About the Register of Business Enterprises

The Register of Business Enterprises was established in 1988, acquiring the previous function of more than 100 various local trade registers.

The Register of Business Enterprises is responsible for registering all Norwegian and foreign enterprises in Norway. The register shall ensure legal protection and financial overview, and is an important source for anyone needing correct information about Norwegian business participants.

All operating businesses – with limited as well as unlimited liability – are obliged to register in the Register of Business Enterprises. The same applies to sole proprietorships engaging in trade with purchased goods or having more than five fully employed personnel. Other sole proprietorships may register on a voluntary basis.

A registration in the Register of Business Enterprises provides the business

• the right to conduct business activity
• legal protection of business names
• a certificate of registration as identification to lenders, judicial registration, tax and customs authorities
• organisation number as an important identification to the authorities and for the coordination of public and private business registers.
• credentials for executives in an enterprise

Clear responsibilities

One of the most important purposes of the Register of Business Enterprises is to ensure clear lines of responsibility. There shall be no doubt about the various forms of liability in a registered business. The board members and the auditor must confirm with their signature that they have taken on the assignment. Upon any change in liability within the liability of a business, they shall immediately be notified to the Register of Business Enterprises for registration. Any neglect will result in an injunction to settle the matter. Therefore, The Register of Business Enterprises will always be able to provide updated information on owners of different roles in the business, as well as changes in share capital, or whether the business has been sent to the district court for compulsory liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings and several other conditions.

Most information provided in the Register of Business Enterprises is public, and therefore an important source of information for those who need reliable information about key information in a business.

The Register of Business Enterprises may also provide other information about enterprises, such as copies of founding documents, statutes and more.