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Build a complete budget
Start with the company form and the country where you need to operate. Then ask for each cost below. A low filing fee does not tell you the total price of a working company.
- One-off setup: registry fees, digital identity if needed, professional formation work, translations and any required certification.
- Recurring administration: accounting, annual accounts, registered-office or contact-person services and statutory filing fees.
- Activity-dependent costs: payment accounts, transactions, VAT returns, payroll, licences and any required audit.
- Company funding: share capital and operating cash. These are separate from fees.
First year: setup costs + recurring services + activity-dependent charges.
Later years: recurring services + activity-dependent charges + renewals or changes when due.
Calculate tax and company funding separately. Confirm whether each provider price includes VAT.
Compare the official fee components
These are selected standard filing routes, checked on 11 October 2026. The table is not a total-cost ranking. Professional services and eligibility requirements differ.
On a small screen, scroll the table to see all columns.
| Country and form | Formation filing | Recurring filing | Capital, separate from fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia OÜ | €265 online registration. RIK | Annual reporting is required. Obtain a quote for preparation; no separate filing-fee amount is assumed here. | Minimum €0.01 per shareholder; pay the contribution before submitting the application. Formation rules |
| Ireland LTD | €50 electronic A1 incorporation. CRO fees | €20 electronic B1 annual return. This is the filing fee, not the price of preparing accounts. CRO fees | Capital and share details specified in the constitution. Check the amount subscribed and paid. CRO guide |
| Portugal Lda / Unipessoal Lda | €220 online with approved articles; €360 with custom articles. Standard, non-urgent routes. Justice fees | €80 annual-accounts registration through IES. The certified accountant's work is separate. IRN | Minimum €1 per quota. Shareholder count and payment timing depend on the form and chosen declaration. Capital rules |
A worked example: selected Estonian costs
Consider one founder applying for e-Residency and forming an OÜ. The programme lists a €150 digital ID fee, €265 registration, contact-person services around €200-400 a year and accounting starting at €50 a month. Source: official e-Residency cost guide.
For this example, choose €300 a year for the contact person and €50 a month for accounting. The contact-person amount is our planning assumption within the published range. The accounting amount uses the programme's starting level. Neither is a provider quote.
€150 ID + €265 registration + €300 contact person + 12 × €50 accounting.
€300 contact person + 12 × €50 accounting, if the assumed prices stay unchanged.
These totals cover only the items listed above. They exclude share capital, taxes, our formation service, banking, payroll, licences, travel or translations, VAT-return preparation, VAT charged on services, and annual-report preparation if billed separately. Ask whether an address and annual accounts are included in the chosen provider package before adding them again.
The e-Residency card is valid for five years and has no annual card-maintenance fee. Budget for renewal when due. The business itself still has ongoing obligations. Programme fees.
Why the same filing fee can produce different totals
Estonia: check identity, address and reporting
A founder who already has an accepted digital ID may not need a new e-Residency application. An Estonian address and a foreign management-board address are different options; using the foreign address requires a licensed contact person. Confirm which service your package supplies. Official address guidance.
Ireland: check the office, secretary and director conditions
An LTD needs an Irish registered office. A sole director must have a separate secretary. The EEA-resident director condition can require an applicable exemption or bond where it is not met. The €25,000 bond amount is coverage, not its purchase price. Obtain the actual service and bond quotes for your case. CRO incorporation guide.
Portugal: check the filing route and accountant
The €220 route uses approved articles. Direct individual applicants need supported Citizen Card or CMD credentials with active digital signatures. Official portal requirements. A professional filing on your behalf charges separately. Annual-accounts registration through IES is submitted by the entity's certified accountant; €80 covers registration, not that professional's services. Formation charges and annual-accounts requirements.
For all three examples, ask about an inactive company, transaction limits, VAT filings, employee payroll, annual reports and closing the company. Do not carry an accountant's quote from one jurisdiction into another.
What to ask before you pay
- Which legal form and registration route does the price cover?
- Are government charges, professional work and VAT shown separately?
- Which services renew each year, and at what price?
- Are annual accounts and tax returns included? What changes when I hire or register for VAT?
- What extra work follows from my residence, ownership or business activity?
- Are any amounts deposits or company capital rather than non-refundable fees?
Our formation service price is from around €100 to €200 (estimated). Your free plan turns that estimate into a quote for an agreed scope. Request itemised official fees and third-party services. It is not an all-inclusive annual company budget.
Next, check business account eligibility and use the post-registration checklist. For a wider country shortlist, return to company formation in Europe.
EU Inc's proposed €100 fast-track ceiling does not change today's national fees. EU Inc registration is not open. See the EU Inc registration guide.
Get your formation budget
Tell us where you live, what you will do and when you need a company. We will outline the relevant costs and next steps.
Get your free planFrequently asked questions
How much does it cost to form a company in Europe?
There is no single European price. Compare the official registration fee, any identity and professional setup costs, address services, accounting and recurring filings. This guide uses Estonia, Ireland and Portugal as examples and keeps share capital separate from fees.
Is the registration fee the total cost?
No. Accounting, address or contact-person services, banking, annual filings and professional help can add costs. Some depend on your residence, activity and chosen company form. Ask for an itemised quote.
Is share capital a government fee?
No. Share capital is funding contributed to the company. It is different from fees paid to a registry or service provider. Budget for the contribution separately and check the applicable payment rules.
What does the Estonian first-year example include?
It totals €1,315 for four selected items: a €265 registration fee, a €150 digital ID application, an assumed €300 annual contact-person fee and accounting assumed at €50 per month. It is an illustration, not a quote. Additional services and taxes are excluded.
Does an inactive company still have annual costs?
It can. Inactivity does not by itself end filing, address or accounting obligations. Establish which requirements apply to your company and what your provider charges before leaving it inactive.
Does the proposed €100 EU Inc fee change these costs?
No. EU Inc registration is not open. Its proposed €100 fast-track ceiling is not an available service or a total annual company budget.