Self-employment

Setting up a company entails a range of risks that must be assessed and important decisions that must be taken, including defining the legal status of the company – with implications for the entrepreneur’s liability and the liability of the business.

A business run by a single person usually has the legal form of an ‘empresário em nome individual’ [sole proprietor] or ‘sociedade unipessoal por quotas’ [single shareholder limited liability company].

Businesses run by more than one person may take various legal forms, the most common being:

• ‘partnership’ (unlimited liability, in which the partners are incidentally liable in relation to the company and jointly and severally liable among themselves)
• ‘public companies limited by shares’ (the liability of members is limited to the equity capital)
• ‘public limited liability company’ (each shareholder limits their liability and participation to the value of the shares they hold).

Close attention must be paid to the legislation governing the setting up of companies in many areas of activity where a licence or permit is required before the activity can begin.

'Espaço Empresa' provides future entrepreneurs with all the information required for the company’s planning, incorporation and commencement of activity (and information on the licensing of activities). 

Coworking is becoming increasingly popular in Portugal amongst self-employed workers, entrepreneurs and start-ups, and there is already a network of around 100 spaces in the main towns and cities. Many of these spaces are particularly receptive to projects originating from other countries.