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Setting up and taxation of a small-capital LLC 2026

Setting up and taxation of a small-capital LLC 2026

Mazkapitāla SIA ir sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību, kuras pamatkapitāls ir noteikts robežās no 1 līdz 2799 eiro, nodrošinot iespēju uzsākt biznesu ar minimāliem sākotnējiem ieguldījumiem.

Manual to comply with changes Commercial Law, which enters into force on 01.01.2026.

Contents

Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas process: 6 soļu saraksts

Pirms sākat mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas procesu, pārliecinieties, ka jums ir viss nepieciešamais ātrai reģistrācijai.

mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas process sastāv no vairākiem soļiem, ieskaitot ierakstu Uzņēmumu reģistra komercreģistrā un fintech kompānijas vai bankas konta atvēršanu. 

Zemāk atradīsiet mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas procesa secību. 

1. Mazkapitāla SIA Nosaukuma un juridiskās adreses izvēle

Mazkapitāla SIA nosaukumam ir jābūt unikālam, latviešu valodā un tajā nedrīkst iekļaut vārdus “valsts” vai “pašvaldība”.
Before submitting the documents, it is important to check the Companies Register database to see if a similar name already exists. The registered office, on the other hand, must be an actual building or premises with a cadastral number where the company can be reached for official correspondence.

2. Mazkapitāla SIA Valdes iecelšana

Mazkapitāla SIA valdes locekļus ieceļ ar dalībnieku sapulces lēmumu, un par valdes locekļiem drīkst kļūt tikai paši uzņēmuma dalībnieki (īpašnieki).

Plānojot valdes sastāvu mazkapitāla SIA (pamatkapitāls no 1 līdz 2799 EUR), ir jāņem vērā šādi būtiski nosacījumi:

  • Tikai dalībnieki: Atšķirībā no pilna kapitāla SIA, mazkapitāla sabiedrībā valdes locekļa amatu nevar ieņemt algots vadītājs no malas – tam obligāti jābūt uzņēmuma īpašniekam.

Valdē jābūt mazkapitāla SIA īpašniekiem, kas ir rīcībspējīgas fiziskas personas, kurām ar tiesas nolēmumu nav atņemtas tiesības veikt komercdarbību. The Board is the executive body that governs and represents the company. The constituent documents must specify whether the members of the board will represent the LLC individually or jointly. Each board member must give written consent to hold the position (usually included in the application form).

3. prepare the instruments of incorporation

The main founding documents are

  • the instrument of incorporation (if there is one founder) or the memorandum of association (if several)
  • Statutes
  • Compartment of the register of members
  • application form KR4

Most of these model documents can be found and customised on the Register of Companies' website.

4. Contributes share capital

Mazkapitāla SIA minimālais pamatkapitāls ir 1 EUR. 

Ja dibini Mazkapitāla SIA, nauda jāiemaksā pagaidu bankas kontā pirms reģistrācijas. Mazkapitāla SIA gadījumā dibinātāji pamatkapitālu var apmaksāt tikai naudā.

Atverot pagaidu kontu, Jums būs nepieciešami Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas dokumenti, dibināšanas lēmums vai līgums. Tas nozīmē, ka jābūt sagatavotiem documents for registering a limited liability company

The share capital is payable in full by the time of application. 

The cash contribution must be paid into a suspense account.

For more information on the possibilities to contribute share capital - Share capital in an LLC: Tips and Options.

5. Electronic signing of documents

Documents must be signed with a secure electronic signature (eID card or eParaksts mobile), which is the fastest and cheapest way to start a business. 

If a participant does not have an e-signature, signatures will have to be notarised, which will incur additional costs and time. The signatures of all founders on the application and the register of members must be simultaneous.

6. Filing of the LLC Incorporation Documents and Payment of the Stamp Duty

The application and accompanying documents must be submitted electronically via The self-service portal of the Register of Companies.

Upload your documents to the Register of Companies portal and pay the state fee 75.00 EUR. The State fee for registration of a Small Capital LLC is 20.00EUR.

After submission to the UR, the notary public will examine the documents within 1 -3 working days. If everything is in order, you will receive a decision to enter the company in the Commercial Register.

Kas ir mazkapitāla SIA un kāpēc to izvēlēties?

Mazkapitāla SIA ir sabiedrība ar ierobežotu atbildību, kuras pamatkapitāls ir noteikts robežās no 1 līdz 2799 eiro, nodrošinot iespēju uzsākt biznesu ar minimāliem sākotnējiem ieguldījumiem.

Mazkapitāla SIA joprojām ir populārākā juridiskā forma jauniem uzņēmējiem Latvijā. Galvenā priekšrocība ir minimālie ieguldījumi. Atšķirībā no standarta SIA, kur pamatkapitālam jābūt vismaz 2800 eiro, šeit dibinātāji var izvēlēties simbolisku summu, piemēram, 1 eiro. Tas ir būtiski digitālo pakalpojumu sniedzējiem, frīlanseriem un jaunuzņēmumiem, kuru darbības uzsākšanai nav nepieciešami lieli līdzekļi.

Tomēr ir svarīgi saprast, ka “ierobežota atbildība” nenozīmē atbildības trūkumu. Uzņēmums atbild ar visu savu mantu, un valdes locekļi var tikt saukti pie personīgās atbildības, ja tiek konstatēta nolaidība vai apzināta zaudējumu radīšana kreditoriem. Commercial law pastiprina valdes locekļu atbildību digitālajā vidē, īpaši attiecībā uz datu aizsardzību un nodokļu nomaksu.

Nosacījumi mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanai

Mazkapitāla SIA dibinātāji drīkst būt tikai fiziskas personas (ne vairāk kā piecas), un visiem dibinātājiem vienlaikus ir jābūt arī uzņēmuma valdes locekļiem.

Lai kvalificētos mazkapitāla statusam, Komerclikums paredz stingrus kritērijus:

  1. Dibinātāju statuss: Tikai fiziskas personas. Juridiskas personas (citi uzņēmumi) nevar būt mazkapitāla SIA dalībnieki.

  2. Dalībnieku skaits: Maksimālais skaits ir piecas personas.

  3. Valdes sastāvs: Valdē drīkst būt tikai uzņēmuma dalībnieki. Ja vēlaties piesaistīt algotu direktoru, kurš nav īpašnieks, uzņēmums ir jāpārveido par pilna kapitāla SIA.

  4. Ierobežojums dalībai citos uzņēmumos: Persona drīkst būt dalībnieks tikai vienā mazkapitāla SIA.

Šie nosacījumi ir ieviesti, lai novērstu nodokļu optimizācijas shēmas un nodrošinātu, ka šī forma tiek izmantota reālai mazo uzņēmēju atbalstīšanai. Ja kāds no šiem nosacījumiem tiek pārkāpts darbības laikā (piemēram, dalībnieks nomirst un mantinieks jau ir citā mazkapitāla SIA), uzņēmumam ir noteikts termiņš pamatkapitāla palielināšanai līdz pilnam apjomam.

Mazkapitāla SIA nosaukums

company name SIA

Pārbaudiet, vai izvēlētais Mazkapitāla SIA nosaukums nosaukums nav jau izmantots un vai tas atbilst juridiskiem noteikumiem.

Finding the perfect name for your business might not be so difficult. It doesn't have to match the names of your products, services or brands. However, there are some limitations to consider:

  • may not include the names of state or local government bodies (institutions) or the word "state" or "local government"
  • cannot include the words "Republic of Latvia" and their translation into a foreign language
  • cannot contain misleading information about the form of business, such as "AS", "IC", etc.
  • the use of names containing obscenities and ambiguous terms (contrary to good manners) is not permitted
  • cannot coincide with an already registered trade mark or part thereof. Check the trademarks registered with the Patent Office Trademark Locator
  • cannot coincide with any of the registrations already registered or applied for with the Register of Companies the name of the entity. 
    Existing names can be checked Lursoft database.
  • Punctuation, spaces and the use of capital or small letters are not sufficient to distinguish one name from another.

When planning your business development and digital presence, it is worth looking into whether domain names such as .lv or .eu are freely available. You can check for Latvian (.lv) domain names  NIC on the home page, and European and Worldwide domain names InstantDomainSearch on the domain search platform.  

Mazkapitāla SIA Juridiskā adrese

Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšana un reģistrācija nav iespējama bez juridiskās adreses.

Every company is obliged to register an address where the board of directors can be reached.

  1. The easiest way to register a registered office is in a property you own, a house or an apartment.
  2. Legal address on real estate owned by friends or family members. In this case, you will need the property owner's consent to register your company's registered office. Consent does not have to be given to the Companies Registry!
  3. Office or place of business. When renting out premises, landlords usually agree to register a legal address.
  4. A virtual office or address where only correspondence is received. Such a legal address may have a low level of trust. Often, such addresses are used to register fictitious companies that have problems with National Revenue Service (SRS) and other national authorities. The record in Riga is 435 companies at one address!

Mazkapitāla SIA vadības struktūra

Management structure of SIA

Participant.

Mazkapitāla SIA dalībnieks ir persona, kas ierakstīta dalībnieku reģistrā un kurai sabiedrībā pieder viena vai vairākas daļas.

A share entitles a member to participate in the management of the company, the distribution of profits and the distribution of the assets of the LLC in the event of the company's liquidation.

Board.

The executive body of the Company is the Board of Directors, which manages and represents the Company Ltd.

The Board may be composed of one or more members. In a small-capital limited liability company, all the members of the board are members of the company. A chairman may be elected from among the members of the board to organise the work of the board.

Members of the Board are appointed for an indefinite term, unless the statutes provide for a specific term of office.

All members of the Management Board shall have the rights of representation set out in the Statutes. The members of the Management Board may be granted individual or joint representation rights. In determining the rights of representation, the principle that each member of the Management Board shall have effective rights of representation shall be respected. For example, if there are two members of the board, it is not possible to give one a separate right of representation and the other a joint right of representation, since in that case the right of representation of the other member would be formal and not real.

The Council.

The Supervisory Board is the supervisory body that oversees the Board's activities. The Supervisory Board of an LLC is optional.

If a Board is established, it may be composed of between 3 and 20 members, as defined in the Statutes. A chairperson and a vice-chairperson may be appointed from among the members of the Board.

The Council shall be elected by the Members for an indefinite period, unless otherwise provided in the Statutes.

The Board may not include persons who are members of the board of directors, auditors, proxies or commercial agents of that company, or members of the board of directors of a dependent company of that company, or a person entitled to represent that dependent company.

Only a person who is not prohibited from holding such a position and who is not included in the SRS list of persons at risk may be appointed as a member of the Management Board or Supervisory Board.

Mazkapitāla SIA Valdes iecelšana

Mazkapitāla SIA valdes locekļus ieceļ ar dalībnieku sapulces lēmumu, un par valdes locekļiem drīkst kļūt tikai paši uzņēmuma dalībnieki (īpašnieki).

Plānojot valdes sastāvu mazkapitāla SIA (pamatkapitāls no 1 līdz 2799 EUR), ir jāņem vērā šādi būtiski nosacījumi:

  • Tikai dalībnieki: Atšķirībā no pilna kapitāla SIA, mazkapitāla sabiedrībā valdes locekļa amatu nevar ieņemt algots vadītājs no malas – tam obligāti jābūt uzņēmuma īpašniekam.

Valdē jābūt mazkapitāla SIA īpašniekiem, kas ir rīcībspējīgas fiziskas personas, kurām ar tiesas nolēmumu nav atņemtas tiesības veikt komercdarbību. The Board is the executive body that governs and represents the company. The constituent documents must specify whether the members of the board will represent the LLC individually or jointly. Each board member must give written consent to hold the position (usually included in the application form).

Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas dokumenti

Zemāk atradīsiet nepieciešamus Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas dokumentus.

Sample documents can be found at On the website of the Register of Companies

Completing and submitting documents accurately requires specific knowledge and expertise.

Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas dokumenti (saraksts)

the instrument of incorporation or memorandum of association

If there is one founder, a memorandum of association must be drawn up. If there are two or more founders, a memorandum of association. The memorandum of association shall be signed by the founder and the articles of association by all the founders.

Articles of association of the company SIA

The statutes lay down the main principles governing the company's activities. They are signed by the founder or all the founders of the company.

The statutes should only contain rules and should not include, for example, the registered office, the specific persons who are members and officers, or the distribution of members' shares.

Compartment of the register of members

The register of members is a document showing the full composition of the members and the distribution of shares. It shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board or by a member of the Board on the basis of a mandate signed by all the members of the Board.

application form KR4

The application form KR4 must be signed by all the founders or by any other person entrusted by the founders to do so, in addition to a notarially certified power of attorney.

In the cases provided for by law, the application for registration of changes may be sent to the State Revenue Service for examination. Read more On the assessment of applications received by the State Revenue Service in the Register of Enterprises.

Documents must be completed in Latvian.

Deadline for submitting documents to the Register of Companies: not set.

Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas pamatkapitāls

Mazkapitāla SIA pamatkapitāls var būt robežās no 1 eiro līdz 2799 eiro, un tam ir jābūt pilnībā apmaksātam naudā pirms uzņēmuma reģistrācijas pieteikuma iesniegšanas.

Šis SIA veids ir populārākā izvēle jaunajiem uzņēmējiem, jo tas prasa minimālus sākotnējos ieguldījumus. Tomēr ir svarīgi ievērot vairākus nosacījumus:

  • Apmaksa tikai naudā: Atšķirībā no pilna kapitāla SIA (2800 EUR), mazkapitāla SIA pamatkapitālu nedrīkst apmaksāt ar mantisko ieguldījumu (piemēram, datoru vai auto) – tam jābūt naudas iemaksai.

  • Uzkrājuma veidošana: Katru gadu uzņēmumam ir jāveido obligātā rezerve, novirzot tai vismaz 25% no peļņas, līdz tiek sasniegts standarta pamatkapitāla apmērs (2800 EUR).

Read more about share capital here - SIA Share Capital 2026: Tips and Options.

Mazkapitāla SIA Pagaidu konts

Temporary account is a mandatory requirement, except where the share capital is paid up solely by means of a contribution in kind valued by a certified valuer of the Companies Register.

You can open a temporary account with a bank, for example Citadel, SEB, Swedbankor a fintech company like Paysera or Revolut.

It's much more convenient to do it remotely. Fintech companies offer.

Please note that when opening a temporary account, you will need the LLC's incorporation documents, a memorandum of association or an agreement. This means that you will need to have For the registration documents of a limited liability company

Read more about the temporary account here - Opening a temporary account in 2026: Tips and solutions

Opening a temporary account

Contribution to share capital

The share capital is payable in full by the time of application. The cash contribution must be paid into a suspense account.

The member or members pay the amount of the share capital into a suspense account. If there are several members, each member must pay in his or her share of the share capital.

The Register of Enterprises shall not require documents evidencing the contribution of share capital if the share capital or part thereof is paid up in cash and the cash contribution does not exceed EUR 50 000. The founders will certify in their application to the Registry that a payment account has been opened in the name of the company to be incorporated and that the payment of the share capital has been made therein. The current KR4 form must be used.

Mazkapitāla SIA reģistrācijas Izmaksas

Mazkapitāla SIA reģistrācijas izmaksas Latvijā galvenokārt veido valsts nodeva. e-paraksta lietošana parasti ir bezmaksas.

Stamp duty.

  • State fee for registration of a small capital LLC - 20EUR

Submission of documents and payment of the stamp duty On the Companies Register platform.

Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas dokumentu sagatavošana un iesniegšana.

Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas dokumentu sagatavošana reģistrācijai Uzņēmumu Reģistrā parasti izmaksā no 25 līdz 120 EUR, atkarībā no pakalpojuma sniedzēja cenas un nepieciešamo sagatavoto dokumentu daudzuma.

What's included in URonline In the LLC registration service?

  • Verification of the suitability of the name
  • Verification of the conformity of a legal address
  • Completed e-documents for registration of an LLC in the Register of Enterprises
  • EXPERT e-filing service
  • Free consultation

Mazkapitāla SIA reģistrācija Uzņēmumu Reģistrā.

Paper filing with the Register of Companies is a thing of the past. Documents are no longer accepted in person.

However, if you want to file on paper, you have to pay for an expensive notary and send the documents by post.

Mazkapitāla SIA reģistrācija Uzņēmumu reģistrā ir oficiāls process juridiskās personas statusa iegūšanai, kas notiek elektroniski portālā registrs.ur.gov.lv, iesniedzot vismaz parakstītus dokumentus un apmaksājot valsts nodevu.

Mazkapitāla SIA dibināšanas Pieteikumu un tam pievienotos dokumentus var iesniegt dibinātāji vai pilnvarota persona.

In the e-service.
Documents must be submitted Register of companies on the services portal.
Documents must be signed with an eSignature on a smart card (eID or eSignature card) or on the eParaksts mobile portal www.eparaksts.lv
Get your answer via an e-service or e-address.

Send electronically signed documents e-adresē or by email to the Register of Companies. 

an email address is a more secure channel of communication between an individual and the state than email.

By post.
Signed documents can be sent to the Register of Companies by post.
The payment order for the stamp duty must be enclosed in the consignment. Please note that only notarised documents can be sent this way, which significantly increases the cost of registering the company.

Authentication of signature and capacity to act on applications and requests to public registers (e.g. Land Registry, Commercial Register) - €23.

In addition, there are fees for data checks, VAT, stamp duty, translation and actual costs.

Pieteikuma izskatīšana parasti aizņem trīs darba dienas, taču ir pieejams arī paātrinātais process (viena darba diena) par papildu samaksu.

Mazkapitāla SIA nodokļi

Mazkapitāla SIA nodokļu likmes un maksāšanas kārtība ir identiska standarta sabiedrībām ar ierobežotu atbildību, taču ar specifisku nosacījumu par peļņas novirzīšanu obligātajai rezervei. Lai gan pamatkapitāls ir mazāks par 2800 EUR, uzņēmums tiek aplikts ar nodokļiem vispārējā kārtībā.

Mikrouzņēmumu nodoklis (MUN)

MUN ir vienkāršots nodokļa režīms maziem uzņēmumiem ar apgrozījumu līdz 40 000 eiro gadā un līdz 5 darbiniekiem, ietverot VSAOI, IIN, UIN un riska nodevu. 

Tomēr no 2025. gada mikrouzņēmumu nodokļa maksātāja statusu Mazkapitāla SIA iegūt nevar.

MUN attiecas tikai uz individuālajiem komersantiem vai citiem atbilstošiem subjektiem, nevis juridiskām personām kā SIA.

Dividends as an alternative to a salary

Dividends are a distribution of a company's net profits to its owners and are a more tax-efficient form of income than salaries because they are not subject to compulsory national social insurance contributions (NICs).

By choosing to receive dividends instead of salary increases, a business owner can significantly reduce the overall tax burden. The main difference is that salaries are subject to social contributions and personal income tax for both the employer and the employee, whereas dividends in Latvia are only subject to corporate income tax (CIT) of 20% of the gross amount (or 25% of the net amount) at the time of payment.

However, dividends can only be paid out of profits after all taxes and debts have been paid, and only if the company has no uncovered losses from previous years. Board members must also comply with the minimum salary requirements of the law if the company's turnover exceeds certain thresholds to avoid the risks of "fictitious" unpaid work.

Extraordinary dividends

Extraordinary dividends. According to For the Commercial Code for a limited liability company, dividends are determined and paid in accordance with a resolution of the members' meeting. The members of the company may decide on the payment of dividends every 3 months after the payment of the previous dividend. It should be noted that the LLC must not have tax debts and the Company may pay out in extraordinary dividends not more than 85 per cent of the profits made in the period for which the extraordinary dividend is determined.

The payment of extraordinary dividends could be a major relief for service providers or micro-businesses, where under certain conditions no salary can be paid.

The corporation tax (CIT) on dividend payments is 20%.

Extraordinary dividends are prohibited in a small-capital LLC.

When can I not be paid?

Extraordinary dividend payment could be an important relief for service providers or micro-businesses, where wages can be waived under certain conditions.

Members of the company's board of directors do not have to have an employment contract and pay themselves a salary if the following conditions are met:

  • the company has one member, who is a member of the management board
  • monthly turnover does not exceed 5 minimum monthly salaries of EUR 3 900 From 2027 this threshold will be 4100EUR!

If the sole member of the limited liability company and the member of the board of directors himself provides a service and produces and sells goods in small quantities, he can pay himself dividends once a year or extraordinary dividends every 3 months.

The corporation tax (CIT) on dividend payments is 20%.

Mazkapitāla SIA pāreja uz pilna kapitāla SIA

Pamatkapitāla palielināšana līdz 2800 eiro ir obligāta, ja uzņēmums vēlas piesaistīt dalībniekus – juridiskas personas – vai iecelt valdes locekli, kurš nav uzņēmuma īpašnieks vai izmaksāt ārkārtas dividendes.

Process:

  1. Dalībnieku sapulces lēmums par pamatkapitāla palielināšanu.

  2. Jaunu statūtu apstiprināšana.

  3. Apmaksa var notikt gan skaidrā naudā (iemaksājot kontā), gan ar mantisko ieguldījumu (ja pamatkapitāls sasniedz noteiktu līmeni, var būt nepieciešams vērtētājs).

  4. Dokumentu iesniegšana Uzņēmumu reģistrā.

Kad pamatkapitāls ir 2800 eiro vai vairāk, uzņēmums zaudē “mazkapitāla” statusu un tam vairs nav spēkā iepriekš minētie ierobežojumi attiecībā uz dalībnieku un valdes sastāvu.

Soļi pēc reģistrācijas

Pēc uzņēmuma reģistrācijas obligāti ir jāaktivizē oficiālā elektroniskā adrese (e-adrese) un jāreģistrējas Valsts ieņēmumu dienestā (VID) kā nodokļu maksātājam. Ja plānotais apgrozījums gadā pārsniegs 50 000 EUR vai veiksi darījumus Eiropas Savienībā, Tev būs jāiesniedz pieteikums PVN maksātāja reģistram. Tāpat šajā posmā pagaidu bankas konts jāpārveido par pastāvīgu norēķinu kontu.

EDS

EDS - Electronic declaration system of the State Revenue Service.

A profile is automatically created for a company in EDS when it is registered in the commercial register.

You can log in to EDS via internet banking or e-sign The tool.

 

Type of business and licences of SIA

You must register the type or types of business activity of the LLC with the State Revenue Service within one month from the date of registration. The type of activity must be registered with the SRS EDS electronic declaration system The type of activity must comply with NACE for classification

Check whether the type of business activity planned requires licence or permit. You may need to obtain the appropriate licence or permit before you can actually start your business.

VAT registration

If you intend to supply services and sell goods in Latvia and the EU, and your income does not exceed €50,000 per year, you do not need to register for VAT. 

If you register for VAT, you will have to pay 21% VAT on your services or goods.

Compulsory registration requirements in the VAT register:

  • The total value of supplies of goods and services subject to VAT during the preceding 12 months has reached or exceeded EUR 50 000 (excluding the value of fixed assets and intangible investments supplied if such supplies are made once in a 12-month period).
  • The value of purchases of goods in the EU, excluding VAT, in the current calendar year exceeds €10,000.

 

To register for VAT, you must submit an application to the SRS EDS in the system or with the Register of Companies at the same time as the application for registration of the LLC.

The State Revenue Service shall examine the application within 14 days.

Accounting of a limited liability company

Accounting law provides that the accounts may be kept by the director of the company if he is the sole member of the board of directors and the sole shareholder. 

In a company with two or more members of the board of directors, the accounts may be kept by a member of the board of directors by written agreement with the company. The person must have appropriate qualifications as an accountant, such as a certificate, diploma, experience or appropriate knowledge in the field of accounting.

Many companies outsource their bookkeeping, but this is an additional cost.

NILLTFN

NILLTFN is the Law on the Prevention of Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism and Proliferation.

The law requires the subject to register with the Financial Intelligence Receiving and Analysis System and to develop an internal control and sanctions monitoring system for AML/CFT.

Subjects of the AML/CFT Law:

Virtual currency exchange services
Outsourced accountants
Sale of precious metals, precious stones and articles thereof
Issue of guarantees and other instruments of obligation
Providers of services for the establishment and operation of a legal entity
Advising clients on financial matters
Lending, including financial leasing, where the provision of services is not subject to licensing
Independent legal service providers
Tax consultants
Persons providing collection services
Intermediaries in real estate transactions
Sale of vehicles

Work safety

Labour law requires employers (if you have employees) to organise and operate an occupational health and safety system in your company.

If the company has fewer than 5 employees, the employer may not involve the competent authority and manage everything himself.

More information on the website of the National Labour Inspectorate.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

What if the company name I have chosen is already taken?

Before submitting your documents, it is imperative to check whether the name you have chosen is already registered or applied for. This can be done, for example, in the Lursoft database. If the name is taken, you will have to choose another name, as it must not overlap with an existing name. Note that punctuation, spaces and the use of lower or upper case letters are not considered to be sufficient distinction.

Can I register an LLC without a physical office?

Yes, you can register an LLC without a physical office, but a registered office is a requirement. You can register a registered office in real estate owned by yourself, with the owner's permission in the property of friends or family members, or use a virtual office service. However, be careful with virtual addresses as they may have a low degree of reliability if a large number of companies are registered there.

How long does it take to register an LLC with the Register of Companies?

After submitting all the necessary documents to the Register of Enterprises, the notary public examines them within one to three working days on average. The process may take longer if errors or omissions are found in the documents.

What are the most common mistakes when submitting documents to the Register of Companies?

The most common problems that can cause the Register of Companies to delay or refuse registration are:

  • Incorrect application form (KR4).

  • One of the required documents is missing, such as the consent of a board member.

  • Documents are not signed with a secure electronic signature (eSignature) or not notarised (if sent by post).

  • No payment of the stamp duty or proof of payment.

  • The legal address does not have an accurate cadastral designation or there is doubt about the legal basis for its use.

Do I need a lawyer to set up an LLC?

Although not required by law, the use of a lawyer or other specialist is recommended. Specific knowledge is needed to prepare and submit documents accurately. Errors in the documents may cause delays in the registration process or even refusal by the Register of Enterprises.

Can a foreigner be a member of the board of an LLC in Latvia?

Yes, a foreigner can be a member of the board of directors of an LLC. If the person does not have a personal identification number of the Republic of Latvia, an additional questionnaire for inclusion in the Register of Natural Persons must be submitted. It is important to ensure that the board member is not prohibited by law from holding this position.

What is the difference between a full-capital and a small-capital LLC?

he main difference is the size of the share capital. The share capital of a full-capital limited liability company must be at least €2,800, while that of a small-capital limited liability company can be, for example, €1. A general partnership has several advantages, such as greater credibility in the business environment, the possibility to pay extraordinary dividends and the possibility for one person to own several such companies.

Which is better - salary or dividends?

It depends on the situation. If a company has only one shareholder, who is also the sole member of the board, and a monthly turnover of less than five minimum salaries (€3,700 in 2025), he may not receive a salary and may pay out the profits in dividends. In this case, the tax burden is lower (only 20% UIT) compared to payroll taxes. However, it should be borne in mind that no social contributions are payable in the absence of a salary.

When do I have to register for VAT?

Registration in the VAT register of the State Revenue Service (SRS) is compulsory if:

  • The total value of VAT-able transactions (supplies of goods and services) in the last 12 months exceeds €50 000.

  • The value of goods purchased in the European Union exceeds €10 000 in a calendar year.

How can I prove that the share capital has been paid up?

If the share capital is paid up in cash and the amount does not exceed EUR 50 000, a separate certificate from the bank or payment institution need not be submitted to the Register of Companies. The founders must certify in the application form KR4 that a temporary account has been opened in the name of the company to be incorporated and that the share capital has been paid into it.

Do I have to form a works council?

No, it is not compulsory to set up a Supervisory Board. The Supervisory Board is a supervisory body that monitors the activities of the Management Board and its creation is a free choice of the founders themselves, which is laid down in the company's Articles of Association.

Vai es varu dibināt mazkapitāla SIA, ja man jau pieder cits uzņēmums?

Jā, bet tikai tad, ja otrs uzņēmums nav mazkapitāla SIA. Vienai fiziskai personai drīkst piederēt tikai viena mazkapitāla SIA.

Vai mazkapitāla SIA var strādāt bez darbiniekiem?

Jā, taču valdes loceklim var iestāties pienākums maksāt sociālās iemaksas, ja uzņēmumam ir apgrozījums.

Kas notiek, ja nepalielina pamatkapitālu?

Uzņēmums var turpināt darbību kā mazkapitāla SIA nenoteiktu laiku, ja vien tiek ievēroti nosacījumi (fiziskas personas valdē u.c.) un katru gadu tiek veidota rezerve no peļņas.

Common mistakes and problems

Incomplete or incorrect documents

Mistakes often occur when the type of company is incorrectly reflected in various documents or when the cadastral designation of the registered office is incorrect.

The Register of Companies may refuse registration if the documents submitted do not comply with the requirements of the regulatory enactments or if the information contained therein is unclear. Often not all the required sections are filled in or there are inconsistencies between different documents (e.g. the memorandum and articles of association).

Mistakes in choosing a company name

The name of the company must be unique - it must not be the same as a name already registered or applied for registration. The name must also not be misleading or contrary to good morals. Often founders do not check the availability of a name or try to register a name that is very similar to an existing one.

Problems with your legal address

Registration requires a registered office. Problems arise if the address does not correspond to the National Address Register or if the property owner's consent has not been obtained. If the property has several owners, the consent of all is required. Sometimes an address is given where it is not actually possible to receive correspondence, which can cause problems with public authorities in the future.

Uncertainties with the share capital contribution

For the establishment of a full-fledged LLC (with share capital above EUR 2,800), you need to open a temporary bank account and make a share capital contribution before submitting the documents to the Register of Companies. Errors occur when the contribution is not made in full or by someone other than the founder.

The law requires disclosure of information about the beneficial owners of the company - natural persons who directly or indirectly control the company. Failure to provide this information or providing false information is grounds for refusal of registration.

Errors in the preparation of the statutes

The articles of association must contain certain details, such as the company's name, the amount of share capital and the number of board members. No details of the founders or registered office may be given, as this information may change and is recorded in other documents.

Incorrect document format

Make sure the documents are in the correct format.

Inadequate e-signature

Documents must be signed with a secure electronic signature and time stamp.

Incorrect payment of stamp duty

Before submitting the documents, you must make sure that the amount of the stamp duty is correct and that you have paid it. Any incorrect or overpaid amount can be recovered by applying to the Companies Registry.

The Registrar of Companies has detected an error in the documents submitted

If the UR finds an error, the notary public postpones the decision for up to 30 days, pointing out the deficiencies. It is important to react promptly to such decisions and make the necessary corrections so that the registration process is not delayed and stamp duty is not lost.

Restrictions on the appointment of members of the Management Board

A person who has been disqualified from exercising commercial activity by a court judgment or who is included in the SRS list of persons at risk cannot be appointed as a member of the Management Board. Similarly, a member of the Supervisory Board of the same company may not be a member of the Management Board.

Incorrect determination of the board's representational rights

If there are several members on the board, it is necessary to determine precisely their rights of representation - whether each can act alone or only together. A situation should not arise where one member has only a formal right of representation.

Useful Resources

Website of the Register of Companies (UR): [https://www.ur.gov.lv/]

State Revenue Service (SRS) website: [https://www.vid.gov.lv/]

Commercial Law: [https://likumi.lv/]

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