Establishing a company in Austria (Business and Private)
What to do when 3rd country nationals want to establish a company in Austria? Your ERVICo-Team will help you!
First, as in all aspects of business, you need to have a good idea and plan. A plan, which will ensure that your company can survive, so ultimately you can support yourself and your family from the profits of your company, from the very beginning (minimum requirement)! Your top priority should be to create a Business Plan.
You will eventually need it to convince the Austrian authorities that your company is able to provide a macroeconomic benefit beyond its operational benefit. This is already the main requirement to acquire the respective residence and work permits (Self-employed Key Persons) for you and your family.
Most important, therefore, is to convince the commission reviewing your business idea of the success and marketability of your idea. Your idea does not necessarily have to be extraordinary, but it needs to work within the specific marketplace, Austria, and the commission needs to be convinced of this.
In case your idea contains a very high level of innovation (products, services, processing methods, technologies, etc.) you may alternatively strive for a residence and work permit for start-up founders. This allows the access to specific organizations supporting the implementation of your organization, including risk capital bonus for investors, co-investments, support in structural development, and many more. Therefore, the innovative character of your idea and plan is a MUST, because it will be carefully reviewed.
Depending on the size of the investment, alternatively the foundation of a GmbH may also be targeted. As an employee of this company or even a Managing Director (with or without a maximum share of 25%) you could strive for one of the existing residence and work permits for employed persons in Austria. However, the establishing of a GmbH is comparably more expensive than a sole proprietorship, at least in the initial phase of establishing a company (capital requirements, corporation contract etc.). The company establishing in Austria may possibly be executed by a foreign company, too (e.g. subsidiary).
Irrespective of the selected form, this way of migration is very interesting, but at the same time quite challenging. The local support by a partner is therefore crucial for this way of migration to Austria.
ERVICo is the organization which can help navigate you in finding the correct approach through the maze of different public or private organizations which support such processes. Most of the support is provided by ERVICo, but other organizations are brought in by ERVICo if needed, to offer even more support. Whether public, or private ones, these company advisors are very experienced, e.g. in checking Business Plans.