Congratulations on starting a business in Denmark
The Start-up Denmark Secretariat would like to inform you about doing business in Denmark. In this letter, you will find information about
Start-up Denmark
Secretariat
DANISH BUS INESS
AUTHORITY
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Setting up a business in Denmark
Public business development schemes
Dahlerups Pakhus
Langelinie Allé 17
DK-2100 København Ø
If you have further questions related to your business, you can contact the Danish Business Authority at [email protected] or www.danishbusinessauthority.dk.
Denmark
If you seek information about living in Denmark, please refer to Denmark’s
common public portal found at https://lifeindenmark.borger.dk.
VAT no. 10 15 08 17
Tel
+45 35 29 10 00
[email protected]
www.startupdenmark.info
Welcome to Denmark and good luck with your business.
MINISTRY OF BUSINESS AND
Kind regards,
Nicolai Hellmann
Head of Secretariat
GROWTH
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Setting up a business in Denmark
Launching your start-up in Denmark is easy. First, you have to select a company type. Then, you have to apply for a CVR-number. Lastly and depending on
your chosen company type, you need to observe the applicable rules for VAT
and tax.
Choose company type
Before you register your company, you have to find out what company type
you want to establish. It is possible to change the company type later on.
You can get more information on company types from the Danish Business
Authority’s call centre at + 45 72 20 00 30.
You can also read more at https://startvaekst.virk.dk/opstart/vaelgvirksomhedsform/overblik-over-virksomhedsformer (in Danish only).
Register your company
You have to register and apply for a CVR number at www.virk.dk (in Danish
only). The CVR number is your company’s official registration number, and it
is, among other things, used to identify your company with public authorities
and when issuing invoices.
Please note that you need to obtain a NemID (“EasyID”) in order to proceed
with your registration. NemID is your digital signature – and the key to digital
Denmark. NemID is a single login for public websites, your online banking and
many other websites and services. Get your NemID at www.nemid.nu/dk-en/.
Register for VAT and tax
The Danish Customs and Tax Administration is called “SKAT”. SKAT is responsible for administering and enforcing tax laws in Denmark. Your start-up,
if registered as a Danish company, is subject to Danish tax laws. The tax payment will depend on the type of the company you have established.
As a point of departure, you can refer to SKAT’s guide “Tax in Denmark”. The
guide introduces the Danish tax system and is intended for newcomers to Denmark and non-Danish speakers who are not yet familiar with the system.
Download the guide here: www.skat.dk/getFile.aspx?Id=121617
VAT and tax for new businesses: www.skat.dk/SKAT.aspx?oId=2158615
Working in Denmark: www.skat.dk/SKAT.aspx?oId=68777&vId=0
SKAT in general: www.skat.dk/SKAT.aspx?lang=us
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Observe other rules
When you establish your business in Denmark on a permanent basis, you need
to follow all Danish rules related to doing business in Denmark. Below, you
find an overview of a range of rules, which may apply to your business.
Working environment
When you establish a company in Denmark, you will have to follow Danish
rules on working environment in the workplace. The Danish Working Environment Authority (WEA) is responsible for e.g. inspecting the working environment in Denmark.
Read more here:
www.businessindenmark.danishbusinessauthority.dk/working-environmentSocial security and workers’ compensation
If your company has employees that carry out work in Denmark, you may be
obliged to pay social security contributions under the Danish law. Your employees will be subject to Danish social security Law, if it is not otherwise stated in EC regulation 883/2004 on the coordination of social security schemes or
in conventions on social security Denmark has signed.
Read more here:
www.businessindenmark.danishbusinessauthority.dk/social-securityAs employer, you have the responsibility to ensure that your employees have
the necessary work and residence permits, if they are not Danish citizens.
Read more here: www.newtodenmark.dk
Authorisation
Some professions require that you apply for authorisation or do a registration/notification by the competent public authority in Denmark, before you
start your activities in Denmark.
Read more here:
www.businessindenmark.danishbusinessauthority.dk/authorisation
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Public business development
Several public initiatives exist to help grow your start-up in Denmark. You can
contact any of the following for more information. To begin with, you are advised to contact your local Business Development Centre.
Business Development Centres
If you seek advice on realizing your business plan, developing your product or
raising capital, you can book free targeted counselling in a regional Business
Development Centre (“Væksthus”). Consultants help you identify your challenges and suggest how to deal with them. The consultants can also direct you
to programmes and subsidy schemes that you may be eligible to apply for.
Business Development Centre
Northern Denmark
Business Development Centre
Central Denmark
Business Development Centre
Greater Copenhagen
Business Development Centre
Zealand
Business Development Centre
Southern Denmark
Business Development Centre
Northern Denmark
Business Development Centre
Central Denmark
Niels Jernes Vej 10
9220 Aalborg Øst
+45 70 21 08 08
www.startvaekst.dk/vhnordjylland.dk
[email protected]
Åbogade 15
8200 Aarhus N
+45 70 22 00 76
www.startvaekst.dk/vhmidtjylland.dk/english
[email protected]
Business Development Centre
Greater Copenhagen
Business Development Centre
Southern Denmark
Fruebjergvej 3
2100 København Ø
+45 30 10 80 80
www.startvaekst.dk/vhhr.dk/english-vhhr
[email protected]
Forskerparken 10 D/E
5230 Odense M
+45 70 23 55 15
www.startvaekst.dk/vhsyddanmark.dk/english_
syddanmark // [email protected]
Business Development Centre
Zealand
Marienbergvej 132
4760 Vordingborg
+45 55 35 30 35
www.startvaekst.dk/vhsjaelland.dk
[email protected]
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Municipal business service
Most municipalities offer professional and free of charge business service. As a
new business, you can contact the local business service (“Erhvervsservice”) in
your municipality for basic advice on start-up opportunities and other activities
in your area, e.g. start-up cafés and networks.
The Danish Growth Fund
The Danish Growth Fund (“Vækstfonden”) can help grow your start-up by
providing capital and expertise. The fund is the Danish state’s investment fund
aimed at promoting the creation of new companies through investments. For
entrepreneurs, the fund invests equity in start-ups that have significant growth
potential yet have trouble raising sufficient venture capital, and it often works
in cooperation with other public operators, e.g. innovation incubators.
Read more here: www.vf.dk/en
Innovation Fund Denmark
The Innovation Fund Denmark (“Innovationsfonden”) invests in new initiatives
to create growth and employment in Denmark. You may be able to apply for
one of the fund’s three programmes:
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Large-Scale Projects: For substantial investments and long-term projects/partnerships focused on research, technology, experimental development and market development
InnoBooster: For start-ups and SMEs with sound development plans
Talents: For undergraduates, recent graduates or postgraduate researchers aiming to become entrepreneurs or to secure a research career in the private sector
Read more here: www.innovationsfonden.dk/en
Market Development Fund
The Market Development Fund (“Markedmodningsfonden”) helps promote
growth, employment and export, particularly for SMEs in areas where Denmark has strengths and potential. Depending on your business, the fund may be
able to supply capital for market development in one of its focus areas:
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Co-funding for private enterprises’ innovative solutions
Innovative public procurement
Industry partnerships
Read more here: www.markedsmodningsfonden.dk/in_english
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Further guides
You can find more help and initiatives on these sites (only available in Danish):
Virk Startvækst
Virk Startvækst is the official gateway to information and advice for entrepreneurs and established enterprises with growth potentials. It is operated by the
Danish Business Authority, partially in collaboration with the regional Business Development Centres.
Read more here: www.startvaekst.virk.dk
Vækstguiden
Vækstguiden (“The Growth Guide”) offers an overview of all public-sector
schemes aimed at generating enterprise growth and development. Covering all
major initiatives on regional, national and EU level, the guide collects information about counselling, subsidy schemes, financing and cooperation with
public and private companies.
Read more here: www.vaekstguiden.dk