Choosing which type of legal entity to register is one of the most important stages before undertaking business activity in Russia. The type of legal presence will influence all activity, including financial and tax reporting, customs and currency control. Therefore, an investor should pay special attention to determining the appropriate corporate form which will help him achieve his goals while meeting all legal requirements.

  A foreign investor may act through one of several legal forms:

The procedures for establishing a company in Russia are quite well-developed and are regulated by the RF Civil Code and by additional RF laws.

 In accordance with the Civil Code, the following are some of the most important types of legal entities:

►Joint stock companies (JSC)
►Limited liability companies (LLC)
►Additional liability companies
►General partnerships
►Limited partnerships

Joint stock and limited liability companies are forms that are most frequently used by foreign investors to enter the Russian market and are reviewed below.