Limited company
You can start a limited company yourself or together with one or more other shareholders. To start a limited company, you need a capital investment of SEK 25,000.
Sole trader
As a sole trader, only you can be a company signatory. You are personally responsible for the company's finances. Registering the company name is optional.
Trading company
You start a trading company together with one or more other partners. The co-owners can be private individuals or companies. In a trading company, the partners are always personally and jointly liable.
Limited partnership
You start a limited partnership together with at least one more partner. A limited partnership is a special form of trading company where the liability of certain partners is limited to what they have invested in the company.
Do you want to register an association?
Find more information about starting an association and what forms of associations that are available.
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| Sole trader | Trading partnership | Limited partnership | Limited company | Economic association | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legal entity | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of owners | Only 1 person | At least 2 people or enterprises | At least 2 people or enterprises | At least 1 person or enterprise | At least 3 people or enterprises |
| Owner liability | The business operator is personally liable for the agreements entered into and for the debts of the enterprise. | The partnership can enter into agreements. The partners are liable if the partnership cannot pay its debts. | The partnership can enter into agreements. The general partner is liable if the partnership cannot pay its debts. | The company can enter into agreements and is liable for its debts. | The association can enter into agreements and is liable for its debts. |
| Capital requirement | No | No | General partner: no Limited partners: at least SEK 1 | At least SEK 25,000. | Yes, in the form of a cash or work investment. |
| Representatives | The sole trader | The partners | The general partner | The board of directors | The board of directors |
| Registration | With the Swedish Tax Agency and possibly the Swedish Companies Registration Office | With the the Swedish Companies Registration Office and the Swedish Tax Agency | With the the Swedish Companies Registration Office and the Swedish Tax Agency | With the the Swedish Companies Registration Office and the Swedish Tax Agency | With the the Swedish Companies Registration Office and the Swedish Tax Agency |
| Name protection | In the county | In the county | In the county | Nationwide | Nationwide |
| Form of taxation | F or FA tax (FA tax for income from both the business and employment) | The partnership: F tax Partners: SA tax (special debited A tax) | The partnership: F tax Partners: SA tax (special debited A tax) | The company: F tax The owners: A tax (employees) | The association: F tax The members: A tax (employees) |
| Taxation | The business operator is taxed for the surplus (income tax + social security contributions). | Partners are taxed for their part of the partnership’s surplus (income tax + social security contributions). | Partners are taxed for their part of the partnership’s surplus (income tax + social security contributions). | The company is taxed on its profit (corporation tax). The owners are taxed on salary withdrawn and possible dividends (income tax + possible gains tax). | The association is taxed on its profit (corporation tax). The members are taxed on salary taken out and possible dividends (income tax + possible gains tax). |
| Annual report and auditor | Only annual accounts. Auditor is not required. | If the trading partnership has a legal entity of a certain size as a co-owner, the partnership must appoint an accountant and submit an annual report to the Swedish Companies Registration Office. | If the limited partnership has a legal entity of a certain size as a co-owner, the partnership must appoint an accountant and submit an annual report to the Swedish Companies Registration Office. | All limited companies must file an annual report, and in certain cases an auditor’s report, with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. Small companies may choose not to have an auditor. Find out more at the website of the Swedish Companies Registration Office. | An annual report must be prepared and an auditor must be appointed. |
| Allocation of profit and loss | Normally only to the business owner. Exceptions are spouses and cohabitants with mutual children. | As per agreement if such an agreement exists. Equal distribution otherwise. | As per agreement if such an agreement exists. If no agreement exists and the partners cannot agree on the allocation, the issue must be decided in court. | Profit can be allocated to the shareholders in the form of a dividend. | Profit can be divided between the members in the form of a bonus. |
| Income as the basis of sickness benefits | Surplus | The surplus for the partners individually | The surplus for the partners individually | Salary withdrawn | Salary withdrawn |
| Qualifying period | 1, 7, 14, 30, 60 or 90 days | 1, 7, 14, 30, 60 or 90 days | 1, 7, 14, 30, 60 or 90 days | Salary withdrawn | Salary withdrawn |
| Pensionable income | Surplus | The surplus for the partners individually | The surplus for the partners individually | Salary withdrawn | Salary withdrawn |
| Register beneficial ownership | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |