FAQ

Common questions about company formation, jurisdiction selection, banking, and ongoing compliance. If your question is not here, email info@companyformation24.com — we reply within 4 business hours.

General formation

How long does it take to form a company?

Depends on the jurisdiction and structure. Same-week formations are realistic in the UK (24 hours), Estonia (24 hours via e-Residency), BVI and Cayman (48–72 hours), Hong Kong (1–3 days), and Singapore (1–3 days). EU continental formations typically take 2–4 weeks because of notarisation requirements (Germany, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium). Mainland UAE LLCs typically take 4–6 weeks including residency-visa processing.

Can I form a company as a non-resident foreigner?

Yes, in every jurisdiction we cover. None of the 55 countries on our roster requires a director or shareholder to hold local residency for a private limited company. Some countries (Estonia for fully remote filing, the UAE for visa-eligible structures) have specific procedures designed for non-residents. We handle the paperwork in every case and arrange any local-resident roles required (registered office, contact person, nominee where legal).

Do I need to travel to the country to form a company?

Almost never. The exceptions are: UAE mainland LLCs (one bank-account-opening visit is usually required for Emirates ID), some Caribbean jurisdictions for high-tier banking introductions, and any case where you specifically want to take on a sworn role at a notary in person. For 90%+ of formations, every step happens via secure document upload, e-signature, and remote ID verification.

Choosing a jurisdiction

Which jurisdiction is best for my business?

The right answer depends on three things: where your customers are (which determines VAT and trade-treaty exposure), where you want to be tax-resident as the founder (which determines dividend tax and personal tax planning), and what type of business it is (regulated activities like crypto, payments, gambling have specific jurisdiction lists). Tell us those three things on the contact form and we will recommend two or three options with a written rationale before you commit to any engagement.

What’s the lowest-tax EU jurisdiction?

Hungary at 9% headline corporate tax (lowest in the EU). Bulgaria at 10% flat. Cyprus at 15% from 2026 (raised from 12.5%) but with the IP Box giving an effective rate of approximately 3% on qualifying intellectual-property income. Ireland at 12.5% standard. Estonia at 0% on retained profits with 24% only on distributed profits. The “best” depends on whether you reinvest, distribute, or hold IP.

What’s the difference between an EU and an offshore company?

An EU company (incorporated in any of the 27 EU member states) accesses the Single Market, EU VAT, the Parent-Subsidiary Directive, the Interest and Royalties Directive, and treaty rates with most G20 countries. An offshore company (BVI, Cayman, Bahamas, Belize, Nevis, Marshall Islands) typically pays no local corporate tax and has lighter reporting, but cannot invoice EU customers without VAT registration somewhere and may face withholding-tax surcharges from EU payors. Most of our clients use one of each: an EU operating company plus an offshore holding company, where the structure justifies it.

Should I form in my country of residence or somewhere else?

If your business serves clients in your country of residence, forming in your home country is usually simplest. If your clients are international and you are not a US person (where worldwide taxation makes domicile less flexible), forming in a low-tax jurisdiction with treaty access is often more efficient. We are not tax advisers — we will recommend you speak to a qualified tax specialist before making this decision, and we can introduce you to one in your country.

Banking

Will I be able to open a corporate bank account?

For 90%+ of clients with standard business profiles, yes. We have working introductions to traditional banks (Bank of Cyprus, Eurobank Limited, Wise, Revolut Business, Tide, LHV, Mashreq, Wio, Emirates NBD) and to specialist EMIs for cases where traditional banking is harder (regulated industries, certain non-resident profiles, crypto-adjacent activities). We disclose the realistic timeline and approval probability before you engage us.

Can I open a non-resident bank account remotely?

Some jurisdictions yes, some no. UK (Wise, Tide), Estonia (LHV, Wise), BVI (some EMIs), Hong Kong and Singapore (some banks for established structures) accept remote onboarding. UAE traditional banks and Cyprus / Malta / Singapore traditional banks usually require an in-person meeting with at least one signatory. We map the realistic options to your structure before you commit.

What if my bank account application is refused?

We do not charge for bank introductions that fail. If a primary introduction is refused, we attempt a secondary at no additional fee, then a tertiary if needed. If three introductions all fail, we refund the banking-introduction component of your engagement and recommend you reconsider the structure (jurisdiction, business activity, or beneficial owner profile). This rarely happens — more often we screen profiles upfront and decline engagements where banking is structurally unlikely.

Tax and ongoing compliance

What is the corporate tax rate in [country]?

Each country page shows the current 2026/27 corporate tax rate. As a quick reference: Hungary 9%, Bulgaria 10%, Ireland 12.5%, Cyprus 15% (post-2026 reform), UK 19–25% (small profits / main rate), Germany ~30% (CIT + trade tax + solidarity), Switzerland varies by canton (11.9%–21%), UAE 9% above AED 375,000, Singapore 17%, Hong Kong 8.25% on first HKD 2m / 16.5%, BVI / Cayman / Bahamas 0%. Estonia is unique: 0% on retained profits, 24% only at distribution.

What ongoing compliance do I have to handle each year?

Annual filings vary by jurisdiction. Standard EU jurisdictions require: corporate tax return (quarterly or annual depending on country), VAT returns (monthly or quarterly), annual financial statements with the company registry, and a beneficial-owner register update on any change. We provide ongoing accounting and filing services for clients who want a single vendor — typical fee is a fixed monthly retainer scoped to transaction volume.

What is KSeF in Poland and do I need to use it?

KSeF (Krajowy System e-Faktur) is Poland’s mandatory electronic invoicing system. It became mandatory for large taxpayers in February 2026 and for all VAT-registered businesses in April 2026. Every B2B invoice must flow through the central government platform. We include KSeF setup in our Polish accounting packages.

Pricing and process

How much does it cost to form a company?

We don’t publish prices because they vary materially by jurisdiction, structure, banking complexity, and whether nominee or registered office services are added. Send us the country and the structure on the contact form — you receive a fixed-price quote within 4 business hours, no obligation. The quote you see is the invoice you pay.

Why don’t you publish prices?

Three reasons. First, every jurisdiction has its own filing fees that change by year — published prices go stale fast. Second, our packages are bundles (formation + registered office + bank intro + first-year accounting) and the optimal bundle differs by client. Third, we want to talk to you before quoting, so we screen out engagements that don’t fit (regulated industries we don’t serve, banking profiles that won’t open, jurisdictions where the timeline doesn’t match the requirement).

What payment methods do you accept?

SEPA bank transfer (preferred for EU clients), SWIFT bank transfer (international), and credit card via Stripe for engagements under €5,000. We don’t accept cryptocurrency for standard formation engagements (KYC compliance reasons), though we do form companies for crypto-native businesses.

Privacy, nominees, and confidentiality

Are nominee directors legal?

In some jurisdictions yes (BVI, Cayman, Bahamas, Belize, Nevis, Marshall Islands, UAE, Hong Kong, Singapore — with appropriate documentation), in EU jurisdictions effectively no for new beneficial-owner-evasion purposes (the 6th AML Directive requires beneficial-owner disclosure regardless). We provide nominee director services in non-EU jurisdictions where the legal framework supports them, and only where the structure is properly documented and disclosed to relevant authorities. We decline engagements where the intent is to evade tax disclosure, sanctions, or beneficial-owner registers.

Will my name appear on a public register?

Depends on the jurisdiction. UK and EU public registers show directors, shareholders (for Ltds) and persons of significant control. Offshore registers (BVI, Cayman, Bahamas) show registered agents and directors but not always beneficial owners (though regulators have access). We explain the public-record exposure of each jurisdiction at the quoting stage so you can make an informed decision.