Comparison · Legal statuses
ENI, Trabalhador Independente, Unipessoal Lda, Lda:which status in Portugal?
Four statuses keep coming up when you want to do business in Portugal, and the confusion mostly comes from French reflexes. Here is an honest comparison, in accurate Portuguese terminology, to understand the liability, capital, accounting and tax regime of each. The goal is not to replace a discussion about your case, but to help you arrive prepared.
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Direct answers
The essentials in a few sentences
Clear markers before the detailed table. These are general 2026 principles: the right choice depends on your activity, your income and your exposure to risk.
- ENI or a company: the real question?
- The dividing line is not turnover, it is liability. As an ENI (Empresário em Nome Individual), your personal assets are engaged without limit. An Unipessoal Lda creates a separate legal person that protects those assets. As soon as there is real risk (debts, major clients, investment), the company makes sense.
- Solo independent, low volume?
- The Trabalhador Independente status (recibos verdes) or the ENI let you start quickly, with lighter obligations and the simplified IRS Category B regime as long as turnover stays below €200,000. It is flexible, but with no separation of assets.
- A single-shareholder company?
- That is the Unipessoal Lda: limited liability, a sole shareholder, share capital of €1/shareholder (around €1,000 is often recommended for banking credibility). A Contabilista Certificado registered with the OCC is then mandatory.
- Several partners?
- That is the Lda (Sociedade por Quotas): same logic as the Unipessoal Lda but from 2 shareholders, capital of €1/shareholder. Governance and the split of shares are decided from the start.
The comparison table
ENI, Trabalhador Independente, Unipessoal Lda, Lda
A criterion-by-criterion reading, in Portuguese terminology. Statuses are in columns, criteria in rows. No French equivalent: we reason with the actual Portuguese notions.
| Status | Liability | Shareholders | Capital | Accounting | Tax regime | When to choose it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENI (Empresário em Nome Individual) | Unlimited, personal assets engaged | 1 person | No share capital | Lighter accounting obligations | IRS Category B | Solo start, low volume, limited risk |
| Trabalhador Independente (recibos verdes) | On personal assets | 1 person (independent provider) | No share capital | Simplified IRS regime if turnover < €200,000 | IRS Category B (coefficient ~0.75 on services) | Freelancers and service providers |
| Unipessoal Lda | Limited, the company protects your assets | Sole shareholder | €1/shareholder (~€1,000 recommended for credibility) | Contabilista Certificado mandatory | IRC 19% (15% for SMEs on the first €50,000) | Protect your assets, structure a real activity |
| Lda (Sociedade por Quotas) | Limited, the company protects your assets | ≥ 2 shareholders | €1/shareholder | Contabilista Certificado mandatory | IRC 19% (15% for SMEs on the first €50,000) | Project with several partners |
Figures current as of 2026, subject to change with each Finance Act (Orçamento do Estado). The simplified regime, the IRS Category B coefficients and eligibility for the reduced SME IRC rate depend on your situation: it is the partner Contabilista Certificado who quantifies your case.
The right wording
Don't reason with French acronyms
The biggest source of error is mentally translating Portuguese statuses into French equivalents. They do not overlap: capital, liability and taxation differ. Use the real Portuguese notions, not the shortcuts.
“An Unipessoal Lda is the Portuguese EURL”
No. The Unipessoal Lda has its own regime (capital of €1/shareholder, IRC, a mandatory Contabilista Certificado). You don't reason as an EURL, you reason as an Unipessoal Lda.
“An Lda is the Portuguese SARL”
No. The Lda (Sociedade por Quotas) follows Portuguese law: capital of €1/shareholder, IRC, shares (quotas), not the rules of a French SARL.
“A freelancer is the Portuguese auto-entrepreneur”
No. We speak of a Trabalhador Independente with recibos verdes and IRS Category B, not an “auto-entrepreneur”. The simplified regime and its coefficients are specific to Portugal.
Going further
Pages related to your choice of status
Frequently asked questions
What people ask me about choosing a status
- What is the equivalent of the French SARL in Portugal?
- There is no strict “equivalent”, and that is exactly the trap. The closest form to a limited-liability company with several shareholders is the Lda (Sociedade por Quotas); with a sole shareholder, it is the Unipessoal Lda. But their regime is Portuguese: capital of €1/shareholder, IRC, shares called quotas. It is better to reason with these notions than with the “SARL” acronym.
- What is the minimum capital of an Unipessoal Lda?
- The minimum share capital is €1 per shareholder, so €1 for an Unipessoal Lda (sole shareholder). In practice, a more credible amount, around €1,000, is often recommended, in particular to ease opening the business bank account and build partner trust. It is not €5,000, contrary to a common belief.
- ENI or a company: which to choose?
- The key question is liability. As an ENI (Empresário em Nome Individual), your personal assets are engaged without limit; accounting obligations are lighter and you fall under IRS Category B. An Unipessoal Lda protects your assets but requires a Contabilista Certificado and falls under IRC. The ENI suits a solo start at low volume; a company makes sense as soon as there is real risk or a desire to structure.
- What is the difference between an Lda and an Unipessoal Lda?
- It is mainly the number of shareholders. The Unipessoal Lda has a sole shareholder; the Lda (Sociedade por Quotas) has at least two. Otherwise the logic is the same: limited liability, capital of €1/shareholder, a mandatory Contabilista Certificado and IRC taxation (19%, with 15% for SMEs on the first €50,000).
- Who is the Trabalhador Independente status for?
- For service providers and freelancers who invoice via recibos verdes. You fall under IRS Category B, with the simplified regime as long as turnover stays below €200,000 (a coefficient of around 0.75 applies to service income). It is flexible and quick to set up, but with no separation between business and personal assets.
Disclaimer
This page is for information only and does not constitute personalised legal, accounting or tax advice. Audrey Marques is a consultant in company formation and setup, not a lawyer, accountant or tax adviser: she sets up the company, supports opening the bank account and connects you with a Contabilista Certificado registered with the OCC and, where needed, a partner tax adviser. The figures quoted are current as of 2026 and subject to change. The choice of a status depends on your individual situation; for an analysis of your project, book a meeting.
Let's talk about the right status for your project
A first free conversation, with no commitment, to frame your activity, your exposure to risk and the right status. We look at your situation, avoid French reflexes, and move forward together toward the right structure.
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