Minimum capital per country, low to high
| Country | Minimum capital |
|---|---|
| Netherlands (BV) | €0.01 |
| UK (Ltd) / Ireland (LTD) | Nominal; one share is enough |
| France (SARL/SAS) / Belgium (BV/SRL) | About €1; the capital must be adequate for the business |
| Spain (SL) | €1 since a 2022 law (Ley 18/2022), with a duty to build a reserve until capital and reserve reach €3,000 |
| Luxembourg (S.à r.l.) | €12,000 |
| Germany (GmbH) | €25,000 (€12,500 paid in); UG variant from €1, with a duty to build a reserve |
Reviewed 18 August 2026.
What replaced the capital test
Many countries replaced the fixed minimum capital with duties for the director. The Netherlands was one of the first to do this, in 2012. Before a distribution, the director checks the balance sheet and the liquidity of the company. Creditors are better protected by this check than by a fixed amount of cash. You now choose the amount of capital yourself. Set it at what the business plan needs. Later, you can change the amount with a notarial amendment.
How much capital to choose
Under Dutch law you can choose almost any amount, so choose it for how the company looks and what it needs. For an operating BV, €1,000 to €10,000 is a normal amount on the balance sheet. Banks look at the whole file more than at this figure (see the banking map). For a holding company, one cent is still fine, because its value comes from the companies it owns. See the holding explainer.