When forming a company in Thailand, there are four main types of corporate structures available, which include: Private Limited Company, Ordinary Partnership, Limited Partnership and Representative Office.

The most popular structure for foreign investors is the private limited company, due to separation between investors and the managerial body. However, there is a minimum requirement of 7 shareholders all of which enjoy limited liability. A private limited company in Thailand can be 100% foreign owned.

To incorporate a company in Thailand, the company name must be reserved with the Business Development Office of Commerce. Moreover, each shareholder of the business must inject 25% of the registered capital.

To form a company in Thailand, there are fees which the government applies. The registration fees comprises of 120 000 Baht service fee and 12 500 Baht (US$410) government fees. government fees are dependent on the amount of registered capital and the above quote assumes a registered capital of 2,000,000 Baht (US$66,140).

All companies earning more than 600,000 baht (US$19,840) must register for VAT. All companies in Thailand possess a Tax Identification Card and number for the company from the Revenue Department.

There are no minimum capital requirements to start a business in Thailand. Despite this, the initial capital registered will need to be sufficient enough for starting a business in the field, which will need ultimate approval from the authorities.

For more detailed information on Thailand company formation, purchase our Asia Business Setup book.