Hamburger

Minimum capital requirement

Argentina

Corporation (Sociedad Anónima or SA)

Minimum capital of SA is ARS100,000.

Single-Shareholder Corporation (Sociedad Anónima Unipersonal or SAU)

Minimum capital of SAU is ARS100,000.

Simplified Corporation (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada or SAS)

Minimum capital of SAS shall be twice the national minimum vital and mobile wage established at the time of its incorporation (as of January 2024: ARS312,000 in total).

Limited Liability Company (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada or SRL)

No minimum capital requirement.

Australia

Branch

No specified minimum capital requirement.

Proprietary company

No specified minimum capital requirement.

Public company

No specified minimum capital requirement.

Austria

General Partnership and Limited Partnership

No minimum capital requirement.

Limited Liability Company

  • EUR10,000 minimum share capital, with at least EUR500 paid up in cash

  • A GmbH privileged at foundation may be established: the minimum share capital is EUR10,000, with at least EUR5,000 paid up in cash. The status as a GmbH privileged at foundation ends after 10 years after registration at the latest.
  • Formation by contribution in kind is possible.

Stock Corporation

  • EUR70,000 is the minimum share capital, with 25 percent of the minimum issue amount fully paid up in cash.
  • Formation by contribution in kind is possible.

Bahrain

With Limited Liability (WLL)

No minimum capital requirement as it depends on the activity/objective that will be undertaken.

Closed Shareholding Company (BSC(c))

Not less than BHD250,000.

 

Foreign Branch (Branch)

No minimum capital required.

Belgium

Public limited company (société anonyme/naamloze vennootschap)

Minimum capital: EUR 61,500 fully paid up at the time of incorporation.

Above the minimum, each share must be paid up to 25 percent.

Next to a cash contribution, a contribution in kind can additionally be made.

Limited company (société à responsabilité limitée/besloten vennootschap)

There is no capital requirement. Obligation to have a net equity which is, taking into account other sources of financing, sufficient in the light of the envisioned activities.

Next to a cash contribution, also a contribution in kind or in industry can be made.

Belgian branch office of a foreign company

Not applicable for this jurisdiction.

Brazil

Limited liability company (Sociedade Limitada)

In principle, there is no legal requirement concerning the minimum capital for a Sociedade Limitada (except if a foreign person is expected to work as manager of the Brazilian company, in which case a minimum capital of BRL150,000 –approximately US30,900 – plus the commitment to create 10 job positions within 2 years or a paid-in foreign capital amounting to at least, BRL600,000 – approximately US124,000 – is required for visa purposes).

Corporation (Sociedade Anônima)

In general, there is no minimum capital requirement (except if a foreign person is expected to work as officer of the Brazilian company, in which case a minimum capital of BRL150,000 – approximately US30,900 – plus the commitment to create 10 job positions within 2 years or a paid-in foreign capital amounting to at least BRL600,000 – approximately US124,000– is required for visa purposes).

Depending on the corporate purpose, there might be a minimum capital requirement, such as in the case of insurance companies and certain financial institutions.

Canada

Corporate subsidiary (Corporation form rather than flow-through form) 

No minimum capital requirement – however, there are thin-capitalization rules that could deny deductions for interest payments to specified non-residents.

Chile

Limited Liability Company (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada or SRL)

There is no obligation for a minimum capital.

Corporation (Sociedad Anónima or S.A.)

There is no obligation for a minimum capital, except in the case of certain special corporations.

Simplified Corporation (Sociedades por Acciones or SpA)

There is no obligation for a minimum capital.

Branch of a Foreign Legal Entity (Agencia)

There is no obligation for a minimum capital.

China

No minimum capital required unless otherwise provided under the relevant laws, regulations or decisions of the State Council. The revised PRC Company Law requires the registered capital of an LLC to be contributed within 5 years from the establishment of the LLC.  Existing LLCs, which were established without such 5-year contribution deadline, would have to amend their articles of association to comply with the 5-year requirement, subject to implementation rules to be promulgated.

Colombia

General partnership (Sociedad Colectiva)

No minimum capital requirement. When incorporating a general partnership, partners must indicate amount of their contributions to the company.

Limited partnership (Sociedad en Comandita Simple y por Acciones)

No minimum capital requirement. The company's capital is composed of contributions made by limited partners. Managing partners may also contribute to the company's capital. 

Limited liability partnership (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada)

No minimum capital requirement. When incorporating a limited liability partnership, partners must indicate amount of their contributions to the company.

Corporation (Sociedad Anónima)

Generally, there is no minimum capital requirement. Colombian Superintendence of Finance establishes minimum capital requirements if a corporation plans to  carry out financial activities. A corporation has authorized capital, subscribed capital and paid capital. 

Simplified stock company (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada)

No minimum capital requirement. A simplified stock company has authorized capital, subscribed capital and paid capital. 

Czech Republic

Limited liability company

There is a minimum of CZK1.

Joint stock company

There is a minimum of CZK2 million or EUR80,000.

Denmark

Limited liability company (Kapitalselskab)

Limited liability companies must have the following minimum share capitals respectively:

  • Private limited company (anpartsselskab): DKK40,000.
  • Public limited company (aktieselskab): DKK400,000.
  • Limited partnership company (partnerselskab): DKK400,000.

The share capital may be paid in the form of cash, assets (non-cash contribution) or a combination of the 2.

It is possible to pay only 25 percent of the nominal share capital upon formation if the contribution is paid in cash only; however, at least DKK40,000 must be paid prior to registration.

The share capital may be increased or decreased late by following the procedures stipulated in the Danish Companies Act, which generally requires a decision by qualified majority of the shareholders.

However, the share capital may not be decreased below the company's legal minimum share capital.

Egypt

JSC

Minimum capital required is EGP250,000. However, the minimum capital of a JSC may vary depending on the company’s activity and the decrees issued regulating such activity. In respect of the JSCs whose shares are offered to public subscription, the required minimum capital is EGP500,000.

LLC

No minimum capital requirement. It is determined by the quotaholders in the company’s AoI.

OPC

Minimum capital required is EGP1,000.

Branch

Not applicable. The foreign-based company shall only deposit an amount equivalent to EGP5,000.

RO

Not applicable. The parent company shall only deposit an amount equivalent to EGP5,000.

Finland

Osakeyhtiö (Oy)

  • Private Limited Liability Company (Oy): EUR0
  • Public Limited Liability Company (Julkinen osakeyhtiö, Oyj): EUR80,000

France

Société par actions simplifiée (SAS)

The minimum is EUR1.

Société à responsabilité limitée (SARL)

There is a minimum of EUR1.

Société anonyme (SA)

EUR37,000.

Germany

GmbH – limited liability company

There is a minimum of EUR25,000. 

Greece

Societe anonyme (S.A.)

The minimum share capital required for the establishment of a societe anonyme is currently EUR25,000, fully paid upon the establishment of the company.

Limited liability company (L.L.C.) 

No minimum capital requirement.

Private company (P.C.)

No minimum capital requirement.

Hong Kong, SAR

Limited private companies

No minimum capital requirement.

Hungary

Private company limited by shares (Zrt.)

At least HUF5 million (USD14,000).

Limited liability company (Kft.)

At least HUF3 million (USD8,500).

India

Private limited company

No minimum capital requirement stipulated under the law. Typically, companies are incorporated with a nominal capital of INR100,000.

Indonesia

Limited liability company

Generally, the authorized capital is determined based on the agreement of the company’s founders (without any minimum requirement). Certain lines of business (such as banking, insurance etc.) will be subject to relevant regulations that may require a minimum amount of capital. At least 25 percent of the authorized capital must be issued and paid up as required under the Indonesian Company Law. The shareholders of a foreign investment company (a company with any number of foreign shareholders - a PMA company) must invest more than IDR10 billion for each line of business, excluding the value of any land and or building, per project location. The investment value is to be realized at a later stage (not at the time of establishment). For the establishment of a PMA company, a minimum of issued and paid-up share capital or equity is IDR10 billion.

Ireland

Private company limited by shares (LTD)

No minimum capital requirement.

 

External company

Determined by the laws of the jurisdiction of incorporation.

Israel

Company

No minimal requirement.

Branch / representative office

Not applicable.

Italy

Società a responsabilità limitata (S.r.l.)

Minimum capital requirement of EUR 10,000. It is possible to incorporate a S.r.l. with a corporate capital of less than EUR10,000 provided that:

  • The corporate capital is at least equal to EUR1

  • The entire amount must be paid in cash by the directors of the company and
  • A special reserve is formed to fill the gap in the capital with the future profits of the company.

Società per azioni (S.p.A.) 

EUR50,000.

Japan

Registered branch

Depends on the governing law of the foreign company.

Kabushiki-Kaisha (KK)

JPY 1.

Godo-Kaisha (GK)

JPY 1.

Luxembourg

Private limited liability company (Société à responsabilité limitée or S.à r.l.)

EUR 12,000, fully paid-up upon incorporation.

Public limited liability company (Société anonyme or S.A.)

EUR 30,000, fully subscribed and at least 1/4 of each share must be paid up.

Special limited partnership (Société en commandite spéciale or SCSp)

No minimum capital requirement.

Malaysia

The minimum capital requirement is 1 share. 

Mauritius

For Global Business Corporations and Authorized Companies, the minimum capital requirement is USD1.

There is no minimum capital requirement for the PCC and for domestic companies. In practice, it will be of USD1 for PCC and MUR1 for domestic companies.

Mexico

S.A. de C.V.

No minimum capital requirement.

S. de R.L. de C.V.

No minimum capital requirement.

S.A.P.I. de C.V.

No minimum capital requirement.

Netherlands

Branch office

Determined by governing law of the head office.

B.V. (private company with limited liability)

No minimum capital requirement. Issued capital can be as small as EUR0.01 (or 1 cent in any other currency).

Co-operative U.A.

No minimum capital requirement. The membership agreement or, if so determined in the articles, the general meeting of members, can commit a member to make a payment of initial or additional equity into the co-operative.

C.V. (a limited partnership)

No minimum capital requirement, as long as each partner contributes some capital or other assets to the CV, as to be agreed by the partners.

New Zealand

Limited liability company

Limited liability companies have no specified minimum capital requirements. However, the Board must be satisfied that the relevant company satisfies the solvency test set out in the Companies Act immediately after making a distribution. The solvency test will be satisfied if: (1) the company is able to pay its debts as they become due in the normal course of business; and (2) the value of the company’s assets is greater than the value of its liabilities (including contingent liabilities).

Branch

No specified minimum capital requirement.

Nigeria

The minimum issued share capital of a private company shall be a sum not less than NGN100,000. However, for a public company, the minimum issued share capital is not to be less than NGN2 million. It is worthy of mention that companies with foreign participation are required to have a minimum capital of NGN10 million. It is important to note that the concept of authorized share capital no longer exists under Nigerian law, and, as such, a Nigerian registered entity only has issued share capital per time.

Some sector-specific laws and regulations have also imposed higher minimum capital requirements for companies operating within that sector.

 

Norway

Private LLCs

NOK30,000.

Public LLCs

NOK1 million.

Partnerships with unlimited liability

No minimum capital requirement.

Peru

Corporation, Closed Stock Corporation and Open Corporation (Sociedad Anónima or S.A., Sociedad Anónima Cerrada or S.A.C. and Sociedad Anónima Abierta or S.A.A.)

There is no obligation for a minimum capital.

Limited Liability Company (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada or S.R.L.)

There is no obligation for a minimum capital.

Branch of a Foreign Legal Entity (Sucursal)

There is no obligation for a minimum capital.

Philippines

Subsidiary

USD200,000 equity capital for domestic market enterprise, or USD100,000 paid-in capital, if:

  • Involved in advanced technology as determined and certified by the Philippines' Department of Science and Technology (DOST);
  • Endorsed as startup or startup enablers by DOST, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) or other lead host agencies pursuant to the Innovative Startup Act; or
  • A majority of the direct employees are Filipinos, but in no case shall the number of Filipino employees be less than 15.

Note: Under the rules and regulations of Republic Act No. 11647, amending Foreign Investment Act of 1991, startup means any person, natural or juridical, registered in the Philippines which aims to develop an innovative product, process or business model. Startup enabler means any person registered under the Philippine startup development program that provides goods, services or capital identified to be critical in supporting the operation and growth of startups by the DTI in consultation with DOST, DICT, and pertinent government and non-government organizations. Startup enablers include startup accelerators, incubators, co-working spaces, investors, funders, event or meetup organizers catered to startups and other support organizations.

  • Above minimum capitalization requirement is not applicable if the subsidiary intends to export more than 60 percent of its products, in which case the company will be incorporated as an export market enterprise.

Branch office

  • USD200,000 equity capital for domestic market enterprise
  • USD100,000 paid-in capital if:
    • Involved in advanced technology as determined and certified by the DOST;
    • Endorsed as startup or startup enablers by DOST, DTI, DICT or other lead host agencies pursuant to the Innovative Startup Act; or
    • A majority of the direct employees are Filipinos, but in no case shall the number of Filipino employees be less than 15.
  • Above minimum capitalization requirement is not applicable if the subsidiary intends to export more than 60 percent of its products
  • The Revised Corporation Code has removed the prescribed minimum paid-up capital requirement of PHP5,000. However, for certain corporations regulated by special laws which prescribe a minimum capitalization, such minimum capitalization will continue to apply. Further, if the branch will engage in business as a domestic market enterprise (ie, not for export) it is required to comply with the USD200,000 (or USD100,000) minimum capital discussed above.

  • In addition to the minimum capital requirement, the branch must deposit with the SEC acceptable securities with market value of PHP500,000
  • Within 6 months after each fiscal year, the branch must deposit additional securities equivalent in market value to 2 percent of its gross income in excess of PHP10 million

Representative office

Initial remittance of at least USD30,000. This is a one-time remittance requirement, but the representative office is fully subsidized by the head office.

Regional or area headquarters

Annual inward remittance of at least USD50,000.

Regional operating headquarters

Initial remittance of USD200,000. This is a one-time remittance requirement.

Partnership

  • USD200,000 equity capital for domestic market enterprise
  • USD100,000 paid-in capital if:
    • Involved in advanced technology as determined by the DOST or
    • Endorsed as startup or startup enablers by DOST, DTI, DICT or other lead host agencies pursuant to the Innovative Startup Act; or
    • A majority of the direct employees are Filipinos, but in no case shall the number of Filipino
  • Above minimum capitalization requirement is not applicable if the partnership intends to export more than 60 percent of its products

Poland

PLN5,000 for limited liability companies, PLN100,000 for joint-stock companies, PLN1 for simplified joint-stock companies and PLN50,000 for limited joint-stock partnerships. No limits exist in respect of other organizational forms.

As of March 1, 2021, all shares in non-public joint-stock companies and limited joint-stock partnerships are subjected to general and mandatory dematerialization. Shares in these entities can no longer exist in paper form but must instead exist as a digital record (ie, dematerialized form).

Mandatory dematerialization generates numerous obligations for joint-stock companies, in particular the companies are obliged to conclude an agreement with the external entity responsible for handling the register of shares.

Portugal

Save for some supervised entities (eg, fund management companies or collective investment companies), there are no capital requirements, except for the share capital minimum amounts above detailed in FORM OF ENTITY.

Puerto Rico

Corporations

No minimum capital requirement.

Limited Liability Companies

No minimum capital requirement.

Romania

Joint stock company (JSC)

  • Minimum share capital of RON90,000
  • Minimum nominal value per share of RON0.1

Limited liability company (LLC)

  • Minimum share capital – no minimum value
  • Minimum nominal value per share – no minimum value

Russia

Joint-stock company (public and non-public)

For a public joint-stock company: RUB100,000

For a non-public joint-stock company: RUB10,000

Limited liability company

There is a minimum of RUB10,000.

Saudi Arabia

Limited liability company

Although there is no statutory minimum capital requirement, in practice, MISA often requires foreign LLCs to have a capital of at least SAR500,000. In certain types of activities, specific minimum capital is prescribed by MISA:

  • Service/property investment project: SAR30 million

  • Service/property financing projects SAR200 million with 40 percent Saudi shareholding

  • Service/transport: SAR500,000

  • Contracting: SAR500,000 (but have revenue/asset value requirements)

  • Commercial (with minimum 25 percent Saudi partner): a minimum contribution from the foreign shareholder of SAR20 million and a pro rata contribution from the Saudi shareholder

  • Commercial (100 percent foreign): SAR30 million and commitment to invest at least SAR200 million – SAR300 million (subject to certain criteria) over the first 5 years.

Singapore

Limited liability company 

The minimum paid-up capital requirement is 1 dollar in the currency of the shareholder's choice unless a higher capital requirement is prescribed in a required license.

South Africa

There are generally no minimum share capital requirements in South Africa, however the laws of certain industries such as insurance and banking do impose minimum capital requirements. Companies can be formed with nominal share capital and funding can be provided by way of cash, assets or services subject to exchange control requirements in case of foreign investment.

South Korea

Joint-stock company (Jusik Hoesa)

Except for certain businesses that require additional licenses, there is no minimum capital requirement; however, in case of a foreign investor, at least KRW100 million is required for each foreign investor to be qualified for benefits under the Foreign Investment Promotion Law (the FIPL).

Limited company (Yuhan Hoesa)

Except for certain businesses that require additional licenses, there is no minimum capital requirement; however, in the case of a foreign investor, at least KRW100 million required for each foreign investor to be qualified for benefits under the FIPL.

Spain

Branch (Sucursal)

There are no minimum capital (fund allocation) requirements.

Limited liability company (Sociedad Limitada)

Minimum of EUR1. However, until the share capital reaches a minimum of 3EUR3,000, special rules apply regarding company reserves and shareholder / director liabilities.

Joint-stock company (Sociedad Anónima)

Minimum of EUR60,000.

Sweden

Limited company (aktiebolag or AB)

SEK25,000 for private AB and SEK500,000 for public AB

Trading partnership (handelsbolag or HB)

No minimum capital requirement.

Limited partnership (kommanditbolag or KB)

No minimum capital requirement.

Branch office (filial)

Not applicable for this jurisdiction.

Switzerland

Stock corporation

Minimum stated capital of CHF100,000 (or an equivalent amount denominated in a foreign currency that is of importance for the business activity). When issuing registered shares, 20 percent of the share capital, but minimum of CHF50,000 (or, if the share capital is denominated in a foreign currency, an amount equivalent to CHF50,000 in the foreign currency) must be paid-in at the time of incorporation.

Taiwan, China

Company limited by shares

None, unless the company is engaged in a business/industry that is required by the competent authority to have a minimum amount of capital or if it employs a foreigner to work in Taiwan.

Closely-held company limited by shares

None, unless the CHC is engaged in a business/industry that is required by the competent authority to have a minimum amount of capital or if it employs a foreigner to work in Taiwan.

Limited company

None, unless the company is engaged in a business/industry that is required by the competent authority to have a minimum amount of capital or if it employs a foreigner to work in Taiwan.

Branch office of a foreign company

None, unless the branch office is engaged in a business/industry that is required by the competent authority to have a minimum amount of working capital or if it employs a foreigner to work in Taiwan.

Thailand

Private limited company

As the amount of a share must not be less than THB5 and the minimum number of shareholders is 2, theoretically, the minimum registered capital amount required to incorporate a private limited company is THB10. However, this is generally not the case in practice, as private limited companies usually have a minimum registered capital in the amount sufficient to operate their business (ie, more than THB10).

Public limited company

No minimum capital requirement.

Partnerships

No minimum capital requirement.

Turkey

Joint-stock company (JSC)

Minimum capital requirement is TL250,000, while this amount is TL500,000 for the non-public JSCs which accept the registered capital system.

Limited liability company (LLC)

Minimum capital requirement is TL50,000.

Ukraine

Limited liability company (LLC)

None, although a low amount of charter capital may sometimes be a trigger for counterparties.

Private Joint-Stock Company

Minimum charter capital for a PJSC constitutes 200 minimum wages as of the date of PJSC incorporation (the amount of minimum wage is stipulated by the law annually). As of January 2023, minimum charter capital of PJSC amounts to UAH1,340,000 (approximately EUR33,770).

In case of decrease of charter capital, the changed amount of the charter capital should be no less than 200 minimum wages as of the date of such increase, otherwise the PJSC will have to be liquidated.

United Arab Emirates

LLC

The UAE Companies Law does not prescribe any minimum share capital but the entity should have adequate capital to achieve the purposes of its incorporation and the capital shall consist of shares equal in value. Until recently, the generally accepted minimum share capital for an LLC registered in Dubai was AED10,000. Presently, there is no requirement to deposit the share capital in a UAE registered bank. It will suffice to include details of its share capital in the LLC's memorandum of association and to have the same duly notarized by the UAE notary public. 

Branch

Not applicable for this jurisdiction.

FZ-LLC

Varies depending on which free zone the company will be registered with and sometimes the proposed activity. For example, in Dubai Media City, the minimum paid-up capital requirement is AED50,000 except for when the proposed activity is within the Broadcasting TV Segment and Radio Segment, which has a minimum capital requirement of AED2.5 million.

FZ-Branch

Not applicable for this jurisdiction.

Dual Licence Branch

Not applicable for this jurisdiction.

United Kingdom

Private limited company

Companies must have a share capital, which can be any value above 0.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

There is no concept of share capital, and no minimum capital requirement.

Registered UK establishment

Not applicable for this form of entity.

United States

C corporation

No minimum capital requirement.

S corporation

No minimum capital requirement.

Limited liability company (LLC)

No minimum capital requirement.

Vietnam

Generally, there are no minimum capital requirements, except for some strictly regulated businesses (eg, banking, insurance, securities, education and real estate development).