Starting a business in Portugal

Legal Forms of Companies

The Sociedade por quotas de responsabilidade limitada (Lda): Limited Liability Company

Number of partners: Two partners minimum. There may be one partner only in the case of a Single Person Private Limited Liability company (SUQ).
Capital (max/min): Minimum EUR 1.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.

The Sociedade anonima de responsabilidade limidada (SA): Public Limited Company

Number of partners: Five partners minimum; they may be foreigners and non-residents.
Capital (max/min): 50,000 EUR minimum, entirely taken up, with the obligation to release at least 30%.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is limited to the amount of capital contributed.

The Sociedade em nome colectivo: General Partnership

Number of partners: Two partners minimum.
Capital (max/min): No minimum share capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is joint and indefinite regarding third parties.

The Sociedade em comandita: Limited Joint-stock Partnership

Number of partners: Two partners minimum, with active partners and silent partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum share capital.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is indefinite for active partners, and limited to the amount of capital contributed for silent partners.

Business Setup Procedures

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.