Obtaining a business license in Sweden is one of the formalities to complete if you want to open a company in this country. The same requirement applies to certain professions too.
Below, our lawyers in Sweden have created a guide regarding the business licenses available for most activities. If you have any questions or need support in applying for a business permit, you can rely on us.
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Business licensing requirements in Sweden
One of the important aspects to consider when applying for a business license in Sweden is that it can cover multiple activities in the same sector. This is one of the main reasons for which there is no dedicated trade license for commercial activities in Sweden. This eases the application procedure, thus enabling you to provide one or more services. However, before filing for any permit, you must first register a Swedish company. You can do that by incorporating a company or by setting up a sole proprietorship.
You can rely on the support of our lawyers and accountants in Sweden to ensure you comply with the registration conditions. Following that, we can help you get through the licensing phase.
Categories of business licenses in Sweden
Business permits in Sweden are divided in accordance with the authorities that issue them. From this point of view, there are:
- general licenses that are issued by the municipality in the city where your company is registered;
- business permits issued by the regional authorities;
- business licenses issued by governmental bodies.
In most cases, general licenses replace trade licenses that are usually required for the premises of your business. Our Swedish lawyers can guide you through the requirements for obtaining them.
Industries that require business permits in Sweden
There are several economic sectors in which Swedish business licenses are required. Among them, we mention the following:
- agriculture and fishing;
- forestry;
- construction;
- energy and extraction;
- waste management and environmental protection;
- finance, banking, and insurance;
- hospitality, which includes food and accommodation;
- gambling;
- healthcare;
- manufacturing;
- retail;
- education;
- tourism;
- transportation, which is handled by the Swedish Transportation Authority.
If you are a professional, you can also obtain a business permit in Sweden in accordance with your qualifications. This often includes recognition from a specific regulatory body.
For comprehensive information on all the industries that are regulated under special business licensing requirements, you can rely on our law firm in Sweden.
What to consider when applying for a business license in Sweden
Each industry is regulated by a designated authority which also establishes the rules under which Swedish business licenses are obtained. Among the common requirements to apply for a business permit are:
- minimum share capital for certain activities;
- minimum size of the premises for others;
- staff qualification or experience in some cases;
- the appointment of certain officers in others.
It is important to navigate each condition with the issuing authority in order to prepare the filing documents in accordance with the law of the field to operate in. However, you can rely on our Swedish lawyers for guidance in both legislation and paperwork drafting. This way, you will ensure the completion of the licensing phase in a timely manner.
How many active companies are in Sweden?
According to the database of the company that gathers information on businesses around the world, it resulted that at the level of August 2024:
- there were more than 1.83 million businesses registered in Sweden;
- out of these 771,000 were corporations;
- there were also 593,000 sole proprietorships.
No matter the legal form you want to use for your enterprise, if you need support in applying for a business license in Sweden, please contact us! We can also advise on general permits that replace trade licenses in Sweden.