SME

Small and medium-sized enterprises. The main factors determining whether an enterprise is an SME are: staff headcount and either turnover or balance sheet total. Micro-enterprises are defined as enterprises that employ fewer than 10 persons and whose annual turnover or annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 2 million. Small enterprises are defined as enterprises that employ fewer than 50 persons, and whose annual turnover or annual balance sheet total does not exceed EUR 10 million. Medium-sized enterprises are defined as enterprises that employ fewer than 250 persons and either have annual turnover that does not exceed EUR 50 million, or an annual balance sheet not exceeding EUR 43 million. Besides, there are special ownership limit considerations as well.