Types of Companies in Greece: AE, EPE and Partnerships

Our team of specialists can help you incorporate all types of companies in Greece. Please address us for legal representation. We can also offer other services companies will require after the incorporation procedure has been completed.

What are the main types of companies available in Greece?

In Greece, there are two major forms of businesses: companies (A.E – company limited by shares, E.P.E – limited liability company) and partnerships (O.E – general partnership, E.E – limited partnership, silent partnership). A company in Greece can also operate as a joint venture or as a branch office of a foreign company.

What is a Greek company limited by shares – A.E?

A public company limited by shares is one of the legal entities that can be registered in Greece; it is known in Greek as Anonymous Etaireia, and it provides numerous advantages for almost all business activities. This is why it is a very common way to carry a business in this country, given that investors benefit from limited liability, limited to their capital participation.

Quick Facts
Types of legal entities in Greece	The main types of companies in Greece are: the limited liability company, the joint stock company, partnerships (general, limited, silent), the sole trader and the branch office.
The characteristics of the LLC	A limited liability company (LLC) is a separate entity from its founders, who benefit from limited liability against corporate debts. It can be set up by minimum 1 shareholder and 1 director.
The characteristics of the stock company	The stock company has the same traits as the ones of an LLC, the difference being that the company can be publicly traded. It is incorporated by 1 shareholder as well, and it has a large capital requirement (EUR 25,000).
The characteristics of the partnership	Partnerships are set up by at least 2 founders (partners), who assume different levels of liability (general/limited). There aren’t any capital requirements.
The characteristics of the sole trader	A sole trader is set up by 1 individual who develops a business activity in his/her own name. There isn’t any legal distinction between the company and the owner, therefore the owner is fully liable for the company.
The characteristics of the branch	The branch is a sub-division of a parent company, and the parent company holds full reponsibility on any matter concerning the registration and functioning of the branch.
Legislation regulating company incorporation in Greece	Law 4072/2012, Law 3190/1955, Law 4548/2018.
Corporate taxes	All company types in Greece can be liable to the following: corporate tax (22%), VAT (24%, 13%, 6% and other reduced rates in certain Greek regions), withholding tax (charged at rates of 5%, 15% or 20%), employment tax (rates of 9%, 20%, 26%, 34%, 39%, 44% from 2026).
Foreign ownership rules	Foreign investors can own a company in Greece.
Double tax treaties signed by Greece	58.
Main company registration steps	Investors must reserve a trading name, sign the statutory documents of the company (before a notary or, with standard articles, through the GEMI one-stop shop), apply for tax identification, open a corporate bank account and have a registered address in Greece.
Corporate tax number required (yes/no)	Yes
Resident director/shareholder requirements	Third party investors must obtain appropriate residence permits.
Can investors modify the legal entity of a Greek company?	Yes
Ways in which our team can assist investors	Our team can help in business and employment immigration (obtaining visas and permits). Our team can assist in all the incorporation steps for all types of companies in Greece and may offer accounting services, tax compliance, tax minimization services, assistance in debt recovery and many others.

What are the main requirements for setting up the AE?

Below, our team of consultants in company registration in Greece has prepared a short description of few characteristics of this company type:

the procedure for company registration in Greece applicable to this company type is prescribed by Law 4548/2018 (which replaced Law 2190/1920);
the company can be incorporated by 1 or more founders, who have an age of minimum 18 years old;
the requirements regarding the founders are specified under the Article 127 of the Civil Code, which was later amended by theArticle 3 of the Law 1329/83;
those who want to set up a company in Greece under this company type generally have in mind that the company will operate for a long period of time, of approximately 50 years;
the minimum capital is established at EUR 25,000, but usually, investors will deposit a larger capital.

What is the Greek limited liability company – Etaireia Periorismenis Efthinis (E.P.E.)?

The limited liability company in Greece is preferred by those interested in setting up small and medium size companies because of the low minimum share capital requirements and fewer formalities asked for its incorporation. Just like in the case of the company type mentioned above, the liability of the shareholders is limited to the value that they have participated with at the company’s capital.

How much does it cost to set up EPE in Greece?

When setting up an EPE in Greece, investors have to take into account the minimum capital, the company registration fees, costs of starting up the business (renting an office, hiring employees, etc.). Please mind that for the registration procedure, if you will opt to work with our team of consultants, we will charge a fee of EUR 2,600 (it includes the mandatory registration formalities).

What are partnerships in Greece?

Partnerships consist of at least two partners whose responsibility is unrestricted. An important advantage of a partnership is that upon its incorporation, the investors do not have to submit any capital.

We invite you to watch a short video presenting the main Greek legal entities:

What types of partnerships can I incorporate in Greece?

The Greek company law prescribes 2 types of partnerships, namely:

the limited partnership;
the general partnership.

What is a branch office?

As mentioned above, foreign businessmen can open a company in Greece by incorporating a branch office. This entity is recommended when a foreign company expands its commercial operations on a new market and when the company abroad prefers to set up a structure that is fully dependent on the foreign management.

What is a subsidiary in Greece?

It is also possible to set up a subsidiary, which is a structure that is also recommend when a foreign company expands on a new market. Unlike the branch, the subsidiary is a separate legal entity from its parent, and the parent has limited liability for the activities of the new company set up abroad. The subsidiary takes the form of private or public limited companies.

Can I set up entities designed for non-commercial purposes?

Yes. Sometimes foreign companies seek to expand on new markets for other purposes than for making profit from their activities. This can be the case when they want to analyze the market to see whether there is a possibility for future commercial growth. In this case, investors have the possibility of setting up a liaison office (it has similar traits as the branch, only that it can’t engage in commercial activities).

What are joint ventures in Greece?

They are formed by legal or natural persons who follow a particular transaction for a mutual benefit.

In the infographic below, you can read a short presentation on the Greek legal entities:

Can your team assist me in registering a company elsewhere?

Yes, our consultants can help our clients register companies in other countries. We can do that through our local partners. Below, you can observe some of our partner lawyers and company formation specialists:

we can help you if you need to know the main types of companies in Dubai if you want to incorporate a legal entity there;
for assistance on how to start a business in Cyprus, our partners from OpenCompanyCyprus.com are at your disposal;
we can also put you in contact with our European partners fromCompany Formation Croatia;
if you need further legal services (on immigration, civil law, etc.) you can rely on our local lawyers in Greece.

CompanyFormationGreece.com is part of Bridgewest, an international network of company formation agencies and law firms. If you need more details on the types of companies in Greece, please contact our team of specialists for legal representation.