To start a business in Norway, register it with the Brønnøysund Register Centre through Altinn, a digital portal for submitting business registrations and managing other official forms.

To find information on operating a business and tax services, visit Skatteetaten, the Norwegian Tax Administration. They offer courses on topics related to running your own business and understanding tax obligations. You can also find recorded webinars on their website for further guidance.

For information on starting a business, take a look at these videos by municipalities in the Oslo region:

Fredrikstad Municipality YouTube channel
Etablerertjenesten Søndre Østfold
Etablererveiledningstjenesten Ringeriksregionen
Sirius Act
Søndre Østfold IPR

Test your product or service in the market

Don’t rush to invest in branding your business idea until you’ve tested it. Start by working and assessing whether there’s a demand for your services. Once you’ve seen success and confirmed that your idea works, you can begin investing in your online presence, like creating a website and logo.

The video below summarizes the key elements for testing how your services fit in the market, including a helpful business model canvas. One of the most important aspects is the Value Proposition i.e., what you bring to the table and what sets you apart.

Laws and regulations

Norway's Tax Service (Skatteetaten) offers courses on starting your own company and getting up to speed on how to pay taxes. If you find it challenging, consult an accountant who can help set you on the right course.

Choosing the right entity

There are two main types of businesses in Norway: sole proprietorships (enkeltpersonforetak) and joint-stock companies (aksjeselskap, AS). You can find more information on Altinn to help determine which type of company suits your needs best. Watch the video to learn how to register your company and get started with your own business in Norway.

There are several steps to starting your own business. In Norway, all the necessary information is easily accessible in English.