Read about the three main business entities and how to register your company.
The Danish Commerce and Companies Agency (DCCA) handles the registration of the company and issues a CVR-number. There are three main business entities:
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Public limited company (Aktieselskab or A/S)
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Private limited company (Anpartsselskab or ApS)
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Branch office (udenlandsk filial)
If you want to establish a representative office (repræsentationskontor), there are no registration requirements.
Many lawyers have shelf companies available to enable a fast start-up process. The fast start-up process may be as short as 1 to 2 days.
To find a lawyer in Copenhagen, click here
Private and Public Limited Companies
When planning to establish a private or public limited company, you must provide the following information about your new company:
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Starting date
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Name of company and address in Denmark
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The names and addresses of the members of the Management Board, the Board of Directors, and the Chairman
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Name and address of accountant
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Articles of association and fiscal year
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The object of the company
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The company’s provisions for signatories (the joint Board of Directors can always bind the company legally by their signatures)
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The share capital (at least DKK 500,000 for a public limited company (A/S), and at least DKK 125,000 for a private limited company (ApS)).
This information must be entered into a registration form, which can be obtained from the DCCA.
For more in-depth information, please refer to the factsheet “Business entities”
Branch of a foreign company
A branch office can be established in Denmark if the parent company is registered in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, the USA, Estonia or Australia. If the parent company is not registered in any of these countries, the parent company must send a statement of reciprocity along with the registration form.
If a branch office is set up, the following information about the parent company is required:
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Names and addresses of the persons authorised to sign for the branch
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Name and address of the manager of the branch, including CPR number
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Basic information about the parent company
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Provisions regulating the power to bind the parent company
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Provisions regulating the power to bind the branch office
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Object of the parent company
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Object of the branch office
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Capital of the parent company
The completed registration form must be accompanied by detailed documentation about the parent company.
Processing time
When you have submitted the requested information, the agency will register your company and issue a CVR number. If the requirements are met, the processing time will typically be 1 to 2 weeks. The DCCA will forward the CVR number to The Central Customs and Tax Administration (CCTA), whom you also have to contact in order to be registered for VAT and tax purposes.
Once a year you will be required to send an audited annual report to the CCTA and the DCCA. An accountant should be retained in the early planning stages to have proper advice on the information required in the annual report.
For a list of accountants: click here
For registration, go to: http://www.eogs.dk/sw644.asp
An English version of the legislation on public companies carrying out business for profit; go to:
http://www.eogs.dk/sw11886.asp
Useful addresses:
The Danish Commerce and Companies Agency (Erhvervs- og Selskabsstyrelsen)
Kampmannsgade 1,
1780 København V
Phone: +45 33 30 77 00
Fax: +45 33 30 77 99
www.eogs.dk
email: eogs@eogs.dk
