This article gives an overview of the main public law rules that apply when you do business through a company in Norway. It covers registration, taxation, accounting and audit, business names, competition law and listed companies, and is written for founders, owners and foreign businesses considering a Norwegian company.
Freedom of enterprise
The starting point in Norwegian law is freedom of enterprise: the freedom to decide whether to start a business, whether to operate it through a company and which company form to use. As a main rule, no permit is required to carry on business through a general partnership or a limited company. This freedom is limited by a number of statutes, particularly for regulated activities. For example, banks and other financial institutions require a licence and must be organised in the forms permitted under the Financial Institutions Act.
Registration
The Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities
The Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities (Enhetsregisteret) is a common register that links information from other registers, such as the Register of Business Enterprises, the Register of Foundations and the VAT Register. All registered entities receive an organisation number.
The Register of Business Enterprises
A new Business Register Act (foretaksregisterloven) entered into force on 1 January 2026 and replaced the previous act from 1985.
Limited companies (AS), public limited companies (ASA) and general partnerships (ANS and DA) are required to register in the Register of Business Enterprises. Under the new act, sole proprietorships are as a main rule not required to register, but may register voluntarily. Certain sole proprietorships, for example those carrying on business as state-authorised accountants or auditors, are still required to register.
Important points:
Changes: changes to registered information, such as changes to the board or the dissolution of the company, must also be registered.
Public access: the register is public.
Effect against third parties: registered information may have legal effect against third parties. For general partnerships, for example, registration is relevant for whether agreed limitations of liability can be invoked against third parties in good faith.
Sanctions: failure to comply with the registration rules may result in sanctions such as coercive fines.
For limited companies, registration also has company law significance. See our article on establishing and registering companies.
Taxation
Main principles
Norwegian tax law distinguishes between:
limited companies and public limited companies, which are separate taxpayers, and
general and limited partnerships, which are not separate taxpayers and are taxed under the partnership rules.
The tax rules are intended to be neutral as to the choice of company form, but there are differences in practice that make the choice of form relevant for tax.
Limited companies and their shareholders
The corporate income tax rate is 22% (25% for companies subject to the financial activities tax). Corporate shareholders are as a main rule exempt from tax on dividends and gains on shares under the participation exemption method. Personal shareholders are taxed on dividends and gains under the shareholder model, with a shielding deduction for a risk-free return. For 2026, dividends and gains are multiplied by an adjustment factor of 1.72 before the 22% rate is applied, giving an effective rate of 37.84%.
Partnerships
General and limited partnerships are transparent for tax purposes. The partnership’s income is calculated at partnership level and allocated to the partners, who are taxed on their share. Distributions to personal partners are taxed under the partner model, with a shielding deduction. Limitations apply to the deduction of losses for limited and silent partners.
Accounting and audit
Accounting
Limited companies, public limited companies and most general partnerships are required to keep accounts. This includes ongoing bookkeeping and documentation, and preparing annual accounts with notes. Larger companies must also prepare a cash flow statement and an annual report. The annual accounts are central in company law, for example when determining whether dividends may be distributed.
Audit
Public limited companies and most limited companies are required to have their accounts audited. Small limited companies may opt out of audit if they remain below statutory thresholds for revenue, balance sheet total and number of employees. General partnerships are subject to audit only in certain cases.
Annual accounts, annual reports and auditor’s reports must be filed with the Register of Company Accounts, where they are publicly available. The thresholds are published by the Brønnøysund Register Centre.
Business names
The Business Names Act regulates the names of companies. The name must indicate the company form:
AS for a limited company
ASA for a public limited company
ANS for a general partnership with joint and several liability
DA for a general partnership with shared (pro rata) liability
A registered business name is protected against confusingly similar names, mainly within the same or similar line of business. Well-known names may enjoy broader protection.
Competition law
The Competition Act aims to promote competition, with particular regard to consumer interests. It contains:
a prohibition on agreements that restrict competition (Section 10 of the Competition Act); such agreements are also invalid under private law
a prohibition on the abuse of a dominant position (Section 11)
merger control (chapter 4), under which the Norwegian Competition Authority may intervene against mergers that significantly restrict competition
Infringements may lead to coercive fines, administrative fines and, for certain provisions, criminal liability.
Listed companies
Companies whose shares are listed on a regulated market are subject to the Securities Trading Act and the rules of the market operator. Key elements include:
requirements for admission to listing, including requirements on distribution and transferability of the shares
prospectus requirements for public offers and admission to trading
ongoing disclosure obligations and the prohibition of insider dealing and market manipulation
mandatory offer rules, which apply when a person acquires more than one third of the votes in a listed company
disclosure of major shareholdings (flagging)
How we can help
We assist with choosing the company form, establishing and registering companies, and corporate and regulatory questions relating to the operation of a business in Norway. You can read more about the firm at advokats.no or get in touch through our contact page.
This article provides general information as of 29 October 2026 and is not legal advice for your specific situation.
