Business Incorporation Fees Europe 2026

UK Ltd company formation via Companies House costs £50 online and completes same-day (typically within hours). No notary required; no minimum share capital; articles of association can use model articles. This makes the UK Ltd the default choice for early-stage founders, digital businesses, and entrepreneurs across Europe — particularly given that a UK Ltd can be formed by anyone worldwide, operates under English contract law (preferred in international commercial contracts), and has low ongoing compliance costs. Post-Brexit, UK Ltd companies do not automatically benefit from EU single market access — founders operating primarily in the EU need to consider adding an EU entity (Irish Ltd, Dutch BV, Estonian OÜ) alongside the UK Ltd. Estonia's e-Residency programme + OÜ formation (€250-350 total, fully online for non-EU residents) is a growing competitor for digital businesses.

Germany's GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) requires a notarial deed (notarielle Beurkundung) for the shareholder agreement and articles of association — mandatory under the GmbHG. A notary's fee is regulated by the Gerichts- und Notarkostengesetz (GNotKG) — typically €500-1,500 depending on share capital. Combined with Handelsregister fee (€150) and optional legal advice (€500-1,000), total GmbH formation costs approximately €800-2,000. Time: typically 2-4 weeks (notary appointment scheduling, Handelsregister processing). Germany introduced the 'online formation' (§2 Abs.3 GmbHG) under EU Directive 2019/1151 transposition — but the notarial deed requirement remains, now handled via video conference with a notary rather than in-person. The fundamental cost and friction of German company formation remains significantly higher than UK, Ireland, Estonia, or France.

Estonia's e-Residency programme (launched 2014) allows any entrepreneur worldwide to apply for an Estonian digital identity card (e-Residency, ~€100-150 fee) and then register an Estonian OÜ (Osaühing — Estonian private limited company) entirely online through the e-Business Register. Total cost: approximately €250-350 all-in for a basic OÜ. The Estonian OÜ is an EU entity — with full access to EU banking, EU payment processing, and EU-standard legal frameworks. It is particularly popular for: SaaS/digital businesses with no physical location requirement; non-EU founders wanting an EU legal base; and founders attracted to Estonia's digital-first, low-bureaucracy business environment. By 2025, over 110,000 e-Residencies had been issued and approximately 25,000 OÜs formed. The main limitation: Estonia is a small country — EU banking for non-resident-owned Estonian companies can be challenging (Wise Business, Revolut Business, and fintech-first banking typically used).