the general partner is a public limited company, private limited company, commercial association or non-profit association
establishment state fee 20€
Land improvement association
to jointly undertake management work
members are the owners of one or several complete land improvement systems or voluntary members who benefit from the activity
in addition to joint management work, the land improvement association may engage in activities emanating from the public interest in the functioning of the land improvement system or from the members’ common interest
the highest body is the general meeting of its members
there must be a management board
the requirement to submit the annual report
establishment state fee 30€
Branch of a foreign company
shall be entered in the register if a foreign company wishes to offer goods or services in Estonia on a permanent basis in its own name
the foreign company is liable for the obligations arising from the activities of the branch
a director directs and represents the branch and organises the accounting of the branch
establishment state fee 200€
Political party
a voluntary association of persons, the objective or main activity of which shall not be the earning of income from economic activity
operates only to achieve the objectives specified in its articles of association
founders may be both natural and legal persons and there must be at least two of them
the highest body is the general meeting of its members
there must be a management board
the requirement to submit the annual report
establishment state fee 30€
Trade union
a voluntary association of persons, the objective or main activity of which shall not be the earning of income from economic activity
operates only to achieve the objectives specified in its articles of association
founders may be both natural and legal persons and there must be at least two of them
the highest body is the general meeting of its members
there must be a management board
the requirement to submit the annual report
establishment state fee 30€
Establishment of a state and local government authority
Agency of the Executive or other state institution
authorities of executive power are governmental authorities and state authorities administered by governmental authorities
governmental authorities are authorities which are financed from the state budget and the main function of which is to exercise executive power
state authorities are authorities that are financed from the state budget, the principal function of which is not to exercise executive power, and which may be administered by governmental authorities, unless provided by law
Legal person in public law, constitutional institution or their agency
the state, local governments and other legal persons founded in the public interest and pursuant to an Act concerning such legal person are legal persons in public law
the constitutional institutions are the parliament of Estonia (Riigikogu), the President of the Republic, the Bank of Estonia (Eesti Pank), the National Audit Office, the Chancellor of Justice and the Supreme Court
Agency of local authority
a local government authority is an authority belonging to a membership of a rural municipality or city
the principal task of rural municipality and city authorities is to exercise public power
the principal task of the institutions managed by the rural municipality or city authorities is to provide public services at the local level
Legal persons established by a notary
Public limited company
minimum capital of EUR 25,000
shareholders are not personally liable
shares must be registered
founders may be natural or legal persons
a memorandum and articles of association are necessary for establishment
the general meeting of shareholders is the highest managing body
there must be a management board and supervisory board
there is a requirement to submit an annual report
Commercial co-operative
the purpose is to support the financial interests of the members
members usually do not have a personal proprietary liability
if the members have no personal liability, the minimum capital shall be EUR 2500
founders may be both natural and legal persons and there must be at least two of them
a memorandum and articles of association are necessary for establishment
the highest body is the general meeting
there must be a management board, in some cases a supervisory board
there is a requirement to submit an annual report
Foundation
to manage assets and achieve statutory objectives
revenues may only be used to achieve the objectives specified in its articles of association
founders may be natural or legal persons
there must be a management board and supervisory board
there is a requirement to submit an annual report
European Economic Interest Grouping (EEIG)
the purpose is to facilitate and develop the economic activities of its member undertakings
the purpose of the activities shall not be to make profits for itself
there is a requirement to submit an annual report
the provisions of law concerning general partnerships apply to groupings
European Company (SE)
a type of public limited company that allows you to run your business in different European countries using a single set of rules
minimum capital of EUR 120,000
there is a requirement to submit an annual report
the provisions of law concerning public limited company apply to European company
European Cooperative Society
the aim is to develop the economic and social activities of its members
minimum capital of EUR 30,000
there is a requirement to submit an annual report
the provisions of law concerning public limited company apply to the society
European grouping of territorial cooperation
the objective shall be to facilitate and promote cross-border, transnational and/or interregional cooperation with the exclusive aim of strengthening economic and social cohesion
there is a requirement to submit an annual report
the provisions of the Commercial Associations Act apply to the grouping
Other
Trust
a legal relationship established on the basis of the law of the country recognising it
trust property formed by a settlor is administered by a trustee
a trustee provides the data of beneficial owners
