Legal forms of business enterprise

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For information in English about the Hungarian administration system (government offices, government windows, allowances, etc.) you can call the governmental helpline, what you can find under “Everyday life – Governmental helpline” on this link: http://hu.danubecompass.org/archives/situations/governmental-helpline. If you are calling from Hungary call this number: 1818, if you are calling from abroad call this number: +36 (1) 550-1858.

Limited partnership (Betéti Társaság-Bt.)

A limited partnership must have minimum two members: one full and one silent partner. The full member is responsible with all his/her property for the company’s obligations which isn’t covered by its assets. The silent partner just has to provide the property deposit which is written in the contract, but he/she doesn’t responsible for the company’s obligations. There is no minimum equity capital. If you would like to establish a limited partnership you have to contact a lawyer. With the assistance of the lawyer you can prepare all the necessary documents and submit them to the local registry court. You have to pay the fee 25 000 HUF (~80,65 € in 2017) through the lawyer.

On this link you can find more information about how to start a business in Hungary (in English): http://www.ecovis.com/fileadmin/countries/hungary/how_to_start_business_hungary.pdf

You have to register the partnership at the local registry court and in the local tax office. You can find the list of the local offices of the Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal (National Tax and Customs Administration) on this link (in English): http://en.nav.gov.hu/contact/Tax_and_Customs_Directorates_of_the_NTCA/Central_Customer_Serv20160412.html. And you can search for the nearest office on this link (in Hungarian): http://www.nav.gov.hu/nav/ugyfelszolg

Limited Liability Company (Korlátolt Felelősségű Társaság-Kft.)

This is the most common business form in Hungary. To establish a Limited Liability Company the partnership needs to have minimum 3 million HUF (~9677 € in 2017) equity capital. The minimum capital contribution of one member is 100 000 HUF (~323 € in 2017), but the proportion of the capital contribution doesn’t represent the proportion of the voting rights. One person also can establish a limited liability company, in this case he/she has to put 100 000 HUF (~323 € in 2017) into the equity capital and provide 2.9 million HUF (9354 € in 2017) in the following 2 years. For the obligations of the company the members aren’t responsible. The members have to nominate a managing director who can be one of the members or an external person.
If you would like to establish a limited partnership you have to contact a lawyer. With the assistance of the lawyer you can prepare all the necessary documents and submit them to the local registry court. You have to pay the fee 50 000 HUF (~161,3 € in 2017) through the lawyer.

On this link you can find more information about how to start a business in Hungary (in English): http://www.ecovis.com/fileadmin/countries/hungary/how_to_start_business_hungary.pdf

You have to register the partnership at the local registry court and in the local tax office. You can find the list of the local offices of the Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal (National Tax and Customs Administration) on this link (in English): http://en.nav.gov.hu/contact/Tax_and_Customs_Directorates_of_the_NTCA/Central_Customer_Serv20160412.html. And you can search for the nearest office on this link (in Hungarian): http://www.nav.gov.hu/nav/ugyfelszolg

Company limited by shares, privately founded (Zártkörűen működő részvénytársaság – Zrt.)

The minimum equity capital is 5 million HUF (~16129 € in 2017). The shares of the company cannot be sold publicly, just the shareholders can sell it. The founders can put it to the founding document that the shareholders have pre-emptive right if one member would like to sell his/her shares. The shareholders aren’t responsible for the company’s obligations. One person can establish a Zrt.
If you would like to establish a Zrt. you have to contact a lawyer. With the assistance of the lawyer you can prepare all the necessary documents and submit them to the local registry court. You have to pay the fee 50 000 HUF (~161,3 € in 2017) through the lawyer.
On this link you can find more information about how to start a business in Hungary (in English): http://www.ecovis.com/fileadmin/countries/hungary/how_to_start_business_hungary.pdf

You have to register the partnership at the local registry court and in the local tax office. You can find the list of the local offices of the Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal (National Tax and Customs Administration) on this link (in English):

http://en.nav.gov.hu/contact/Tax_and_Customs_Directorates_of_the_NTCA/Central_Customer_Serv20160412.html. And you can search for the nearest office on this link (in Hungarian): http://www.nav.gov.hu/nav/ugyfelszolg.

Company limited by shares, publicly founded (nyilvánosan működő részvénytársaság – Nyrt.)

The minimum equity capital is 20 million HUF (~64516,13 € in 2017). The shares of the company can be sold publicly, the shareholders aren’t responsible for the company’s obligations. You cannot establish a Nyrt. just introduce the shares of a Zrt. on the stock market. To do this the assistance of an investment service provider is needed.

On this link you can find more information about how to start a business in Hungary (in English): http://www.ecovis.com/fileadmin/countries/hungary/how_to_start_business_hungary.pdf

You have to contact an investment service provider. On this link you can find these companies (in Hungarian): http://alk.mnb.hu/data/cms2430407/befszolgtev_2015_04_21.pdf

Sole trader (egyéni vállalkozó)

An individual entrepreneur is the owner of the company who operates on his/her behalf and own account. To become an individual entrepreneur you have to be at least 18 years old and hold a business license. If you’re an individual entrepreneur you are liable for the company responsibilities.

You can establish a sole business online. To do this you need to have a so-called Client Gate (ügyfélkapu), what you can make in every government window for free. You have to decide about the scope of activities and check if a permit is needed to do the activity you choose. You have to decide the way of taxation, to this you might need a help of an accountant.
You have to register your business in the municipality to pay business tax, in the local chamber of commerce and industry and in the local tax office.
On this link you can find more information about setting up an individual entrepreneurship in Hungary (in English): http://www.lawyershungary.com/setting-up-a-sole-trader-in-hungary.
On this link you can find more information about how to start a business in Hungary (in English): http://www.ecovis.com/fileadmin/countries/hungary/how_to_start_business_hungary.pdf

• You can register through the client gate: You can read more about this under “Business” – “Obtaining digital certificates – client gate (ügyfélkapu)”
• local tax office: You can find the list of the local offices of the Nemzeti Adó- és Vámhivatal (National Tax and Customs Administration) on this link (in English): http://en.nav.gov.hu/contact/Tax_and_Customs_Directorates_of_the_NTCA/Central_Customer_Serv20160412.html. And you can search for the nearest office on this link (in Hungarian): http://www.nav.gov.hu/nav/ugyfelszolg (Hungarian).