Opening a company in Austria as a self-employed

David Wright wrote:

Why do you want to set up your own company? What's wrong with just working as a freelance? (Or is it a questioh of work permit - that can also be an issue).

Lise Smidth wrote:

As a translator you can apply for a trade license (Gewerbeschein) as "Sprachdienstleister". If you allready have a residence permit, it should be no big problem. Depending on where in Austria you will be living you apply at the local authorities. In Vienna you go to the "Bezirksamt" in your residential district.

You might find helpful informations here (in German):
http://portal.wko.at/wk/format_detail.wk?angid=1&stid=624954&dstid=0&titel=Gewerbeaus��bung%2cdurch%2cAusländer%2cmit%2cStandort%2cin%2cÖsterreich%2c-%2cFAQs

http://portal.wko.at/wk/startseite_dst.wk?dstid=9215&dstname=��bersetzungsbüros-Sprachdienstleister

You will have to pay social insurance - 26% of your income in addition to the tax.

I have been running my own business as a translator for almost 20 years in Vienna. You are welcome to ask me if you need any more information. (German would be easier for me but English is fine if my mistakes don't bother you too much.....)

Good luck

lise

[Edited at 2013-03-06 19:24 GMT]

Lise Smidth wrote:

Sorry, for some reason I didn't see your new post until now.

I was talking about income tax - maybe you can find useful information here:
http://english.bmf.gv.at/Publications/Income_tax_v4(1).pdf

http://www.migration.gv.at/en/living-and-working-in-austria/austria-at-a-glance/income-and-taxation.html

The social insurance is payable every quarter of a year. You have to pay 26 % of your yearly income.

http://www.sozialversicherung.at/portal27/portal/esv_enportal/start/startWindow?action=2&p_menuid=69246&p_tabid=1

br
lise

David Wright wrote:

Why do you want to set up your own company? What's wrong with just working as a freelance? (Or is it a questioh of work permit - that can also be an issue).

Simona Micutari wrote:



Well, because if he's going to work for direct clients, he needs to send invoices and be registered as self-employed. This gives you a lot of credibility and you can also have a record of your activity, which can be useful if you need to prove your level of experience (for example, if you ever decide to apply for a job as an in-house translator). Paying taxes is also important; it reflects poorly on you as a professional to work without paying any tax to the state.