Expert explanations of accounting figures, public registers, bankruptcy and choosing suppliers – with visible sources and the date of the latest review.
Recommended guide
Financial statements show how a business's economy has developed over a specific period, and what the business owns and owes on the balance sheet date. For suppliers, customers, and owners, the accounts can provide useful signals about size, profitability, financing, and solvency.
Read the guideEmployer and Employees
Employer National Insurance Contributions are calculated on salaries and other benefits. See how geographical zones, reporting and payment work.
2 min read
Credit and Supplier Control
A tax certificate documents registered tax and VAT statuses. See when it's used and what a purchaser should check.
2 min read
Invoice and Payment
EHF is a structured electronic electronic invoice format. Learn how sending, receiving, Peppol, and invoicing the public sector works.
2 min read
Ownership and Control
A- and B-shares are different classes of shares with rights stipulated in the articles of association. See differences in voting rights, dividends, and ownership.
2 min read
Ownership and Control
A dividend is a distribution from a company to its shareholders. See who decides, how much can be distributed, and what you should check.
2 min read
Tax and Duties
See how VAT periods work, when the VAT return is submitted, and why some businesses have different reporting periods.
2 min read
Accounting and Auditing
The auditor's report expresses the auditor's conclusion on the annual financial statements. See what a standard report, qualifications, and emphasis of matter mean.
2 min read
Management and Roles
The Norwegian Companies Act regulates Norwegian limited liability companies (AS). Get an overview of capital, board, general meeting, owners, and important duties.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Learn to create a profit budget and a liquidity budget, track deviations, and use your budget for better business decisions.
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Tax and Duties
See what the shielding deduction is, how it's calculated, and how unused shielding can affect tax on dividends and share gains.
2 min read
Accounting and Auditing
The opening balance shows assets, liabilities, and equity at the start-up or restructuring of a business. See when it's used and what needs to be documented.
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Invoice and Payment
A credit note corrects a previous invoice. See when it is used, what it should contain, and how to maintain proper documentation.
2 min read
Credit and Supplier Control
See what a credit score means, what information can affect it, and how to use it when evaluating customers and suppliers.
2 min read
Management and Roles
See the requirements for board members in a Norwegian limited company, who elects the board, and the responsibilities involved in the role.
2 min read
Grants and Funding
SkatteFUNN provides tax deductions for approved R&D projects. See who can apply, what the project must include, and what needs to be documented.
2 min read
Invoice and Payment
See what information a Norwegian invoice must contain, how invoice numbers are handled, and what applies to VAT and credit notes.
2 min read
Employer and Employees
See how notice periods are determined, when the deadline begins, and what requirements employers must follow when giving notice.
2 min read
Employer and Employees
An annual work unit expresses work effort as full-time equivalents. See why the number of hours varies and how to compare staffing correctly.
2 min read
Employer and Employees
Get an overview of the employer period, documentation, income statement, and good routines when an employee goes on sick leave.
2 min read
Employer and Employees
See how holiday pay is calculated, which rates apply, when it is paid out, and what employers need to check.
2 min read
Employer and Employees
See what a payslip should show, how employees can check pay and deductions, and how employers securely handle the document.
2 min read
Tax and Duties
Understand the differences between re-invoicing, disbursements, and cost-sharing, and how correct buyer and seller responsibility determines VAT treatment.
2 min read
Employer and Employees
Norway does not have a single general minimum wage. See which industries have generally applicable rates and what employers must verify.
2 min read
Tax and Duties
See how advance tax for limited companies is determined, paid, and amended when expected profits change.
2 min read
Tax and Duties
All VAT-registered businesses in Norway must submit a VAT Return (MVA-melding). See what it shows, how to reconcile figures, and correct errors.
2 min read
Ownership and Control
Learn how gains and losses on shares are calculated for individual shareholders, and the role of acquisition cost and shielding.
2 min read
Tax and Duties
See how delivery, customer type, and the type of good or service affect Norwegian VAT when a business sells abroad.
2 min read
Employer and Employees
All employees must have a written employment contract. See deadlines, minimum requirements, and what employers must update when conditions change.
2 min read
Invoice and Payment
eFaktura sends invoices directly to private customers' online banking. See the difference from EHF and AvtaleGiro, and how businesses can get started.
2 min read
Employer and Employees
See when a business must establish OTP, who should be enrolled, minimum savings, and what an employer must do if establishment is late.
2 min read
Ownership and Control
A share capital increase raises the registered share capital in a limited company. This can occur when existing or new owners subscribe for shares against payment or non-cash contributions, or through a bonus issue where equity is reallocated.
2 min read
Management and Roles
The board is responsible for the management and oversight of the company. It must ensure sound organisation, stay informed about finances, and verify that operations, accounting, and asset management are conducted in a prudent manner.
2 min read
Accounting and Auditing
When an entity subject to filing requirements fails to submit complete annual accounts by the deadline, the Register of Company Accounts (Regnskapsregisteret) may impose a late filing fee. The fee increases over time up to a maximum limit, which is adjusted with the court fee.
2 min read
Accounting and Auditing
Entities with a reporting obligation must submit complete annual financial statements to the Register of Company Accounts. For a standard calendar year, the deadline is normally 31 July. This deadline should not be confused with the tax return deadline, which is a different reporting obligation.
2 min read
Accounting and Auditing
The audit requirement means that the annual financial statements must be audited by an approved auditor. The auditor examines whether the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements and issues an independent audit report.
2 min read
Credit and Supplier Control
A distraint charge is a lien established through forced collection when the debtor has not paid. The Namsmannen (Bailiff/Enforcement Officer) assesses whether a lien should be placed on assets such as vehicles, equipment, or other valuables. The debtor's voluntary consent is not required.
2 min read
Credit and Supplier Control
Encumbrances and other registered rights can indicate that a creditor holds security over the company's assets, or that an attachment order has been registered. This information is relevant for credit assessments, acquisitions, and supplier control.
2 min read
Management and Roles
The Articles of Association are a company's formal foundational rules. For a limited company (aksjeselskap - AS), they determine, among other things, the company's name, purpose, share capital, and central frameworks for how the company is to be organised.
2 min read
Company Information
A company certificate is documentation from the Register of Business Enterprises that shows key registered information about an enterprise. It is often used with banks, customers, suppliers, and authorities to confirm identity and formal matters.
2 min read
Company Information
An industry code is a five-digit code that describes a business's main activity. The codes are based on the Standard for Industrial Classification and are used for statistics, registry data, and industry analyses, among other things.
2 min read
Credit and Supplier Control
A credit check assesses the likelihood that a business can pay and fulfil its obligations. It is relevant before granting extended payment terms, entering a large supplier agreement, or becoming dependent on a single collaborator.
2 min read
Credit and Supplier Control
A payment default is a credit information entry that may indicate a claim has progressed significantly in a formal collection process or that a serious payment event has been registered. It can affect a company's ability to obtain loans, credit, and supplier agreements.
2 min read
Bankruptcy and Risk
Compulsory liquidation – often referred to as compulsory dissolution – means that a company is referred to the district court for dissolution because legal requirements have not been met. The process differs from voluntary liquidation, which is
2 min read
Bankruptcy and Risk
A bankruptcy notice is a formal and serious step taken by a creditor who believes an overdue claim has not been paid. The notice can form part of the basis for a subsequent bankruptcy petition if the conditions are met.
2 min read
Ownership and Control
A parent company and one or more subsidiaries form a group when the parent company has controlling influence. This influence can stem from shares, voting rights, or agreements.
2 min read
Ownership and Control
A holding company is a company that primarily owns shares or interests in other companies. "Holding" describes its function, not a distinct legal corporate form. In Norway, it is often established as an AS (Aksjeselskap, a limited company).
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Return on equity (ROE) shows the profitability a company generates on its owners' book value capital. This key figure is also known as ROE, or “return on equity”.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Profit margin is a profitability metric that indicates what proportion of revenue remains as profit. This key figure makes it easier to compare companies of different sizes than simply looking at the profit in Norwegian Kroner (NOK).
2 min read
Public Tenders
A framework agreement is an agreement between one or more contracting authorities and one or more suppliers that establishes the terms for contracts to be concluded over a specific period. Price, quality, assortment, delivery, and other conditions can be fully or partially clarified in advance.
2 min read
Ownership and Control
A shareholder is an individual or legal entity that owns shares in a company. A beneficial owner is always a natural person who ultimately owns or controls the business. The terms can refer to the same p
2 min read
Management and Roles
When a company enters into an agreement, it is crucial to know if the person signing can bind the business. Two central concepts are signature right and prokura (power of attorney). Both can be registered, but they have different scopes.
2 min read
Management and Roles
The managing director and the chair have different roles within a limited company (AS). Simply put, the managing director leads the business day-to-day, while the board is responsible for management, control, and overall direction. The chair leads the board.
2 min read
Company Information
The VAT Register is the register of businesses that are registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) in Norway. Registration status is useful when verifying a supplier, processing an invoice, or assessing whether a business appears correctly registered.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
The balance sheet is an overview of a company's assets, liabilities, and equity on a specific date. While the income statement covers activity over a period, the balance sheet is a snapshot – often at the end of the financial year.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Cash flow describes the money that actually enters and leaves a business over a period. While the income statement shows revenues and expenses according to accounting rules, cash flow shows what happens to the means of payment.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
The debt-to-equity ratio is a key figure that shows how much debt a company has relative to its equity. The figure is used to assess financing and how vulnerable the business might be to weaker earnings or higher interest rates.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Operating profit indicates what a company earns or loses from its ordinary operations before financial items and tax. This makes the figure useful when you want to distinguish the core business from interest, investments, and financing.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
The annual result shows what a company is left with after incomes, expenses, financial items, and tax have been accounted for. This figure appears at the bottom of the income statement and is often referred to as the “bottom line”. A positive annual result indicates a surplus,
2 min read
Procurement and Suppliers
A simple supplier check can reveal an incorrect legal entity, missing signing authority, weak finances, or unclear delivery capability before the agreement is signed. How thorough the check should be depends on the contract's value, duration, and risk.
2 min read
Tenders and B2B Sales
Public sector entities procure goods and services through tenders. For suppliers, this market can provide long-term clients, but tenders demand structure, thorough documentation, and careful reading of requirements.
2 min read
Bankruptcy and Risk
Bankruptcy disqualification is a restriction that can be imposed on an individual after a bankruptcy. Only individuals can receive bankruptcy disqualification, not companies.
2 min read
Starting and Running a Business
The choice between an AS (Limited Company) and an Enkeltpersonforetak (Sole Proprietorship) affects liability, ownership, reporting, and social rights. There is no single right choice for everyone. Risk, capital needs, number of owners, and growth plans should guide the decision.
2 min read
Registers and Companies
The organisation number (organisasjonsnummer) is a nine-digit identifier for registered businesses and other entities. It is the key to the information stored about an entity in Brønnøysundregistrene (the Brønnøysund Register Centre).
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Working capital shows the difference between current assets and current liabilities. It indicates how much short-term financing a business has available for its daily operations.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Equity is the accounting value that remains when a business's liabilities are deducted from its assets.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Solvency describes how well a business is financed and its capacity to withstand losses over time. The equity ratio is the most common measure.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Operating margin shows what proportion of operating revenue remains as operating profit after deducting the costs of ordinary operations. This key figure makes it possible to compare the profitability of businesses of different sizes.
2 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
EBIT and EBITDA are used to assess the profitability of ordinary operations, but they treat depreciation and amortisation differently. Therefore, they can provide different pictures of the same company.
2 min read
Procurement and Suppliers
Effective waste management involves more than just emptying bins. Businesses must understand the types of waste they generate, sort according to current regulations, utilise appropriate solutions, and be able to document what is passed on.
3 min read
Company Information
The Norwegian Entity Register and the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises are administered by Brønnøysundregistrene (the Brønnøysund Register Centre) but serve different purposes. A business can be registered in both, while certain entities are found only in the Entity Register.
2 min read
Registers and Companies
The words 'business', 'company', 'undertaking', and 'enterprise' are often used interchangeably. In everyday language, this usually works fine, but in agreements, statistics, and public registers, the terms can describe different aspects of an operation.
3 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Goodwill is an intangible asset that typically arises when a business acquires another business and pays more than the value of its identifiable net assets. This excess value can be linked to expected synergies,
3 min read
Registers and Companies
The Register of Business Enterprises is a public register of commercial entities in Norway. The register aims to provide legal protection, financial transparency, and clear accountability. It contains information that makes it possible to
3 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Liquidity describes a business's ability to pay bills and other obligations when they fall due. A company can be profitable on paper, but still encounter problems if its funds are tied up in inventory, unpaid invoices,
3 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
Turnover is the value of goods and services a business sells during a period. In financial statements, you will often encounter the term as sales revenue or as part of operating income. Turnover indicates activity levels and size, but it does not alone tell if a company is profitable.
3 min read
Accounting and Key Figures
EBITDA is a key financial metric used to assess operating performance before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation. The abbreviation comes from English: earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation an
3 min read
Bankruptcy and Risk
Bankruptcy is a legal process used when an individual or business cannot meet their obligations, and the payment problems are not merely temporary. The purpose is to gain an overview of assets, ensure an orderly handling of creditors, and distribute the estate according to applicable rules.
4 min read
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