For a full budget, compare first-year and annual company costs. Registration fees and minimum capital do not cover ongoing services.
Low-capital formation shortlist
These company forms have low or no statutory minimum capital requirements. The list includes EU and non-EU jurisdictions. Capital funds the company; filing fees, professional services and annual obligations need a separate budget. Follow each country profile for the conditions and source-check dates.
Scroll to compare the full shortlist.
| Country | Corporate tax | Setup | Capital requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Estonia | 0% retained / 22% distributed | ~1 day (registry) | OÜ capital required per shareholder; official fees and running costs are separate. |
| Finland | 20% | ~1-3 days | No minimum capital for an Oy. |
| Georgia | 0% retained / 15% distributed | ~1-2 days | No minimum capital for an LLC (non-EU). |
| Ukraine | 18% (9% Diia City) | ~1-3 days | No statutory minimum capital for a TOV (non-EU). |
| Ireland | 12.5% trading | ~3-5 days | No minimum share capital; modest filing fees. |
| Cyprus | 15% (from 2026) | ~8-12 days | No statutory minimum capital; the old annual levy is abolished. |
| Netherlands | 19% / 25.8% | ~1-2 weeks | EUR 0.01 of capital for a BV. |
| Belgium | 25% (20% SME) | ~2-4 weeks | No minimum capital for a BV/SRL (plus a financial plan). |
| Czechia | 21% | ~2-3 weeks | CZK 1 of capital for an s.r.o. |
| Serbia | 15% flat | ~3-5 days | RSD 100 (under EUR 1) for a d.o.o. (non-EU). |
Showing the first 10 options. Compare every European jurisdiction side by side in the hub.
From minimum capital to a complete budget
Estonia can suit online administration, but an OÜ still needs capital and an official registration fee. Digital-ID, address or contact-person services and accounting can add to the budget. Portugal, Ireland and Cyprus have their own low-capital or no-minimum forms. In Germany, distinguish the GmbH from the UG and budget notarisation and register fees separately from the company’s capital.
Watch the difference between cost to start and cost to run. A low capital requirement is not the same as a low total cost: corporate tax, accounting and banking add up. We show a fixed quote for our service before you commit.
What is the difference between capital and a fee?
A registration fee pays for a filing or service. Share capital is a contribution to the company under the rules of its legal form. The company may need both. Comparing only the smallest capital amount leaves out money paid to registries, notaries, advisers and ongoing service providers.
Also distinguish the stated capital from the amount that must be paid at a particular stage. Some forms have separate minimum, payment and reserve rules. Those conditions cannot be reduced to one number without losing meaning. Follow the chosen country's guide and ask how the contribution must be documented before submission.
For example, an Estonian OÜ has a small minimum contribution per shareholder, but online registration still carries a €265 state fee. A founder who needs an e-Residency card also pays the €150 application fee. For one such applicant, those two fees alone total €415 before capital, travel and services. The official programme fee guide separates these items.
Compare the same budget on both sides
Choose a founder scenario before requesting prices. Use the same number of owners, intended activity, signing route and service period for each country. Then ask for the following items separately:
| Category | What to clarify |
|---|---|
| Official charges | Registry, notarial and other required filing charges for the specific route. |
| Capital | Required amount, payment timing and evidence. Keep it separate from expenses. |
| Preparation | Digital identity, translations, certification, travel and representation where needed. |
| Recurring services | Address arrangements, bookkeeping, annual reporting and activity-dependent filings. |
A quote with a low formation fee can exclude the annual report or renew an address service at a different price. Another quote may include those services from the start. Compare the first year and the following year using the same scope. Keep variable charges visible instead of treating an unknown amount as zero.
How much money should the business have available?
The statutory minimum is only a legal-form requirement. A business also needs a plan for the period before customers pay. Consider the actual commitments: suppliers, insurance, software, professional work and any staff or premises. The appropriate funding arrangement depends on the company and its obligations, not on the smallest amount allowed in a register.
Before filing, decide who will fund the early costs and how the transactions will be recorded. Ask what happens if there is no revenue for several months, because an inactive company can still have reporting and service obligations. The post-registration checklist helps identify that ongoing work.
Use the two-country comparison tool to check signing, director and administration requirements alongside capital. A small difference in the legal minimum may matter less than an unavailable signing route, a service you cannot maintain or the need to duplicate administration in the country where you actually operate.
How we compare
This is a selection of low-capital legal forms, not a ranking by total price. Compare the same founder circumstances and service scope before choosing a country. Use the first-year and annual cost guide to separate spending from capital, and the Europe hub to compare the wider requirements.
Build your company budget
Tell us your residence, operating plan and budget. We will compare suitable jurisdictions and provide a fixed service quote, formation requirements and an indicative timeline.
Get your free planFrequently asked questions
What is the cheapest country to register a company in Europe?
The shortlist highlights low-capital options, but it does not establish the cheapest total package for every founder. Estonia requires OÜ capital per shareholder plus official filing fees and any digital-ID, address and accounting costs. Compare the chosen legal form and an itemised first-year budget, not capital alone.
Which EU country has no minimum share capital?
Some forms, including an Irish private company or a Cyprus private company, have no statutory minimum share capital. Estonia’s OÜ does require capital per shareholder. Germany’s GmbH and UG have different capital frameworks. Low or no minimum capital does not eliminate fees or the need to fund the business.
Does cheaper to register mean cheaper to run?
No. Official fees, professional services, accounting, annual reporting, address arrangements and banking costs are separate from share capital. Tax treatment also depends on the company and its operations. Obtain a first-year and recurring-cost budget before choosing.
Can the company use its capital after registration?
Capital is company property, not a fee paid to the registry. Its use must comply with the chosen form’s rules, capital maintenance, solvency and the purpose of the payment. Do not assume that it can simply be returned to the founder as personal money.
Does a very small capital requirement mean I need almost no cash?
No. Official fees, documents, service providers and the first months of operations still need funding. The legal minimum and a workable operating budget answer different questions.
How should I compare two formation quotes?
Use the same founders, legal form, signing route and service period. Separate state fees, capital, professional work and renewals. Ask which accounting, annual-report and address services are included, and what can create an extra charge.