Includes steps involved in establishing a local office.
Last Published: 8/28/2018

The government has made progress in streamlining its complex and cumbersome requirements for business licenses and permits.  It claims to have reduced the processing time for permits to less than three months, except for large projects requiring an environmental impact assessment.  The government's "one-stop shop" for business permits does not include plant and building permits.  All licensed businesses in Austria (including foreign-owned enterprises) must be members of Austria's Economic Chamber (WKO – Wirtschaftskammer Österreich) and pay compulsory dues.
The official investment office of the Austrian government is “Austrian Business Agency” and can be found online at www.aba.gv.at/.  It is an excellent source of information on all subjects related to opening an office or a production facility in Austria.  In addition, each of the Austrian provinces maintain official investment offices. To contact these institutions, please consult U.S. Commercial Service Vienna at: office.vienna@trade.gov

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.