ärivorme

Ärivorme, or business form, refers to the legal structure under which a business operates in Estonia. The chosen form defines who bears liability, how capital is contributed and managed, what taxation applies, and what reporting obligations exist. The term covers for-profit and non-profit organizations and can influence the ease of starting, financing, and growing a business.

The most common for-profit forms are osaühing (OÜ) and aktsiaselts (AS). An OÜ is a private limited company with liability limited to the owners’ contributions and its own separate legal personality; it is suitable for small to medium-sized enterprises and typically offers flexible governance. An AS is a public limited company used by larger firms seeking to raise capital through share issuance and typically subject to more extensive corporate governance requirements.

Other for-profit forms include täisühing (TÜ), a general partnership where partners have unlimited liability, and usaldusühing (UÜ), a limited partnership that combines a general partner with unlimited liability and limited partners whose liability is limited to their contributed capital.

Non-profit and other forms include mittetulundusühing (MTÜ), a non-profit association with activities not aimed at profit distribution, and füüsilisest isikust ettevõtja (FIE), a sole proprietor operating as a natural person with a simpler setup but with personal liability.

The choice of ärivorm affects liability, capital arrangements, governance, taxation, and regulatory obligations. Businesses may change form later, subject to legal and regulatory requirements, to align with growth, financing, or strategic goals.