{"id":1011,"date":"2024-09-03T16:14:39","date_gmt":"2024-09-03T13:14:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/workon.com.tr\/en\/?p=1011"},"modified":"2026-09-26T10:36:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T07:36:03","slug":"which-company-type-should-you-choose-in-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/workon.com.tr\/en\/which-company-type-should-you-choose-in-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Sole Proprietorship vs LLC vs JSC in Turkey for Foreign Founders: 2026 Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"

For a foreign individual founder in Turkey, the practical choice is not simply \u2018small business = sole proprietorship, larger business = LLC, investor business = JSC.\u2019<\/strong> The right route depends on whether the founder will work personally in T\u00fcrkiye, whether personal liability is acceptable, how much capital and governance the business needs, whether investors may enter, and whether the activity is regulated. Ownership, tax registration, residence status and the right to work are separate questions and should not be collapsed into one company-type decision.<\/p>\n

This guide covers foreign-individual founder scenario<\/strong>. For the full map of Turkish legal forms, see Types of Companies in Turkey<\/a>. For a detailed corporate comparison, use LLC vs Joint Stock Company in Turkey<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Decision point<\/th>\nSole proprietorship \/ individual business<\/th>\nLLC<\/th>\nJSC<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Separate legal entity<\/strong><\/td>\nNo; the business and owner are not separate legal persons.<\/td>\nYes.<\/td>\nYes.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
General minimum company capital<\/strong><\/td>\nNo TCC share-capital minimum.<\/td>\nTRY 50,000.<\/td>\nTRY 250,000.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Personal liability<\/strong><\/td>\nOwner is personally exposed to business obligations.<\/td>\nCompany is separate, but shareholder\/manager exposure can still arise under specific legal, tax or guarantee rules.<\/td>\nCompany is separate, with specific director\/shareholder exposures depending on the issue.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Governance<\/strong><\/td>\nOwner-controlled.<\/td>\nManager-led; at least one shareholder must be appointed as a manager with management and representation authority.<\/td>\nBoard-governed; often better suited to more formal investor governance.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
External investors \/ share mobility<\/strong><\/td>\nNot designed for equity investors.<\/td>\nPossible, but transfers and governance are comparatively formal.<\/td>\nOften more flexible for investment, share classes and future transfers, subject to the articles and law.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Right to work<\/strong><\/td>\nMust be checked separately; tax\/business registration does not itself grant a foreigner the right to work on their own account.<\/td>\nShare ownership or manager status does not itself grant work authorisation.<\/td>\nShare ownership or board status does not itself grant work authorisation.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\"Workon<\/a>

Choose the operating model first; then prepare the registration, address, tax, banking and work-status layers around it.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n

Table of Contents<\/p>\nToggle<\/span><\/path><\/svg><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n