Norway (NO)
Norway is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy in Northern Europe — one of the three Scandinavian nations, occupying the western and northern portions of the Scandinavian Peninsula.
Capital: Oslo
Region: Europe
Language: Norwegian Bokmål
Currency: NOK (kr)
Cost of living: Very expensive (index 88)
Emergency: 112
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Business Setup
Start a business or go freelance in Norway.
🧑💻 Freelancer / Self-Employed Guide
Steps to register:
- 1 Register your Enkeltpersonforetak (sole trader) at altinn.no — free for most business types, takes 15 minutes with BankID. You receive an organisasjonsnummer (business organisation number) within 1–2 days.
- 2 Obtain a D-nummer or fødselsnummer first — required for Altinn registration and all tax matters.
- 3 Register for MVA (merverdiavgift / VAT) at skatteetaten.no if your annual turnover exceeds NOK 50,000 (NOK 140,000 for some charity/voluntary organisations). You must register before reaching the threshold, not after.
- 4 Set up accounting (regnskap) — mandatory in Norway. Use accounting software (e.g., Tripletex, Fiken, Duett, Visma eAccounting) or hire a regnskapsfører (authorised accountant).
- 5 Obtain a skattekort (tax card) from Skatteetaten for self-employed income — choose the "næringsinntekt" (business income) option to set the correct withholding.
- 6 Understand AS vs. ENK: if your income is high (typically above NOK 500,000), an AS (private limited company) may be more tax-efficient as the company tax rate is 22% vs. up to 47% personal marginal rates for sole traders.
- 7 Consider joining NAV as a voluntary member to access dagpenger (unemployment benefit) for self-employed — different qualifying rules apply.
- 8 Set up a pension scheme — as self-employed with an ENK, you have no employer pension contribution. Consider IPS (Individual Pension Savings) or other private pension products.
Tax registration
Enkeltpersonforetak are automatically registered for income tax through Skatteetaten when you register your business at Altinn. Self-employed individuals with sole trader income pay forskuddsskatt (advance tax) quarterly — January, March, May, and October. Register for MVA separately at skatteetaten.no if turnover exceeds NOK 50,000.
VAT threshold
NOK 50,000 annual turnover (same threshold since 2002). Once you exceed this, you must register for MVA (merverdiavgift). Norwegian MVA rates: 25% standard, 15% food, 12% transport/accommodation. File MVA returns every 2 months (bi-monthly) or annually for small businesses (under NOK 1 million turnover). Electronic filing via Altinn.
Invoicing
All invoices must include: your name/company name and address, organisasjonsnummer (followed by "MVA" if VAT-registered), customer name and address, invoice date, sequential invoice number, description of goods/services, quantity and unit price, total ex-VAT, MVA amount and rate, total including MVA. Electronic invoicing (EHF / Peppol) is standard for invoices to public sector clients in Norway — mandatory for government contracts.
Social security
Self-employed individuals are covered by Folketrygd (national insurance) for some benefits but with different rules than employees. Sick pay (sykepenger) for self-employed: paid from day 16 of illness (employee: day 1); you can buy voluntary insurance from NAV for days 1–16. Parental benefit (foreldrepenger): available but may be calculated differently. Pension: you pay trygdeavgift (7.9%) on net business income, earning Folketrygd pension rights. OTP (mandatory occupational pension): not applicable to sole traders — set up private pension savings. Join NAV as a voluntary member (frivillig forsikring) for additional protections.
💡 Norway is a straightforward country in which to freelance, but the tax and social security framework for self-employed requires careful attention. The key decision is ENK vs. AS: the AS structure enables salary + dividends planning, separates business from personal liability, and may be more tax-efficient above NOK 500,000 income. However, AS requires more administration. The Norwegian accounting profession is well-regulated — a good regnskapsfører (authorised accountant) is a worthwhile investment. Altinn.no is the central platform for all business registration, tax filing, and regulatory compliance.
🏢 Business Structures
ENK · Enkeltpersonforetak
Sole trader / Sole proprietorship
NOK 0 (no minimum capital)
Min. capital
15–30 minutes online at altinn.no. Organisation number (organisasjonsnummer) typically issued within 1–2 business days.
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited personal liability — the owner is personally responsible for all business debts.
Setup cost: Registration in Brønnøysundregistrene: NOK 0 for most (NOK 2,866 if registering in the Enterprise Register for retail/service businesses, which may be required depending on sector). Strongly recommended to register regardless.
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, tradespeople, and those testing a business idea. The simplest and most common business form for self-employed (selvstendig næringsdrivende) individuals in Norway.
AS · Aksjeselskap
Private limited company
NOK 30,000 minimum share capital (reduced from NOK 100,000 in 2012)
Min. capital
1–5 business days if using the digital Altinn process with standard articles of association (standardvedtekter). More complex setups: 1–2 weeks.
Setup time
Liability: Limited — shareholders are not personally liable beyond their share capital.
Setup cost: Registration fee: NOK 2,866 (digital at altinn.no) or NOK 5,966 (paper). Legal/accounting assistance: NOK 5,000–15,000. Plus NOK 30,000 minimum share capital.
Best for: Most small and medium businesses wanting limited liability. The most common company structure in Norway for businesses with employees or significant operations. Required for many regulated activities.
ASA · Allmennaksjeselskap
Public limited company
NOK 1,000,000 minimum share capital
Min. capital
4–8 weeks including preparation of articles of association.
Setup time
Liability: Limited — shareholders not personally liable beyond their investment.
Setup cost: Registration fee plus significant legal fees (NOK 50,000–200,000+). Plus NOK 1,000,000 minimum capital.
Best for: Larger companies planning to list on Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) or raise significant external capital. Rarely used by small businesses.
ANS / DA · Ansvarlig selskap / Delt ansvar
General partnership / Partnership with divided liability
NOK 0
Min. capital
1–3 business days.
Setup time
Liability: ANS: joint and several unlimited liability for all partners. DA: partners have unlimited but divided (proportional) liability.
Setup cost: Registration: NOK 2,866 (mandatory for ANS/DA). Partnership agreement (selskapsavtale) recommended — legal fees apply.
Best for: Two or more people wanting to operate together without forming a limited company. ANS is less common due to unlimited liability risk. Used for some professional partnerships.
NUF · Norskregistrert utenlandsk foretak
Norwegian-registered foreign enterprise (branch)
Determined by foreign parent company
Min. capital
1–2 weeks.
Setup time
Liability: The foreign parent company carries full liability.
Setup cost: Registration: NOK 2,866. Requires existing foreign legal entity.
Best for: Foreign companies wanting to establish a Norwegian presence without incorporating a separate Norwegian entity. Useful for EEA companies entering the Norwegian market. The NUF is linked to and dependent on the foreign parent.
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