Foretaksformer

Foretaksformer, or business forms, refer to the legal structures a company can take. The chosen form defines ownership and control, how liability is allocated, how profits are taxed, and what kinds of regulatory requirements apply. The right form depends on factors such as the size of the business, funding needs, and whether the owners want limited liability or personal responsibility for debts.

In Norway the main forms include:

- Enkeltpersonforetak (ENK): a sole proprietorship owned by one person. The owner has unlimited personal liability for business debts. The setup is simple, and profits are taxed as personal income; there is no separate legal entity apart from the owner.

- Aksjeselskap (AS): a limited liability company. It is a separate legal entity from its owners, who are liable only to the extent of their share capital. A minimum share capital of 30,000 NOK is required. Governance typically includes a general meeting and a board of directors. Profits are taxed at the corporate level, with dividends taxed at the shareholder level.

- Allmennaksjeselskap (ASA): a public limited company intended for stock market trading. It has the same basic liability protection as AS but with higher capital requirements and stricter governance and reporting rules.

- Ansvarlig selskap (ANS) and Delt ansvar (DA): partnership forms where owners have personal liability. In ANS, partners usually share unlimited liability; in DA, liability is shared in proportion to each partner’s contributed capital.

Choosing a foretaksform influences capital needs, risk exposure, taxation, and compliance obligations. Jurisdictional specifics may vary, so legal or accounting advice is often advisable when deciding.