Register Your Company in 18 Countries
From a €1 Estonian OÜ run entirely online to a 100% foreign-owned Qatar LLC. We compare the entity, capital, timeline, tax and residence route for each country, then our partner lawyers register it.
Every formation includes
- Name check, articles and registry filing
- Registered office address for year one
- Tax and VAT registration
- Bank or payment account introduction
- Residence route advice for owners and family
Where Most Clients Start
Serbia
No minimum capital, 15% tax, formation in a week, and a residence permit for the owner and family.
Serbia Company Formation
Hungary
9% corporate income tax, registration in days, and a company that can sponsor your residence.
Hungary Company Formation
Portugal
Form the Lda in a day, then use it for the D2 entrepreneur visa and a path to EU citizenship.
Portugal Company Formation
Estonia
e-Residency lets you run an EU company from anywhere with no tax on retained profits.
Estonia Company Formation
Qatar
MOCI LLC or QFC company with full foreign ownership, no VAT, and residence sponsorship for your family.
Qatar Company Formation
Germany
A GmbH or UG in Europe’s largest economy, with a self-employment residence route.
Germany Company FormationAll 18 Company Formation Countries at a Glance
Click a country for entity types, requirements, process, residence links and FAQs. Residence difficulty follows our Move Abroad assessment.
| Country | Entity | Minimum capital | Formation time | Corporate tax | Residence route |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Serbia | DOO (limited liability company) | RSD 100 (about €1) | 5–7 working days | 15% corporate income tax | Easiest |
| Portugal | Lda (sociedade por quotas) | €1 per shareholder (most clients start with €1,000–€5,000) | 1–3 working days with Empresa na Hora, 1–2 weeks with a custom deed | 20% corporate income tax (16% on the first €50,000 of profit for small companies) | Easy |
 Czech Republic | s.r.o. (společnost s ručením omezeným) | CZK 1 (about €0.04) | 1–2 weeks including the trade licence | 21% corporate income tax | Moderate |
 Slovakia | s.r.o. (spoločnosť s ručením obmedzeným) | €5,000 declared (no bank deposit certificate required) | 2–3 weeks | 21% corporate income tax (10% for companies with revenue under €100,000) | Moderate |
| Hungary | Kft. (korlátolt felelősségű társaság) | HUF 3,000,000 (about €7,500), can be paid over time | 1–5 working days through the electronic simplified procedure | 9% corporate income tax, the lowest in the EU, plus local business tax up to 2% | Moderate |
| Germany | GmbH, or UG (haftungsbeschränkt) for a low-capital start | GmbH €25,000 (€12,500 paid in at formation); UG from €1 | 2–6 weeks including notary and bank account | About 30% all-in (15% corporate tax plus solidarity surcharge and local trade tax) | Hard |
 Poland | sp. z o.o. (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością) | PLN 5,000 (about €1,150) | 1–7 working days through the S24 online system | 19% corporate income tax (9% for small taxpayers under €2 million revenue) | Hard |
 Finland | Oy (osakeyhtiö) | €0 (no minimum since 2019) | 1–3 weeks via the PRH online service | 20% corporate income tax | Hard |
 Netherlands | BV (besloten vennootschap) | €0.01 | 1–2 weeks with a Dutch civil-law notary | 19% on profit up to €200,000, 25.8% above | Hard |
 Spain | SL (sociedad limitada) | €1 (until the legal reserve reaches €3,000) | 1–3 weeks via the CIRCE fast-track | 25% corporate income tax (reduced rates for small companies and new businesses) | Moderate to hard |
 Croatia | d.o.o. (or the simplified j.d.o.o. from €1) | €2,500 for a d.o.o.; €1 for a j.d.o.o. | 1–2 weeks via START or HITRO.HR | 18% corporate income tax (10% for revenue under €1 million) | Hard |
 Lithuania | UAB (uždaroji akcinė bendrovė) | €1,000 | 3–5 working days online, 1–2 weeks via notary | 16% corporate income tax (6% for small companies in their first years) | Hard |
 France | SAS/SASU, or SARL for family businesses | €1 | 1–2 weeks through the INPI one-stop portal | 25% corporate income tax (15% on the first €42,500 for small companies) | Hard |
 Malta | Private limited company (Ltd) | €1,165 (20% paid up, so €233 at formation) | 1–2 weeks | 35% headline with a refund system that leaves an effective 5% for non-resident shareholders | Moderate |
| Estonia | OÜ (osaühing) | €0.01 | Same day online with e-Residency; 1–2 weeks via notary | 0% on retained profits; corporate income tax (22% headline) only when profits are distributed | Hard |
 Austria | GmbH (or the FlexKapG for startups) | €10,000 (half paid in at formation) | 2–4 weeks via a notary | 23% corporate income tax | Very hard |
 Italy | S.r.l., or the simplified S.r.l.s. from €1 | €1 for an S.r.l.s.; €10,000 for a standard S.r.l. (25% paid at formation) | 1–2 weeks via an Italian notary | 24% IRES plus regional IRAP of about 3.9% | Very hard |
| Qatar | LLC (WLL) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, or a QFC company | No statutory minimum for most activities; QAR 200,000 is commonly shown for an LLC | 2–4 weeks for an LLC; 2–3 weeks for a QFC licence | 10% corporate income tax on the foreign-owned share of profit; 0% for 20 years in Qatar Free Zones | Company sponsorship |
Figures on this page are indicative and change often. Government fees, taxes and timelines are confirmed in your written quote after a free consultation. Company formation does not by itself grant residence or citizenship; where a residence route exists we say so and explain its conditions.
Explore Every Country Guide
Serbia
Europe’s fastest, cheapest launchpad.
Read MorePortugal
The EU’s friendliest entry point for founders.
Read More
Czech Republic
Central Europe’s reliable, low-capital company.
Read More
Slovakia
Eurozone company with a 10% small-business rate.
Read MoreHungary
The lowest corporate tax in the European Union.
Read MoreGermany
Europe’s largest market and strongest brand of trust.
Read More
Poland
The EU’s fastest-growing large economy.
Read More
Finland
Nordic stability with no minimum capital.
Read More
Netherlands
The gateway to Europe for trade and holding structures.
Read More
Spain
Lifestyle, a huge market and a modern startup law.
Read More
Croatia
Schengen, euro and 10% tax for small companies.
Read More
Lithuania
Baltic fintech hub with fast online registration.
Read More
France
A top-three European economy with the Talent Passport.
Read More
Malta
English-speaking EU hub with a 5% effective tax.
Read MoreEstonia
Run an EU company 100% online, pay tax only on distribution.
Read More
Austria
Vienna quality of life and a reduced €10,000 capital.
Read More
Italy
Europe’s third-largest economy and a world brand.
Read MoreQatar
100% foreign ownership in one of the world’s richest markets.
Read MorePhotos via Wikimedia Commons. Belgrade Fortress (Kalemegdan): BrankaVV, CC BY-SA 4.0; Belém Tower, Lisbon: Berthold Werner, CC BY-SA 4.0; Charles Bridge, Prague: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0; Bratislava Castle: Ingo Mehling, CC BY-SA 4.0; Hungarian Parliament, Budapest: Dirk Beyer, CC BY-SA 3.0; Brandenburg Gate, Berlin: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0; Old Town Market Square, Warsaw: Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0; Helsinki Cathedral: Richard Mortel from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, CC BY 2.0; Amsterdam canal houses: Nan Palmero from San Antonio, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0; Park Güell, Barcelona: Jorge Franganillo, CC BY 2.0; Dubrovnik Old Town: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0; Gediminas Tower, Vilnius: Gytis Grižas https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q16452479, CC BY-SA 4.0; Eiffel Tower, Paris: Jorge Royan, CC BY-SA 3.0; Valletta skyline: This photo was taken by Anton Zelenov., CC BY-SA 4.0; Tallinn Old Town: Hendrik Mändla, CC BY-SA 4.0; Upper Belvedere, Vienna: Thomas Dahlstrøm Nielsen, CC BY 4.0; Colosseum, Rome: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0; West Bay skyline, Doha: P. Hughes, CC BY 4.0.
Move to Europe 2026: 17 Residence Routes and 18 Company Countries Compared
Funds required, our fees, difficulty, entity types, capital, timelines and tax for every country, in one PDF you can share with your family.
Formation, Not Just a Certificate
- Free consultation to choose the country and entity type
- Name reservation, articles of association and registry filing by partner lawyers
- Registered office address and, where required, a local director or contact person
- Tax number, VAT registration and EU VAT number where applicable
- Introduction to a bank or licensed payment institution and preparation of the compliance file
- Advice on the residence route for owners and family, with a separate quote if you take it
Not Included
Government and notary fees, share capital, certified translations and apostilles, office rent, accounting after the first filing, and residence permit fees. We list each of these in your written quote so there are no surprises.
Ongoing Compliance
Every company needs annual accounts and tax filings. We offer a maintenance package in each country so your company stays in good standing.
How Company Formation Works
- Consultation
Goal, budget and whether you want residence from the company.
- Recommendation
Country, entity and written quote with every cost listed.
- Documents
Passport copies, proof of address and signed powers of attorney.
- Registration
Partner lawyers file; most countries complete in 1–3 weeks.
- Bank and Tax
Accounts opened, tax numbers issued, and your company is live.
Company Formation Questions
Can I form the company without travelling?
In most of the 18 countries yes, by power of attorney. Germany, Austria and Qatar may need a notary video call or one visit, and some banks ask to meet the director once.
Which country has the lowest tax?
Hungary at 9% headline, then Estonia with 0% on retained profits, Malta at an effective 5% after refunds, and Serbia at 15%. The best choice depends on where your clients and you will be.
Does a company give me residence?
Not automatically. Serbia, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Qatar have clear routes tied to a company; others require investment or job creation. Each country page explains its route and difficulty.
How long does it take?
Estonia in a day, Portugal in 1–3 days, Serbia and Hungary in about a week, most others 1–3 weeks, Germany and Qatar 2–6 weeks including the bank.
Can you open the bank account?
We introduce you to banks and licensed payment institutions and prepare the file. The bank makes the final decision, and we always have a fallback.
Ready to Register Your Company?
Tell us the country and activity and we send a written quote with every government fee listed.