ettevõtte

Ettevõte, in Estonian, is the term used for an enterprise or business that engages in commercial, industrial, or professional activities with the aim of profit. The word covers a wide range of activities and does not by itself specify a particular legal form. In everyday and formal language, ettevõte can refer to a single business or to a larger group of operations.

The concept is used across legal, economic and statistical contexts to describe any organism that carries out economic activity. An ettevõte may be a small sole proprietorship or a large corporate group. In Estonia, most small to medium-sized enterprises operate as private limited companies, while others may be registered as joint-stock companies or other legal forms. The term ettevõte also encompasses the operational and economic aspects of business life, such as production, service delivery, employment, and revenue generation.

Common legal forms for businesses in Estonia include osaühing (OÜ), which is the most widely used form for private limited companies, and aktsiaselts (AS), a joint-stock company suitable for larger ventures. Another form is füüsilisest isikust ettevõtja (FIE), a sole proprietor. Regardless of form, businesses are subject to registration and regulatory oversight. Key information about an ettevõte—such as its name, address, legal form, activities, management, and capital—enters the Commercial Register, maintained by the Centre of Registers and Information Systems and the national business registry.

Estonia emphasizes digital administration; many business processes, including registration and annual reporting, can be conducted online. The term ettevõte thus serves as a general label for economic actors in the Estonian market, while specific rights, obligations, and governance depend on the chosen legal form and applicable laws.