Company Formation by Country
Company formation by country, compared on the facts that set a small company’s running cost.
| Name | Region | Company type | Headline corporate tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belize | Offshore | Company limited by shares under the Belize Companies Act, 2022 (replaced the former IBC Act and Companies Act) | 25% |
| British Virgin Islands | Offshore | BVI business company (BC) limited by shares, under the BVI Business Companies Act | |
| Bulgaria | European Union | Limited liability company (дружество с ограничена отговорност, OOD; single-member: EOOD) | 10% |
| Cayman Islands | Offshore | Exempted company limited by shares under the Companies Act (2025 Revision) | 0% |
| Cyprus | European Union | Private company limited by shares (ιδιωτική εταιρεία περιορισμένης ευθύνης με μετοχές, Ltd) | 15% |
| Delaware LLC | United States | Limited liability company (LLC), formed by filing a Certificate of Formation with the Delaware Division of Corporations | |
| Estonia | European Union | Private limited company (osaühing, OÜ) | 22% |
| Georgia | Europe outside the EU | Limited liability company (შეზღუდული პასუხისმგებლობის საზოგადოება, შპს / LLC) | 15% |
| Germany | European Union | Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung (GmbH); low-capital variant: Unternehmergesellschaft (haftungsbeschränkt), UG | 15% |
| Hong Kong | Asia and Middle East | Private company limited by shares (Limited), incorporated under the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 622) | 16.5% |
| Ireland | European Union | Private company limited by shares (LTD) | 12.5% |
| Lithuania | European Union | Private limited liability company (uždaroji akcinė bendrovė, UAB) | 17% |
| Malta | European Union | Private limited liability company (Ltd) | 35% |
| Netherlands | European Union | Private limited company (besloten vennootschap, BV) | 25.8% |
| Panama | Offshore | Sociedad anónima (S.A.), corporation under Ley 32 de 1927 | 25% |
| Portugal | European Union | Private limited company by quotas (sociedade por quotas, Lda; single-member: sociedade unipessoal por quotas) | 19% |
| Seychelles | Offshore | International Business Company (IBC) under the International Business Companies Act, 2016 | 15% |
| Singapore | Asia and Middle East | Private company limited by shares (Pte. Ltd.), often an exempt private company | 17% |
| Spain | European Union | Private limited company (sociedad de responsabilidad limitada, SL / SRL) | 25% |
| Switzerland | Europe outside the EU | Limited liability company (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung, GmbH / Sàrl / Sagl) | |
| United Arab Emirates | Asia and Middle East | Limited liability company (LLC) on the mainland (licensed by the emirate's economic department, e.g. Dubai DET), or a free zone company (e.g. a DMCC company in Dubai) | 9% |
| United Kingdom | Europe outside the EU | Private company limited by shares (Ltd) | 25% |
| Wyoming LLC | United States | Limited liability company (LLC), formed by filing Articles of Organization with the Wyoming Secretary of State |
The table covers 23 jurisdictions and the usual vehicle for a founder-owned business: a private limited company, or an LLC in the United States. For each one you get the corporate tax rate, the state registration fee, minimum capital, whether a non-resident can form the company remotely, the local people or addresses the law requires, VAT or GST registration, and the filings due every year.
Every figure comes from the jurisdiction’s own company registry, tax authority or statute, linked on each page. It was last reviewed on 30 September 2026.
A low tax rate on this list does not settle where your company will be taxed. Where the company is managed, where you live and where the work is done can create tax obligations elsewhere. Read where to register an online business for the decision itself, and use the company filing deadlines calendar and the VAT registration thresholds table alongside this list.
This is general information, not tax or legal advice.