ettevõtete

Ettevõtte is the Estonian term for a business or enterprise engaged in economic activity, typically with the aim of profit. The form ettevõtete is the genitive plural used in legal and statistical texts to mean “of enterprises” or to refer to multiple businesses in possessive constructions. In practice, the term covers a range of organizational forms that can operate as legal entities or sole proprietorships.

Common forms of enterprises in Estonia include füüsilisest isikust ettevõtja (FIE), a sole proprietorship; osaühing (OÜ), a private limited company; and aktsiaselts (AS), a public limited company. Non-profit activity is usually conducted through mittetulundusühing (MTÜ). Foreign entities may establish operations in Estonia either as branches or through Estonian-registered enterprises.

All enterprises operating in Estonia must be registered with the Äriregister, the Estonian Business Register. Governance requirements depend on the chosen form: for example, OÜs have a management board, while ASes may have a management board and, in some cases, a supervisory board. Annual accounts are required, and larger entities may be subject to audits. The registration, reporting, and governance framework is designed to support clarity in ownership and accountability.

Tax and accounting: Estonia employs a corporate income tax system that generally taxes profits only when they are distributed to shareholders, with additional value-added tax and social security contributions as applicable. Accounting standards follow Estonian GAAP for smaller entities and align with international practices for larger groups, with extensive use of digital reporting.

The Estonian business environment is characterized by a high level of digital governance, enabling streamlined registration, digital signatures, and electronic invoicing, which supports a large share of small and medium-sized enterprises and an active startup sector.