Establishing a company in 2026 is a legal procedure for individuals and organizations to register a new business and commence business operations in accordance with the law. Founders need to choose the type of enterprise, prepare the company name, head office, charter capital, business lines, and business registration documents.
Basically, the company establishment procedure in 2026 includes the main tasks: checking establishment conditions, preparing documents, submitting business registration documents, receiving the Enterprise Registration Certificate, and carrying out necessary legal tasks after establishment.
In this article, VN LAW FIRM provides detailed guidance on the conditions, documents, procedures, time, and costs for establishing a company in 2026, as well as the tasks businesses need to perform after being granted the Enterprise Registration Certificate.
Quick summary of company establishment procedures in 2026
| Content | Information |
| Who can establish a company? | Individuals and organizations have the right to establish and manage enterprises in accordance with legal regulations. |
| What types of enterprises are there? | Sole proprietorships, partnerships, single-member limited liability companies, multi-member limited liability companies, and joint-stock companies. |
| What needs to be prepared? | Company name, head office, charter capital, business lines, and business registration documents. |
| Where to submit documents? | Submit at the Business Registration Office in the province/city where the head office is located (In person, via postal service, or via electronic information network) |
| Processing time | 03 working days from the date of receipt of a valid application. |
| Result | Enterprise Registration Certificate. |
| What to do after establishment? | Carry out the announcement of business registration content and tasks related to seals, digital signatures, e-invoices, taxes, bank accounts, and business operations. |
1. What is company establishment? When should a company be established?
Company establishment is the process by which individuals or organizations carry out business registration procedures with competent state agencies to establish the legal status of the enterprise and conduct business activities in accordance with legal regulations.
Company establishment is often chosen when individuals or organizations need to build stable business operations, expand scale, cooperate with partners, or require a legal entity to conduct business transactions.
Typically, individuals or organizations should consider establishing a company or enterprise when:
- Business operations are large-scale or have expansion plans: The enterprise can raise capital, sign contracts with partners, expand markets, and develop business activities.
- Need to build a brand and increase reputation: Operating under a business name helps create professionalism when dealing with customers, partners, and other organizations.
- Need to conduct transactions as a legal entity: The enterprise can sign contracts, issue invoices, and carry out transactions serving business operations as regulated.
- Have a need to raise capital or cooperate in investment: Choosing the appropriate type of enterprise helps the business more easily receive capital from members, shareholders, or investors.
2. Conditions for establishing a company in 2026
Before carrying out company establishment registration procedures, founders need to identify and check some basic conditions related to the founding entity, type of enterprise, company name, head office, charter capital, and business lines.
2.1. Conditions for founders and enterprise managers
Founders of companies and enterprises are individuals or organizations that establish or contribute capital to establish a company or enterprise.
Enterprise managers are managers of sole proprietorships and company managers, including sole proprietors, general partners, Chairpersons of the Members’ Council, members of the Members’ Council, Company Presidents, Chairpersons of the Board of Directors, members of the Board of Directors, Directors or General Directors, and individuals holding other management titles as stipulated in the company’s Charter.
According to the Law on Enterprises of Vietnam 2020, amended and supplemented in 2025, organizations and individuals have the right to establish and manage enterprises in Vietnam. However, the law also stipulates cases where individuals or organizations are not allowed to establish and manage enterprises.
Some cases where individuals or organizations are not allowed to establish and manage enterprises include minors, individuals currently facing criminal prosecution, and other cases subject to restrictions or prohibitions as stipulated by law.
Therefore, before registering a company, it is necessary to check the legal capacity of the founder and manager to avoid rejection or requiring amendments and supplements to the application.
2.2. Choosing the type of enterprise
Choosing the type of enterprise is one of the important decisions when establishing a company. Currently, there are 05 common types of enterprises, including:
- Sole proprietorship;
- Partnership;
- Single-member limited liability company;
- Multi-member limited liability company;
- Joint-stock company.
| Type | Key characteristics | Suitable for |
| Single-member LLC | One individual or one organization as owner; the owner is liable within the scope of the charter capital. | Individuals or organizations who want to own and control the business themselves. |
| Multi-member LLC | Has from 02 to 50 contributing members. | Groups of individuals or organizations jointly contributing capital for business. |
| Joint-stock company | Has 03 or more shareholders and has the ability to raise capital through shares as regulated. | Enterprises aiming to expand scale, raise capital, and attract investors. |
| Sole proprietorship | Owned by one individual, and the owner is liable with all their assets. | A business model directly owned by one individual. |
| Partnership | Has general partners and capital-contributing partners as regulated. | A business model heavily reliant on the reputation and liability of general partners. |
To learn more about the characteristics and procedures of each type, see the article: Types of Enterprises in Vietnam: Characteristics and Establishment Procedures.
2.3. Conditions for company name
The enterprise name is the information used to identify the enterprise during its operations and transactions.
When naming a company, founders must comply with regulations on enterprise names, noting not to use names that are identical or confusingly similar to already registered enterprise names.
Therefore, before preparing the application, it is advisable to check the proposed company name on the National Business Registration Portal to avoid having to amend the name due to duplication or confusion.
2.4. Conditions for head office
The company’s head office must be located in Vietnam and serve as the enterprise’s contact address.
The head office address must be clearly defined according to administrative boundaries and comply with relevant legal regulations.
Note: For apartment units solely for residential purposes, it is necessary to be aware of regulations regarding the use of apartment buildings and avoid using them as business headquarters. If the location has commercial, service, or other suitable functions, it is necessary to check the legal documents and applicable regulations for that specific location.
2.5. Conditions for charter capital
Charter capital is the total value of assets contributed or committed to be contributed by members or owners when establishing a limited liability company or partnership; it is the total par value of shares sold or registered for purchase when establishing a joint-stock company.
For many common business lines, the law does not stipulate a general minimum charter capital. However, some conditional business lines may require enterprises to meet statutory capital levels or capital conditions according to specialized regulations.
Therefore, before registering charter capital, it is necessary to determine the intended business lines to choose an appropriate capital level.
2.6. Conditions for business lines
Business lines are the fields of activity that an enterprise registers and carries out during its business operations.
Companies and enterprises need to register business lines according to the system of economic sectors applicable at the time of registration. Currently, the determination of industry codes is carried out according to Decision 36/2025/QD-TTg on the System of Vietnam’s Economic Sectors.
For further reference: Business Line Codes according to Decision 36/2025/QD-TTg.
For conditional business lines, enterprises must fully meet the corresponding business conditions before commencing business operations according to specialized legal regulations.
3. What does the company establishment application in 2026 include?
The business establishment registration application is prepared depending on the type of enterprise chosen by the individual or organization.
According to business registration regulations, the application may include basic documents such as:
- Application for business establishment registration;
- Company Charter;
- List of members or shareholders as applicable;
- List of beneficial owners of the enterprise;
- Legal documents of relevant individuals or organizations;
- Power of attorney for the person carrying out the procedure, if any.
Business registration forms are implemented according to current regulations, including forms issued with Circular 68/2025/TT-BTC (amended by Circular 121/2026/TT-BTC).
Specific documents need to be determined according to each type of enterprise and actual registration case.
3.1. Single-member LLC application
The application for establishing a single-member limited liability company is prepared according to legal regulations on business registration, focusing on the business registration application form, company charter, and legal documents of the owner, legal representative, along with other documents if required.
3.2. Multi-member LLC application
In addition to the business registration application form and company charter, and the list of beneficial owners of the enterprise, the application must include information and documents related to contributing members and other documents as regulated.
3.3. Joint-stock company application
The application for establishing a joint-stock company includes the business registration application form, company charter, list of beneficial owners of the enterprise, list of shareholders, and related legal documents as regulated.
3.4. Partnership application
The application for establishing a partnership includes the business registration application form, company charter, list of beneficial owners of the enterprise, list of members, and related legal documents as regulated.
3.5. Sole proprietorship application
The application for establishing a sole proprietorship is simpler than other types of enterprises, consisting only of the business registration application form and legal documents of the sole proprietor.
4. Company establishment procedures in 2026
The company establishment process can be summarized into 04 steps:
Step 1: Prepare information and documents
Before submitting the application, the founder needs to determine:
- Company name;
- Head office address;
- Type of enterprise;
- Charter capital;
- Business lines;
- Legal representative;
- Contributing members or shareholders;
- Necessary documents to complete the application.
Accurate preparation from the outset helps limit situations where the application is requested to be amended or supplemented.
Step 2: Submit business registration documents
Founders of companies, enterprises, or authorized persons can carry out business registration by regulated methods, including:
- Direct submission;
- Submission via postal service;
- Submission of documents via electronic information network.
For online submission, the applicant can use the National Business Registration Portal.
Step 3: Receive the Enterprise Registration Certificate
The processing time for business registration applications is 03 working days from the date of receipt of a valid application.
If the application fully meets the conditions as regulated, the enterprise will be granted an Enterprise Registration Certificate.
If the application is not valid, the applicant must amend and supplement the application as required.
Step 4: Announce business registration content
After being granted the Enterprise Registration Certificate, the enterprise must announce the business registration content on the National Business Registration Portal and pay the prescribed fee.
The announced content includes information as regulated, specifically:
– Information on the Enterprise Registration Certificate;
– Business lines;
– List of founding shareholders and list of foreign investor shareholders for joint-stock companies, if any.
5. How long does it take to establish a company?
The processing time for business registration applications is 03 working days from the date of receipt of a valid application. However, the total time for an enterprise to complete the entire preparation process and commence operations may be longer than the business registration application processing time, as it also depends on document preparation, amendments and supplements to documents if any, and tasks performed after receiving the certificate.
Therefore, when planning to establish a company, it is important to distinguish between the time to issue the Enterprise Registration Certificate and the time to complete all procedures for the enterprise to be ready for operation.
6. What are the costs of establishing a company in 2026?
The costs to establish and commence business operations typically include various items. These can be divided into state fees and charges, initial operational costs, and company establishment service fees if an external service provider is hired.
| Item | Reference amount | Note |
| Business registration fee | 0đ – 50,000 VNĐ | Depends on the submission method and applicable regulations. |
| Information announcement fee | 100,000 VNĐ | Implemented according to regulations on announcing business registration content. |
| Seal engraving | 350,000 – 500,000 VNĐ | Reference price, depends on the provider. |
| Digital signature | 1,500,000 – 3,000,000 VNĐ | Depends on the provider and usage period. |
| E-invoice | 900,000 – 3,000,000 VNĐ | Depends on the provider and number of invoices. |
| Company signboard | From 200,000 VNĐ | Depends on size, material, and service provider. |
| Bank account | Usually free account opening | Policies and balance requirements vary by bank. |
| Business establishment service | 1,000,000 – 3,000,000 VNĐ | Reference price, depends on the provider. |
Note: The above cost estimates are for reference only. Actual costs may vary according to state agency regulations, service providers, and the specific needs of each enterprise.
7. What to do after establishing a company?
Being granted the Enterprise Registration Certificate is just the first step. After establishment, the enterprise needs to continue performing necessary legal, tax, and operational tasks so that the enterprise can operate in accordance with regulations.
7.1. Making the enterprise seal
Enterprises can manage and use their seals in accordance with legal regulations and the company’s Charter.
In practice, enterprises often use seals for signing and circulating documents as needed.
7.2. Making and displaying the company signboard
Enterprises need to pay attention to displaying information at their head office and on the enterprise signboard in accordance with relevant regulations. The signboard also helps customers and partners identify the enterprise’s operating location.
7.3. Registering a digital signature
Digital signatures are used to carry out many electronic transactions of enterprises, such as:
- Signing e-invoices;
- Signing electronic tax declarations;
- Signing electronic documents;
- Signing electronic contracts;
- Performing other electronic transactions as needed.
7.4. Registering and using e-invoices
Enterprises needing to use e-invoices must choose a suitable solution and carry out procedures related to e-invoices according to current regulations.
Regulations can be found in Decree 254/2026/ND-CP and related guiding documents.
7.5. Opening a corporate bank account
A corporate bank account helps enterprises conduct payment transactions, manage revenues and expenditures, and control cash flow during operations.
Enterprises should choose a bank and account type that suits their actual transaction needs.
7.6. Performing tax procedures
After establishment, enterprises must fulfill obligations regarding registration, declaration, and payment of taxes according to applicable regulations for enterprises.
Depending on actual operations, enterprises may incur tasks related to taxes, e-invoices, accounting, and other financial obligations.
7.7. Fully contributing charter capital
After establishment, owners, members, or shareholders must fulfill their capital contribution obligations within the registered timeframe and capital amount as stipulated by law.
8. Should you hire a company establishment service?
Founders can prepare and carry out business registration procedures themselves or hire a legal service provider for assistance.
Hiring a service may be suitable for those establishing a company for the first time, who lack time to prepare documents, or who need advice on the type of enterprise, business lines, charter capital, and post-establishment procedures.
When using a service, choose a provider capable of:
- Advising on suitable enterprise types;
- Checking company names;
- Advising on business lines and industry codes;
- Advising on charter capital;
- Drafting documents;
- Representing or assisting with document submission;
- Monitoring document processing;
- Assisting with document amendments and supplements if needed;
- Guiding tasks to be performed after establishment.
9. All-inclusive company establishment service at VN LAW FIRM
VN LAW FIRM provides support services for company and enterprise establishment, with a process from consultation, document preparation to carrying out business registration procedures and guiding post-establishment tasks.
9.1. What does the company establishment service include?
- Consulting on company establishment process and procedures;
- Consulting on choosing the type of enterprise;
- Consulting on company name, head office address, charter capital, and business lines;
- Consulting and preparing necessary documents;
- Drafting business registration documents;
- Representing or assisting clients with document submission;
- Monitoring document processing;
- Assisting with document amendments and supplements if required;
- Carrying out the procedure for announcing business registration content;
- Handing over the Enterprise Registration Certificate;
- Guiding tasks to be performed after establishment.
9.2. Company establishment service price list
| PACKAGE #1 ECONOMY 1,000,000đ |
PACKAGE #2 BASIC 2,500,000đ |
PACKAGE #3 ALL-INCLUSIVE A-Z 4,000,000đ |
|
Includes Package #1, plus:
|
Includes Package #2, plus:
|
| 03-05 working days | 04-07 working days | 05-10 working days |
Note: Costs and content of each service package may change according to VN LAW FIRM’s policies and clients’ actual needs. Clients should contact us for a quote and to confirm the scope of services before use.
| ✅ Field: Enterprise | ✅ Procedure: Company establishment |
| ✅ Hotline/Zalo: 0782244468 | ✅ Facebook: VN Law Firm |
| ✅ Website: VNLawFirm.Vn | ✅ Email: info@vnlawfirm.vn |
10. Frequently Asked Questions about Company Establishment in 2026
There is no single type of enterprise suitable for all cases. The choice should be based on the number of capital contributors, management needs, capital mobilization capability, and the enterprise’s development orientation.
Which type of enterprise should be chosen when establishing a company?
There is no general minimum charter capital applicable to all enterprises. However, some conditional business lines may require enterprises to meet capital conditions according to specialized regulations. Therefore, before registering charter capital, it is necessary to determine the intended business lines and related legal conditions.
How much capital is needed to establish a company?
Whether capital needs to be proven depends on the type of enterprise, business lines, and applicable legal regulations for the specific case. For business lines with capital requirements, enterprises must meet the corresponding requirements before commencing business operations.
Does company establishment require proof of charter capital?
The composition of the application depends on the type of enterprise. Basically, the application may include:
What does a company establishment application include?
A private residential address can be used as an enterprise’s head office if it meets relevant legal conditions. Founders need to check the legality of the address and its intended use before registration.
Can a company's head office be located at a private residence?
For apartment units solely for residential purposes, it is necessary to be aware of regulations regarding the use of apartment buildings and avoid using them as business headquarters. If the location has commercial, service, or other suitable functions, it is necessary to check the legal documents and applicable regulations for that specific location.
Can a company's head office be located in an apartment?
Business registration can be carried out via an electronic information network through the online business registration method stipulated by law. Founders can carry out the procedure through the National Business Registration Portal.
Can a company be established online?
The processing time for business registration applications is 03 working days from the date of receipt of a valid application. The actual time to complete the entire establishment process and prepare the enterprise for operation may be longer, depending on document preparation and post-registration tasks.
How many days does it take to establish a company?
After establishment, the enterprise needs to continue performing necessary legal and operational tasks such as:
What to do after being granted the Enterprise Registration Certificate?
If the founder lacks experience or wants to save time, they can choose a company establishment service to receive support from consultation, document preparation, submission, to guidance on post-establishment procedures.
Should you hire a company establishment service?
