Start your Irish business the right way
Setting up a company in Ireland is straightforward, but the structure, directors and tax registrations need to be right from the start. Our Dublin team handles the whole process: CRO incorporation, company secretary and registered office, the EEA-resident director requirement, Revenue registration and beneficial ownership filing, so you are ready to trade from day one.
Expert Irish Company Setup, Tax Registration and Banking Guidance
End-to-end support from incorporation to your first invoice: constitution, registration, tax and banking, handled by one team.
01
Full online incorporation with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). Using a standard constitution, the CRO aims to issue your certificate of incorporation within 5 working days (10 working days for a bespoke constitution). The CRO filing fee is €50.
02
Formation of designated activity companies (DACs) for businesses that need a defined objects clause, companies limited by guarantee (CLGs) for charities and not-for-profits, PLCs, unlimited companies, and registration of Irish branches of foreign companies.
03
Every Irish company must have a physical registered office in Ireland. We provide a professional Dublin address with mail handling for founders who live abroad or prefer not to use their home address.
04
A constitution tailored to your business and shareholders, or the CRO’s standard form for the fastest incorporation, covering share classes, transfer rules, director powers and decision-making.
05
Initial share allocation, appointment of directors and company secretary (a single-director company needs a separate secretary), the EEA-resident director requirement or the alternative €25,000 bond, director identification numbers, statutory registers, and filing beneficial owners with the Register of Beneficial Ownership (RBO) within five months.
06
Registration with Revenue for corporation tax (12.5% on trading income) through ROS, plus your ROS digital certificate and payroll (PAYE) registration as an employer before you pay staff.
07
Managed VAT registration once your turnover reaches €85,000 for goods or €42,500 for services, or earlier on a voluntary basis, which many businesses choose to reclaim VAT on costs or trade across the EU.
08
Advice on Irish banks and payment providers, and help preparing the identity and business documents they need to open your account.
Legal structure: Individual registered with Revenue; not a separate legal entity
Owners: One individual
Liability: Unlimited personal liability
Compliance: Revenue registration; register a business name with the CRO if trading under another name
Tax: Income tax, USC and PRSI on profits
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Freelancers and micro-businesses
Legal structure: Partners in business together; not a separate legal entity
Owners: Two or more partners
Liability: Unlimited, joint and several
Compliance: Partnership tax return; business name registration if applicable
Tax: Transparent: each partner taxed on their share
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Small professional and family businesses
Legal structure: Partnership registered with the CRO under the Limited Partnerships Act 1907
Owners: At least one general partner (unlimited liability) and one limited partner
Liability: Limited partner liable only up to their contribution if not involved in management
Compliance: CRO registration and filings
Tax: Generally tax transparent
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Investment and property structures
Legal structure: Separate legal entity
Owners: 1 to 149 shareholders
Liability: Limited to unpaid share capital
Compliance: At least one director and a company secretary; annual return; RBO filing
Tax: Corporation tax: 12.5% trading, 25% non-trading income
Capital: No minimum (often €1 or €100)
Best for: Most startups, SMEs and subsidiaries
Legal structure: Separate legal entity with an objects clause in its constitution
Owners: 1 to 149 shareholders
Liability: Limited by shares (or by guarantee)
Compliance: At least two directors; company secretary; name must end in DAC
Tax: Corporation tax
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Regulated businesses, joint ventures, and companies issuing listed debt
Legal structure: Separate legal entity without share capital
Owners: Members who guarantee a set amount
Liability: Limited to the guarantee amount
Compliance: At least two directors; registration with the Charities Regulator if charitable
Tax: Corporation tax, with charitable exemptions where approved
Capital: None
Best for: Charities, clubs, social enterprises and management companies
Legal structure: Separate legal entity that can offer shares to the public
Owners: At least one shareholder; no upper limit
Liability: Limited to unpaid share capital
Compliance: At least two directors; audit required; stricter governance
Tax: Corporation tax
Capital: Minimum €25,000 allotted share capital (at least 25% paid up)
Best for: Larger companies raising public capital or listing
Legal structure: Unlimited company: separate entity with unlimited members’ liability. Branch: registered extension of a foreign company
Owners: Members, or the foreign parent company
Liability: Unlimited (unlimited company), or the parent is fully liable (branch)
Compliance: Unlimited companies may avoid filing accounts in some cases; branches register with the CRO and file parent accounts
Tax: Corporation tax on Irish profits
Capital: No minimum
Best for: Private holding structures (unlimited), or foreign companies testing the Irish market (branch)
Why Form a Company in Ireland?
Ireland is one of Europe’s most business-friendly locations, with online incorporation, a 12.5% corporation tax rate on trading income, an English-speaking workforce and a home for many of the world’s leading companies.
An Irish company builds trust with customers, suppliers and investors, and gives you a recognised EU base.
Business bank accounts, payment providers and SEPA euro payments across the EU.
The largest English-speaking country in the euro area, with full EU single-market access, close links to the UK and US, and a wide network of double tax treaties.
A common law legal system, a competitive and stable corporation tax regime, the R&D tax credit and Knowledge Development Box, and strong protection for intellectual property and contracts.
Who Is This For?
Our service is for entrepreneurs and businesses who want a compliant, scalable Irish company set up quickly and correctly.
- Irish residents starting their first business, or moving from sole trader to a limited company
- Overseas entrepreneurs and companies establishing an Irish or EU presence
- Sole traders who want to separate personal and business liability
- Startups that need an investor-ready structure
- Existing businesses restructuring or creating an Irish holding company
4-Step Process
Step-01
Discovery
A free consultation to understand your goals, ownership and plans for Ireland.
Step-02
Analysis
We assess the right company type, director and secretary setup, the EEA-resident director requirement, and your tax and VAT position.
Step-03
Strategy
A clear formation plan with documents, timeline and costs, including registered office, banking and any licences your activities need.
Step-04
Execution & Support
We incorporate your company, register it with Revenue and the RBO, help set up banking, and stay on as your adviser for accounting, payroll and ongoing compliance.
Trusted by Businesses Across Three Continents
From startups to multinationals, we have helped clients in Hungary, the UK, Ireland, the EU, North America and beyond set up, expand and stay compliant.
- 18+ Years Experience
- 30+ Satisfied Clients
- 25+ Expert Team
- 4 International offices
- Glasgow
- London
- Dublin
- Budapest
Frequently asked question
The CRO aims to issue the certificate of incorporation within 5 working days when you use a standard constitution, and within 10 working days otherwise. Applications are made online, and we prepare and file everything for you.
Both are limited companies. An LTD has full legal capacity, needs only one director and suits most businesses. A DAC has an objects clause limiting what it can do, needs at least two directors and is typically used for regulated businesses, joint ventures or companies issuing listed debt.
Yes. Every Irish company must have a physical registered office in Ireland. We provide a Dublin registered office service if you do not have your own premises.
Yes. An LTD can have one shareholder who is also the sole director, but it must then appoint a separate company secretary, which can be an individual or a corporate secretary such as us.
The main obligations are:
- an annual return (Form B1) to the CRO within 56 days of your annual return date, with financial statements after the first year;
- a corporation tax return (Form CT1) to Revenue, generally within nine months of your year end, and preliminary tax payments;
- VAT returns if registered, and real-time payroll reporting if you have employees;
- updating the RBO and CRO when owners, directors or the registered office change.
Yes. Shareholders and directors can live anywhere. However, at least one director must be resident in the EEA, unless the company takes out a €25,000 bond or obtains a certificate showing a real and continuous link with economic activity in Ireland. Directors also need a PPS number or an identification number issued for CRO purposes. We guide you through each of these.
work with us
We would love to hear more about your Irish project
Whether you are forming your first company or setting up an Irish subsidiary, our Dublin team will get you registered and ready to trade.
Monday - Thursday : 9:30 am - 5:30 pm
