Establishing a Private Limited company in Sweden

Aktiebolag (AB)

Establishing a private limited company (AB company), or incorporated company, (aktiebolag) in Sweden is a relatively simple and straightforward procedure. Here is a check list for the formal routine:
A Swedish private limited company becomes a legal entity once it has been registered by Bolagsverket, the Swedish Companies Registration Office.
For registration, certain documents (in Swedish) must be submitted:

  • Memorandum of association (stiftelseurkund) – 1 original or 1 certified copy.
  • Articles of association (bolagsordning) – The draft articles of association are to be attached to the memorandum of association.
  • Minutes of constituent meeting of shareholders (protokoll från konstituerande bolagsstämma) – 1 certified copy.
  • Bank certificate (bankintyg) – 1 original. The share capital, minimum SEK 25,000, must be deposited in a Swedish bank, which will issue a special certificate to that effect, signed by two bank officers.
  • Subscription list (teckningslista) – 1 original or 1 certified copy. Must be submitted only if subscription for shares has not been made on the memorandum of association.
  • Adopted articles of association (antagna bolagsordningen) – 2 copies. Must be submitted only if the draft articles of association have been changed at the shareholders’ meeting.
  • Permit from Companies Department for a person residing outside the EEA (European Economic Area) to be founder or company officer. This is only necessary under certain conditions.

These documents should accompany an application for registration, which is form 816 (registreringsanmälan), and sent to Bolagsverket.

The application must contain the specimen signatures of all board members, deputy members, the managing director and, if applicable, deputy managing director, and any other persons authorized to sign on behalf of the company. The signatures must be certified by two witnesses.
An authorized or approved public accountant must be appointed as company auditor and he or she must also sign the application to confirm acceptance of the appointment.
If the company has no authorized representative resident in Sweden, the board of directors must authorize a person resident in Sweden to accept service of process on behalf of the company. This person must be registered by the Patent and Registration Office.

Registration of a Private Limited company

Incorporation procedures

The company must be registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office. Before registration the company is non-existent and can therefore not enter any agreements whatsoever or start any business activities. When the registration is finalized, the Swedish Companies Registration Office must immediately make an announcement of these entries in the Swedish Official Gazette. When the registration procedure is complete the Private Limited Company will receive a registration number, which is used as the company’s identification number and remains as long as the company exists. The registration number must appear on the company’s letterhead, invoices and order forms.

Registration name

The company name must be registered with the Swedish Companies Registration Office in order to be protected. The name protection for a limited liability company is valid for Sweden and for the business activity that the company has registered. There are certain rules to be adhered to, such as the company name not being similar to any other registered company name or trade mark, not to be misleading or to describe only the activity of the company. The company’s name must include the Swedish word for limited liability company, aktiebolag, or the abbreviation AB.

Registration for taxes

Employers must register as such by filling the Notification of Tax and Contributions Liability (RSV 4620) and send it to the Swedish Tax Agency. On registration the employer will automatically be sent all the documents, VAT and PAYE returns and information required to account for and pay in VAT, income tax and social contributions.

Buying an “off the shelf” company

Some foreign companies may feel that registration of a limited liability company may be too complicated or take too much time. Therefore, the easiest and most common way of setting up a subsidiary in Sweden is to purchase a so-called “off-the-shelf company” from a company agent or law firm. Many law firms in Sweden have “off-the-shelf companies” available to enable a fast start-up process. Buying an “off-the-shelf” company means that many of the registration procedures at the Swedish Companies Registration Office described above already has been taken care of and the company can start its business immediately. However, the company still has to register a new name.

General information

Sweden is the largest country in the Nordic Region and has the biggest population. For many people, it is synonymous with flat-pack furniture, innovation, iron and steel. The country spends 3% of GDP on research and development. Sweden shares land borders with Norway in the west and Finland in the northeast.

Government

Constitutional Monarchy.

Capital

Stockholm is the capital and largest city of Sweden as well as the largest urban area in Scandinavia. Approximately 980,000 people live in the municipality, with 1.6 million in the urban area, and 2.4 million in the metropolitan area.

Legal system

There are four main sources of law in Sweden: legislation, preparatory legislative material, case law and academic literature. Legislation is the primary source. It is printed and promulgated in the Swedish Code of Statutes. Legislation is divided into acts, ordinances and regulations.

Population

The current population of Sweden is 10,261,205 as of January 2023, based on Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data. Sweden population is equivalent to 0.13% of the total world population. Sweden ranks number 91 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.

Languages

Swedish with a small Sami and Finnish-speaking minority.

Economy

The economy of Sweden is a highly developed export-oriented economy, aided by timber, hydropower, and iron ore. These constitute the resource base of an economy oriented toward foreign trade. The main industries include motor vehicles, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, industrial machines, precision equipment, chemical goods, home goods and appliances, forestry, iron, and steel. Traditionally, Sweden relied on a modern agricultural economy that employed over half the domestic workforce. Today Sweden further develops engineering, mine, steel, and pulp industries, which are competitive internationally, as evidenced by companies like Ericsson, ASEA/ABB, SKF, Alfa Laval, AGA, and Dyno Nobel.

Key trading partners

Sweden’s 6 biggest trading partners are Norway, Germany, United States of America, Denmark, Finland and the United Kingdom. Combined, that half-dozen of leading customers for Sweden’s exported products accounted for almost half (49.3%) of all Swedish exports (2022). Applying a continental lens, 69.8% of Sweden’s exports by value were delivered to fellow European countries while 14.1% were sold to importers in Asia. Sweden shipped another 9.2% worth of goods to North America. Tinier percentages went to Africa (1.8%), Latin America excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean (1.3%) and Oceania led by Australia (1.2%).

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