Start a trading partnership

What is a trading partnership?

A trading partnership exists when two or more parties have agreed to run a business together in a company and the company has been entered in the trade register (handelsregistret). Once registered, the trading partnership becomes a legal entity that can enter into agreements, have employees and own property.

• At least two partners: they are called partners (bolagsmän) and can be individuals or legal entities.
• Personal, joint and several liability: the partners are jointly and severally liable for the company's obligations. A creditor can demand the entire debt from a single partner. If you join as a new partner, you are also liable for earlier debts.
• No capital contribution: there is no requirement for start-up capital.
• The company pays no tax on its profit: each partner is taxed on their share of the result, and a partner who is an individual pays self-employment contributions (egenavgifter) on their share.

Limited partnership

A limited partnership (kommanditbolag) is a trading partnership in which one or more partners, the limited partners, are only liable up to the amount they have contributed or undertaken to contribute. At least one partner, the general partner, has full personal liability. This form suits situations where someone wants to put in capital without taking on the whole risk. Registration costs the same as for a trading partnership.

The partnership agreement

The agreement between the partners can be verbal, but the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) recommends putting it in writing and having it signed by everyone. It is not public and is not submitted anywhere. As a minimum, set out how the profit is shared, how withdrawals are made, who does what and who may sign on behalf of the company. Where you have not agreed otherwise, the statutory rules on the relationship between the partners apply.

Registration, F-tax and VAT

Registration with the Companies Registration Office is mandatory: without it, there is no trading partnership. You register the company at verksamt.se, and the company name must include the word handelsbolag. The fee in 2026 is SEK 1 800 via the e-service and SEK 2 100 using a paper form, according to the Companies Registration Office's fee schedule. Processing usually takes one to two weeks. After registration you must report the beneficial owner, and the company applies for F-tax (F-skatt) and VAT registration with the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket).

Bookkeeping, annual accounts and annual report

A trading partnership is required to keep accounts and closes its books each year with annual accounts, in simplified form if net turnover is normally no more than SEK 3 million. An annual report to the Companies Registration Office is required in two cases:

• when one or more partners are legal entities, for example a limited company
• when the company counts as a larger company, meaning it meets more than one of the conditions more than 50 employees, more than SEK 40 million in total assets and more than SEK 80 million in net turnover, two years in a row

Most trading partnerships do not need an auditor.

How we help you

• A review of trading partnership, limited partnership or limited company, see the comparison of business structures
• Input for the partnership agreement: profit sharing, withdrawals and signing authority
• Registration, beneficial owner, F-tax and VAT
• Bookkeeping in Fortnox, annual accounts and supporting documents for the partners' tax returns

If you would rather run the business on your own, read about how to start a sole trader business (enskild firma) or start a limited company (aktiebolag, AB). See also starting a business and our prices.