How much registered capital should a Thai company have, and what follows from it?
How to choose registered capital that matches the real business, what it means for credibility, lending, visas and work permits, and what happens when you increase it later.
Zura Labs & Business Hub Co., Ltd.
Registered capital is the amount shareholders commit to pay in, not cash you must show at filing. There is no general statutory minimum, but the figure affects credibility with counterparties, contract bidding, lending, and the requirements for foreign employees' visas and work permits. A practical rule: cover six to twelve months of real costs and match the size of contracts you intend to take.
Reviewed 2026-09-12 by the Zura Labs corporate services team.
- What it is
- The shareholders' commitment to pay for the shares as registered
- General statutory minimum
- None for ordinary companies, though share count and par value must be stated
- When employing foreigners
- Capital-per-work-permit and Thai-staff ratio conditions apply, and must be planned before filing
- Effect on fees
- Registration fees scale with capital, so a higher figure raises set-up cost
- Increasing capital later
- Possible via a shareholders' resolution and a capital-increase filing, with fees and lead time
How this works in practice
- 01
Estimate the first twelve months of cost
Include salaries, rent, systems, marketing and working capital while you wait to be paid. That total is the floor for your capital.
- 02
Look at the contracts you will bid for
Government tenders and some corporate buyers set minimum capital in their invitations. If you know the target, meet it from the start.
- 03
Check visa and work-permit conditions
If you will employ foreigners or a foreign shareholder needs a work visa, capital and Thai-staff ratio rules drive the number.
- 04
Balance against fees and cash flow
Capital set too high raises set-up cost and creates an obligation to fund. Too low, and you lose access to larger work.
Reasons this gets delayed or rejected
Inflating capital just to look larger
Registered capital is a funding obligation. With no plan to pay it in, it becomes an issue at year end and on review.
Setting it low, then raising it within months
A capital increase costs fees and time, usually more than getting the figure right at the start.
A par value that makes future changes awkward
Par value and share count matter when new shareholders join or stakes are split; design them to divide cleanly.
Answers to the questions we hear most
When must the capital actually be paid in?
Shareholders must pay for shares as declared, and at minimum the portion recorded as paid up must genuinely exist. Recording it correctly matters because the auditor reviews it every year; we set up the entries and supporting documents from month one.
Is one million baht the standard?
It is common because it is a round figure that suits many service businesses, but it is not a requirement. Small-contract SMEs can go lower, while licensed activities or foreign employment usually need more. Choose from your actual conditions.
Can capital be reduced later?
Yes, but it is more involved than an increase: a shareholders' resolution, statutory publication and creditor protections apply. Better to set a realistic figure than to over-provide.
How much does capital matter for bank lending?
Banks look mainly at financial statements, cash flow and account history. Capital is one size signal, not a substitute for performance; clean books from year one help far more than a large capital figure.
Do foreign shareholders face capital rules?
Yes. Activities on the Foreign Business Act lists carry minimum capital conditions and may need a licence, and work permits have capital-per-permit and Thai-staff ratio requirements. This must be assessed before filing.
How long does a capital increase take?
With the resolution and documents ready, preparation and filing usually take a few working days. The real variables are gathering the shareholders and the official queue; we set out the sequence and signatures needed before starting.
This is general preparation information, not case-specific legal or accounting advice. Government fees, processing times and conditions change with official announcements. We review each guide on a schedule and show the review date on the page.