What is the Register of Business Enterprises, and who must be registered?

The Register of Business Enterprises (Foretaksregisteret) 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 verify who can act on behalf of an entity.

The Register of Business Enterprises is managed by Brønnøysundregistrene (The Brønnøysund Register Centre). Most registered information is public and is used by customers, suppliers, banks, authorities, and others who need to verify a business.

Who must be registered?

As a general rule, commercial entities with limited or unlimited liability must be registered. This includes, among others:

• private limited companies (aksjeselskap) and public limited companies (allmennaksjeselskap)
• general partnerships (ansvarlige selskap)
• co-operative societies (samvirkeforetak)
• Norwegian-registered foreign enterprises when the conditions apply
• other commercial legal entities

For sole proprietorships (enkeltpersonforetak), specific rules apply. Brønnøysundregistrene states that sole proprietorships have a registration obligation, for example, when they operate as a state-authorised accountant or auditor in their own name, or have more than five full-time employees. Other sole proprietorships can register voluntarily. The rules should always be checked at the time of registration.

What does an entity gain from registration?

Registration provides, among other things:

• protection of the business name according to applicable rules
• certificate of incorporation
• registration of roles and who can bind the entity
• public documentation of key company information

Everyone registered in the Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities (Enhetsregisteret) or the Register of Business Enterprises receives an organisation number. The number consists of nine digits and identifies the business across public and private systems.

What does a certificate of incorporation show?

The certificate of incorporation (firmaattest) acts as identification for the entity and shows registered key information. The content depends on the form of organisation, but may include, among other things:

• business name and organisation number
• form of organisation
• business address
• purpose
• board and general manager
• signing authority and procuration
• registration date

When a major agreement is to be entered into, the counterparty should check that the person signing actually has signing authority or valid power of attorney.

Register of Business Enterprises and Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities

The Enhetsregisteret (Central Coordinating Register for Legal Entities) coordinates basic data about entities that receive an organisation number. The Foretaksregisteret (Register of Business Enterprises) is aimed at commercial entities and contains more formal information about liability, roles, and registered company relationships.

A business can be registered in the Enhetsregisteret without being registered in the Foretaksregisteret. Proffi should display the registration statuses separately, with source and update time.

When must information be updated?

Changes in registered circumstances must be reported. This may concern a new board, new general manager, address, articles of association, capital, or who has signing authority and procuration. Outdated information can lead to delays, rejected applications, and uncertainty among customers and suppliers.

Notifications are normally submitted through Samordnet registermelding (Coordinated Register Notification) in Altinn (a public digital portal for dialogue between businesses, citizens and government agencies). Documentation requirements vary with the change and the form of organisation.

How to use register information in supplier checks

Before entering into an important agreement, you can check:

1. that the organisation number belongs to the correct entity
2. that the entity is active
3. registration in the Foretaksregisteret (Register of Business Enterprises) and Merverdiavgiftsregisteret (VAT Register)
4. who has roles and signing authority
5. any announcements or statuses
6. whether the name and account information in the invoice appear consistent

Register status is not a guarantee of a supplier's quality or solvency. It is one of several control points.

Search the Register of Business Enterprises via Proffi

Proffi can make register information easier to use by collecting status, roles, purpose, addresses, announcements, and financial statements on one company profile. Public fields must be displayed without editorial changes and with a link to the official source.