It must not contain sensitive words which are prohibited by legislation. The following words are prohibited: “Empire”, “Chartered”, “Imperial”, “Municipal”, “Windsor”, “Crown” or “Royal” and any other words implying connection with a university or professional association or activity prohibited by the Law. The word: “Assurance”, “Bank”, “Insurance”, “European”, “International” and similar words are the subject for the licensing. There is also a prohibition for words implying patronage of the Liechtenstein government or department or the government and its bodies of any other country.

The company’s name must not be very similar to existing names on the registrar and it must not contain improper or objectionable words. It must end with a words or abbreviation signifying a Limited Liability in the German language , especially: “Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung” or  “GmBH” or “Ges.m.b.H”.

A Liechtenstein GmBH (LLC) is required to have a registered office address in Liechtenstein.

One director is the minimum required. There is a requirement for the company to have at least one director who is a local or has a residence permit. Directors are involved in the operational activity of the company, thus there is no requirement for a company secretary to be appointed. There is no direct legal requirement regarding the frequency of the directors’ board meeting, but it is better to have it at least once a year for the following of substance rules.

The director and the shareholder can be the same person, ccorporates entities can be appointed as directors. The director’s  details are registered on the public record and can be accessed by the public.

The appointment of a secretary is not mandatory, but optional. The Director is involved in the operational activity of the company and handles all matters instead, thus there is no need for a Secretary to be appointed.

One shareholder is the minimum required; the maximum is 30. There is no requirement for them to be locals and corporate entities can be appointed as shareholders. The shareholders’ meeting should be conducted on an annual basis – once a year. The place of such meeting is not relevant.

Shareholders’ details are registered on the public record and can be accessed by the public. However, by using the nominee services, the confidentiality can be obtained. The director and the shareholder can be the same person.

The beneficial owners’ details are registered on the public record and can be accessed by the public. However, the utilization of the trust services is available.

The owners of an GmBH (LLC) are free to determine any amount as the authorized capital at incorporation but it should not be less than CHF 10 000 and it can be de-nominated in any currency, though the Swiss Franc is mostly preferred. The authorised capital is the maximum amount of capital that company is authorised by its constitutional documents.

A Liechtenstein GmBH (LLC) is not allowed to issue shares, instead the parts and powers are prescribed by the articles of association.

The authorised capital should be paid up at the moment of incorporation.

A LLC in Liechtenstein can be incorporated within 7 days; Liechtenstein is considered to have one of the fastest registries worldwide.

Ready-made but unused GmBHs (LLCs) are not available in Liechtenstein.

Liechtenstein GmBH (LLC) must meet specific physical presence requirements and conduct its main activities which generate income, inside Liechtenstein. This means that the management and control of the GmBH (LLC) must be in Liechtenstein, thus, the company must have enough premises, amount of expenditures and employees within the jurisdiction, based on its business activity and size. Moreover, the competences and experience of the employees should correspond to the posts that they are occupying.

Liechtenstein GmBH (LLC) must prepare and lodge its accounting records to the tax authorities on an annual basis. A licensed auditor should be appointed notwithstanding the size of the company.

There is no exemtion in Liechtenstein from tax on income or profits for GmBH (LLC). The corporate tax rate is 12.5%. However, Liechtenstein has nearly 37 double tax avoidance treaties and due to the fact that Liechtenstein is a member of the EFTA – European Free Trade Association and the Council of Europe and it participates in the European Economic Area therefore, it is entitled to benefit from the tax benefits that are established on the EU level notwithstanding, the dividends interest and royalties are taxable in the Liechtenstein via the system of tax exceptions provided with the double tax avoidance treaties and EU-membership, their rates can be reduced significantly.