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New business formation in Vouliagmeni operates under Greek national company law and tax law, with certain practical points shaped by the local municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni and the Attica Region. Most formations are handled through the General Commercial Registry known as GEMI and the One-Stop Service known as YMS, including its online version. Common legal forms include sole proprietorship, general partnership known as O.E., limited partnership known as E.E., private company known as I.K.E., and public limited company known as S.A. or A.E. Greece has simplified procedures so that many companies can be formed in a few days using standard articles. After formation, a business must obtain a tax number, register for VAT where applicable, set up social insurance where required, and meet licensing or notification obligations for the specific activity. In Vouliagmeni, hospitality, food service, tourism, wellness, marine sports, and retail are common sectors, and each may require local permits or notifications before opening.
A lawyer can add practical value at several stages. Choosing the correct legal form affects tax burden, liability, investor readiness, and social insurance exposure. Drafting articles of association and shareholder or partner agreements helps prevent future disputes about decision making, exits, and profit distribution. If you plan to lease premises in Vouliagmeni, legal review of the lease, permitted use, and fit-out clauses is critical. Many activities near the coastline or in tourist zones require additional approvals, and a lawyer can coordinate environmental, health, and safety compliance along with Fire Brigade certificates and municipal permissions for outdoor seating or signage. Cross-border founders often need help with powers of attorney, translations, apostille requirements, and obtaining a Greek tax number. If you seek grants or incentives, a lawyer can map your project to Development Law schemes or the Elevate Greece framework and help you satisfy documentation and timing requirements. For regulated activities such as food and beverage, wellness, or marine rentals, legal guidance on the correct notification or license route can save you time and avoid penalties.
Legal forms and capital. An I.K.E. can be formed with very low capital and is widely used by startups and SMEs. Partnerships O.E. and E.E. have no minimum capital but expose partners differently to liability. An S.A. is suitable for larger ventures and external investors and has a higher minimum capital that must be paid in. Existing E.P.E. companies continue to operate, but new formations typically prefer I.K.E. or S.A. Founders should match their growth plans and investor expectations to the legal form.
Formation route. Most formations run through GEMI and the One-Stop Service YMS using standard articles. Certain structures or contributions in kind may require a notary. Name clearance, articles drafting, and registration can often be completed within a few working days if documents are in order. Upon registration, the new entity is assigned a GEMI number and tax number, and VAT activation follows with the tax authority.
Tax and accounting. Corporate income tax is set by national law, and VAT applies to most supplies other than exempt categories. Many businesses in hospitality and retail will charge VAT. Greek Accounting Standards under Law 4308-2014 apply. Companies must keep books, report invoices to AADE through the myDATA e-books platform, and file annual financial statements with GEMI for capital companies. Larger companies and some S.A. and I.K.E. meeting size criteria must appoint an auditor. Dividends and certain cross-border payments may be subject to withholding tax under domestic law and treaties.
Employment and social insurance. Hiring is reported through the ERGANI information system before work starts. Employees must be registered with the unified social insurance fund EFKA, and employers must observe working time, minimum wage set by government, and health and safety obligations. In partnerships many individual partners are insured with EFKA, while in an I.K.E. the administrator may have EFKA obligations but members as such are not automatically insured. Exact treatment depends on role and remuneration, so verify during structuring.
Licensing, notifications, and sector rules. Greece uses a mixed model of licenses and simple notifications. Many low-risk activities start operation by filing a notification through the notifybusiness system and keeping required documentation on site. Food and beverage, tourist accommodation, wellness and beauty services, water sports, and retail with outdoor seating often require additional steps such as municipal permission for use of public space, Fire Brigade certification, and health inspections. In Vouliagmeni, outdoor seating near the seafront, signage, and music hours are regulated by municipal decisions, and some areas are subject to coastal protection rules. Start early on any premises-related approvals to avoid opening delays.
Premises and zoning. Check that the lease permits your intended use and that the building has the correct use designation. For coastal or beachfront operations, additional approvals or concessions may be needed from authorities responsible for the seashore and beach zone. Fit-out works can require building permits or small-scale permits and fire safety design. The Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni issues permits for signage, outdoor seating, and certain shop notifications and can advise on local rules for waste management and cleanliness fees.
Foreign founders and cross-border issues. Foreign individuals can generally own 100 percent of a Greek company. Each founder needs a Greek tax number and, if acting remotely, a power of attorney. Corporate shareholders must provide legalized and translated corporate documents. Bank account opening requires know-your-customer checks and proof of source of funds. If you will live in Greece to run the business, ensure you have the right to reside and work, and consider tax residency impacts.
Compliance after formation. File ultimate beneficial owner information in the national UBO register. Maintain corporate books and resolutions. Keep a compliance calendar for VAT returns, withholding taxes, social insurance filings, annual accounts, license renewals, and municipal fee payments. Protect your brand with a Greek or EU trademark, and handle personal data in line with GDPR if you process customer or employee data.
An I.K.E. is often preferred for small and medium businesses because it has flexible articles, low capital requirements, and limited liability. A sole proprietorship is quick and simple but exposes the owner to personal liability and may be less attractive to investors. Partnerships O.E. or E.E. can suit small family businesses but involve partner liability. If you plan to raise significant capital or issue shares broadly, consider an S.A. The right choice depends on liability comfort, investor plans, and social insurance impact, so take tailored advice.
If founders have tax numbers and documents ready, many I.K.E., O.E., and E.E. can be registered within a few working days through the One-Stop Service. S.A. formations or structures needing notarial deeds or special licenses can take longer. Premises-related permits often take more time than the company registration itself, so plan for that on your timeline.
Yes. Each founder needs a Greek tax number, and the new company will receive its own tax number upon registration. Foreigners can obtain a tax number through the tax authority, often via a representative or power of attorney, with passport and proof of address.
Typical taxes include corporate income tax on profits, VAT on taxable supplies, withholding tax on certain payments such as dividends, payroll taxes and social insurance for employees, and municipal fees related to signage and public space use. Exact rates and deadlines change, so confirm current figures with your accountant or lawyer.
An I.K.E. can be set up with a symbolic capital amount. Partnerships have no minimum capital by law. An S.A. has a higher minimum capital that must be fully paid on incorporation. Beyond legal minimums, your bank, landlords, and investors may expect practical capitalization to cover fit-out and operating needs.
Yes, in most sectors foreigners can own all the shares or quotas. Specific regulated activities such as defense, certain transport, or energy may have additional licensing requirements. Immigration status is a separate question, so if you will live in Greece to run the business, check your residence and work permissions.
You must declare a registered seat in Greece. This can be a leased office or shop, a home office where permitted, or in some cases a virtual office offered by providers. For activities requiring on-site inspections such as food service or retail, you will need suitable premises that meet health and safety rules.
You will typically file a start-of-operation notification for a shop of health interest, obtain a Fire Brigade certificate where required, register with the health authority for sanitation standards, and secure municipal permissions for signage and any outdoor seating. If you play music, local rules may require a notification or license. Location near the seafront can add approvals for public space use. A lawyer can coordinate the sequence so you open without delays.
Before the first day of work, you must register the employee and file the hire in ERGANI, register as an employer with EFKA, enroll for occupational risk insurance if applicable, and provide a written contract with essential terms. You must comply with working time limits, minimum wage set by government, annual leave, and health and safety measures. Payroll taxes and contributions must be filed and paid on schedule.
Expect periodic VAT returns, withholding tax filings, payroll filings with EFKA and ERGANI, submission of invoices to myDATA, annual corporate income tax returns, and publication of annual financial statements to GEMI for capital companies. Keep your UBO data up to date and renew any municipal permissions that expire.
General Commercial Registry GEMI and One-Stop Service YMS for company name clearance, articles filing, and incorporation.
Independent Authority for Public Revenue AADE for tax number issuance, VAT activation, myAADE services, and the myDATA e-books platform.
Unified Social Security Fund EFKA for employer registration and social insurance contributions.
ERGANI information system under the Ministry of Labour for hiring notifications and working time filings.
Ministry of Development and Investments for company law guidance, development incentives, and market regulation.
Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni for shop notifications, public space permits, signage approvals, and local fees.
Hellenic Fire Service Attica Directorate for fire safety certificates and approvals.
Hellenic Food Authority EFET and local health services for food hygiene regulations and inspections.
Hellenic Industrial Property Organization OBI for patents and designs, and the Greek Trademark Office for national trademark registration. EUIPO for EU trademarks.
Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry for membership, certificates, training, and local business support.
Enterprise Greece and Elevate Greece for investment promotion, startup support, and information on incentives and programs.
Clarify your business model, select your activity codes known as KAD, and decide on the legal form that fits your goals and risk profile. Engage a lawyer and an accountant early so they can coordinate the formation, tax, and licensing work streams. Collect identification documents, Greek tax numbers for all founders, proof of address, and for foreign corporate shareholders gather legalized and translated corporate documents with apostille where applicable. If you will lease premises in Vouliagmeni, negotiate a lease that permits your intended use and timing for fit-out and approvals, and secure landlord consent for license applications.
Reserve the company name, prepare and sign the articles, and file through the One-Stop Service YMS or via a notary if required. The process will assign a GEMI number and tax number to the company, and you can proceed with VAT activation and tax books setup. Open a corporate bank account and deposit any required capital. File the ultimate beneficial owner information, register with EFKA if you will have employees or if your role triggers insurance, and set up payroll.
Begin the licensing or notification path for your specific activity. For hospitality and retail in Vouliagmeni this can include health interest shop notification, Fire Brigade certification, signage approval, and public space use permits for outdoor seating. Align inspections with your fit-out schedule. Configure your accounting system to comply with Greek Accounting Standards and myDATA, and create a compliance calendar for all tax and corporate deadlines. Consider protecting your brand with a trademark and review GDPR obligations if you process customer data.
If you need legal assistance, schedule an initial consultation with a business formation lawyer familiar with the Municipality of Vari-Voula-Vouliagmeni. Share your business plan, timeline, expected headcount, premises details, and any cross-border elements. Ask for a written scope of work, a step-by-step timeline, and a document checklist so your formation and opening proceed smoothly and on schedule.
