Why form a company in Europe
A company in the European Union gives you access to a single market of roughly 450 million people, a credible base for raising money, and (in most countries) a fully digital, remote-friendly setup. You do not need to live in the EU to own one. The catch today is choice: each of the 27 member states still has its own company law, tax rate and process, which is exactly the fragmentation that EU Inc (the 28th Regime) aims to fix.
Until EU Inc is live, the right move is to pick the national jurisdiction that fits your goals. The table below compares the most popular options on the facts that actually decide it.
Compare European jurisdictions
Verified figures, last reviewed June 2026. Corporate tax and VAT are national and still apply under any structure. Linked countries have a full profile with the complete data and FAQs.
| Country | Main type | Corporate tax | VAT | Min capital | Setup | Remote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇪 Estonia | OÜ (private limited) | 0% retained / 22% distributed | 24% | €0 (€0.01/share) | ~1 day | Yes, e-Residency |
| 🇮🇪 Ireland | LTD (private limited) | 12.5% trading | 23% | None | ~3-5 days | Yes |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | Sp. z o.o. (limited) | 19% (9% small) | 23% | ~€1,150 (PLN 5,000) | ~1-5 days | Yes |
| 🇱🇹 Lithuania | UAB (private limited) | 17% (2026) | 21% | €1,000 (UAB) | ~3-5 days | Yes |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | Lda (private limited) | 19% (15% SME band) | 23% | €1/shareholder | ~1-3 days | Yes |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | GmbH (limited) | ~30% combined | 19% | €25,000 (€12,500 paid) | ~2-4 weeks | Partial (video notary) |
| 🇨🇾 Cyprus | Ltd (private limited) | 15% (from 2026) | 19% | None (typ. €1,000) | ~8-12 days | Yes |
| 🇲🇹 Malta | Ltd (private limited) | 35% (~5% effective) | 18% | ~€1,165 (20% paid) | ~3-7 days | Yes |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | SRL (limited) | 16% (1% micro) | 21% | RON 500 (~€100) | ~1-2 weeks | Yes |
| 🇱🇻 Latvia | SIA (private limited) | 0% retained / 20% paid out | 21% | €2,800 (or €1 micro) | ~1-3 days | Yes |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | Kft. (limited) | 9% | 27% | HUF 3M (~€7,500) | ~4-5 days | Partial |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | IKE (private company) | 22% | 24% | €1 (IKE) | ~2-4 weeks | Partial |
| 🇫🇷 France | SAS (joint-stock) | 25% (15% small band) | 20% | €1 (SAS/SARL) | ~1-2 weeks | Yes |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | SL (limited) | 25% (15% startups) | 21% | €1 (SL) | ~1-3 weeks | Yes (via PoA) |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdomnon-EU | Ltd (private limited) | 25% (19% small) | 20% | None (£1) | ~24 hours | Yes (online) |
| 🇦🇹 Austria | GmbH (limited) | 23% | 20% | €10,000 | ~1-3 weeks | Yes |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | BV/SRL (limited) | 25% (20% SME) | 21% | None (BV/SRL) | ~2-4 weeks | Partial |
| 🇧🇬 Bulgaria | EOOD/OOD (LLC) | 10% flat | 20% | €1 (LLC) | ~3-7 days | Yes (via PoA) |
| 🇭🇷 Croatia | d.o.o. (limited) | 10% / 18% | 25% | €1 to €2,500 | ~1-4 weeks | Partial |
| 🇨🇿 Czechia | s.r.o. (limited) | 21% | 21% | CZK 1 (s.r.o.) | ~2-3 weeks | Yes |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | ApS (private limited) | 22% | 25% | DKK 20,000 | ~1-2 weeks | Partial |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | Oy (limited) | 20% | 25.5% | None (Oy) | ~1-3 days | Partial |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | SRL (limited) | ~28% (24% + IRAP) | 22% | €1 (SRL) | ~1-3 weeks | Yes (via PoA) |
| 🇱🇺 Luxembourg | SARL (limited) | ~24% combined | 17% | €12,000 (€1 SARL-S) | ~1-3 weeks | Yes (via PoA) |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | BV (limited) | 19% / 25.8% | 21% | €0.01 (BV) | ~1-2 weeks | Yes |
| 🇸🇰 Slovakia | s.r.o. (limited) | 21% (10% small) | 23% | €5,000 (s.r.o.) | ~1-3 weeks | Yes |
| 🇸🇮 Slovenia | d.o.o. (LLC) | 22% | 22% | €7,500 (d.o.o.) | ~4-5 days | Partial |
| 🇸🇪 Sweden | AB (aktiebolag) | 20.6% | 25% | SEK 25,000 | ~1-2 weeks | Partial |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerlandnon-EU | GmbH (limited) | ~12-21% (canton) | 8.1% | CHF 20,000 (GmbH) | ~1-3 weeks | Yes (PoA) |
| 🇳🇴 Norwaynon-EU | AS (private limited) | 22% flat | 25% | NOK 30,000 (AS) | ~5-10 days | Needs D-number |
| 🇮🇸 Icelandnon-EU | ehf. (private limited) | 20% | 24% | ISK 500,000 (~€3,400) | ~1-3 weeks | Yes (agent) |
| 🇱🇮 Liechtensteinnon-EU | GmbH / AG | 12.5% | 8.1% | CHF 10k (GmbH) | ~1-3 weeks | Yes (fiduciary) |
| 🇬🇪 Georgianon-EU | LLC | 0% retained / 15% distributed | 18% | None (LLC) | ~1-2 days | Yes (PoA) |
| 🇷🇸 Serbianon-EU | d.o.o. (LLC) | 15% flat | 20% | RSD 100 (<€1) | ~3-5 days | Yes (PoA) |
| 🇺🇦 Ukrainenon-EU | TOV (LLC) | 18% (9% Diia City) | 20% | None (TOV) | ~1-3 days | Yes (PoA) |
| 🇹🇷 Turkeynon-EU | Limited Sirket (Ltd) | 25% (30% financial) | 20% | TRY 50,000 (Ltd) | ~2-4 weeks | Yes (PoA) |
| 🇯🇪 Jerseynon-EU | Private company (Ltd) | 0% (zero/ten) | 5% GST (no VAT) | None | 2 hrs to 5 days | Yes (via TCSP) |
| 🇬🇬 Guernseynon-EU | Company (Ltd) | 0% (zero-ten) | No VAT/GST | None | ~1-2 weeks | Yes (via CSP) |
| 🇮🇲 Isle of Mannon-EU | 2006 Act Co (Ltd) | 0% (zero/ten) | 20% | None | ~48 hours | Yes (via CSP) |
| 🇬🇮 Gibraltarnon-EU | Private (Ltd) | 15% | No VAT | No minimum | ~3-5 days | Yes (PoA) |
| 🇦🇩 Andorranon-EU | SL (limited) | 10% flat | IGI 4.5% | €3,000 (SL) | ~8-12 weeks | Partial |
| 🇲🇨 Monaconon-EU | SARL (limited) | 0% local / 25% foreign | 20% | €15,000 (SARL) | ~2-6 months | In person |
| 🇸🇲 San Marinonon-EU | S.r.l. (LLC) | 17% flat | No VAT (17% import) | €25,500 (SRL) | ~6-8 weeks | Yes (PoA) |
Each linked country has a full guide with the complete data and FAQs. Countries marked "non-EU" (the UK, Switzerland, Norway and others) sit outside the European Union. Tax rules change, so confirm current figures before you rely on them.
How company formation works
Wherever you incorporate, the shape of the process is the same. We handle each step with licensed local counsel:
- Pick the country and company type that fit your tax, residency and market goals.
- Verify your identity and sign, online in most EU countries (in person or by power of attorney where a notary is required).
- File the incorporation with the national registry and receive your company number.
- Open a business account and register for tax and VAT where needed.
Get a free EU company plan
Tell us where you live and what you are building. Our formation service starts from around €100 to €200 (estimated); we recommend the right jurisdiction, give you a fixed quote, and form your company in days, often in about three for Estonia.
Get your free planRankings and comparisons
Prefer a shortlist or a head-to-head? These guides rank and compare the same jurisdictions:
- Best country to register a company in Europe
- Cheapest country to register a company in Europe
- Best country for digital nomads
- Head-to-head: Estonia vs Ireland, Cyprus vs Malta, Estonia vs Lithuania, Estonia vs the UK
EU Inc and the 28th Regime
EU Inc, the proposed 28th Regime, would replace this country-by-country choice with one company valid across all 27 member states, set up online in about 48 hours for around €100 with no minimum capital. It is not law yet; the European Commission proposed it on 18 March 2026 and it is expected to apply around 2027-2028. Track it on the EU Inc timeline, and in the meantime form a national EU company you can adopt into EU Inc later, as covered in how to prepare an EU Inc company.