Entry in the Register of Business Enterprises

Generally, the registering in the Register of Busi­ness Enterprises is mandatory for all who conduct business activities and all enter­prises with limited liability.

The register serves different purposes and shall ensure the protection of business names against third parties, maintain a correct record of people that may be held responsible for actions in the name of the company and provide an overview of the financial structure of a business enterprise..

In sole proprietorships, there can be no doubt as to who is the respon­sible person. Therefore, such enter­prises are exempt from the general registration duty. However, sole proprietorships either selling goods purchased for such purposes and/or employing more than five employees in full-time posts are required to register. Sole proprie­torships not required by the act to do so, may register on a voluntary basis.

Foreign entities are obliged to register in the Register of Business Enterprises if they conduct business activities in Norway or on the Norwegian continental shelf.

An increasing number of banks, insurance companies and other organisations have made it a rule not to enter a deal with a new associate before they have made sure the company is registered in the Register of Business Enterprises.

Companies who want to do international business will experience that the foreign counterpart will request a company certificate from the Register of Business Enterprises before they will commit themselves to an unknown customer or supplier.

Registration in the Register of Business Enterprises is done by submitting the Coordinated register notification, usually together with the registration in the Central Coordinating register of Legal Entities. If you are already registered in the Central register of Legal Entities, mark the return accordingly.

Note the rigid requirements with respect to signatures and additional information for returns to the Register of Business Enterprises.

When registering, the planned name of the self-employed business must include the owner’s family name, with or without first name(s). For other forms of business entities, you must in addition state the type of organisation (e.g. AS for a limited liability company or ANS for unlimited liability companies, see the Norwegian Company Act, no. 78, §2-2).

Before registration, you are advised to check if the planned name is ”available” by contacting the Register of Business Enterprises in Brønnøysund. Your right to a name of the business is obtained either by starting to use the name or by an entry in the Register of Business Enterprises.

If the name of the business enterprise states the name of a person or describes the nature of the business, the enterprise must be connected to the named person or type of business. If the initial conditions change significantly, the name should be changed accordingly.

Registration in the Register of Business Enterprises ensures the following to a business enterprise:

• The right to operate a business enterprise.
• Legal protection of the business name.
• A certificate of registration as identification for lenders, legal registration authorities, and customs and excise authorities.
• A business enterprise organization number as important identification to authorities and for coordinating private and public business registers.
• Identification of the executives of a business enterprise.

There is a fee to be paid for the registration, see further readings

The registering can be done electronically through www.altinn.no or by using the paper form coordinated register notification (Samordnet registermelding).