Set up your Spanish limited company with clear legal guidance from the start. We handle the incorporation process, coordinate the notary and registry steps, and help you move into accounting, tax, payroll, and compliance once the company is active.
Whether you are a Spanish resident or non-resident, we can assist with all the practical steps needed to get your company formed properly and operating in Spain.
For individual founders and partners who want a Spanish entity to trade, sign contracts, invest or hire. We help settle ownership, management, activity and capital before preparing the incorporation documents.
See the individual shareholder checklistFor established businesses creating a Spanish subsidiary. The SL formation offer also applies when the shareholder is a foreign company. Registering that foreign entity in Spain to obtain its Spanish NIF is a separate, chargeable process.
See the corporate shareholder checklistThe SL formation work below, including the incorporation notary and Mercantile Registry fees, is included when you pay for six months of our standard accounting service in advance. This applies to individual founders and foreign corporate shareholders. The accounting fee is quoted for your company’s activity and requirements.
The offer covers the SL formation itself. Additional services are quoted separately when required:
The share-capital contribution belongs to the company and is provided by its shareholders; it is not part of our formation fee.
Client experience · Elcom Medical SL
Elcom was an established Turkish medical-equipment group looking to build a Spanish base for its European activity. We visited its headquarters in Turkey to understand the business and plan the Spanish and EU expansion around how the group intended to operate.
Our team coordinated the Spanish company formation, corporate documentation, notarial and Registry stages, tax setup, and the transition into ongoing accounting and compliance.
Elcom Medical SL is now operating in Spain as the group’s EU operations and principal distribution base.
“Working with Marcelo has been an excellent experience ... proactive and solution-oriented ... quick to provide effective results.”
Eyüp Eren Aydın, Elcom Medical SL — Google review
Your company formation team
Open each card to meet your advisors and read client feedback about their support with company formation and business registrations in Spain.
Marcelo Gonzalez
Account Manager | Legal Advisor
Barcelona
Marcelo researches complex company structures and cross-border cases carefully. He helps international founders understand their options and find a practical route for setting up their business in Spain.
“Muchas gracias Marcelo! He made it possible to set up our Spanish S.L. in record time. Always helpful and fast responses. VG Boats S.L.”
Joost Versteegh, VG Boats S.L. — Google review (opens in a new tab)
Pablo Sanchez
Account Manager | Legal Advisor
Barcelona
Pablo specialises in employment law and has a master's degree in data protection. He helps founders plan the employment and compliance requirements that come with running a company in Spain.
“Pablo is amazing and one of the best people I have met when creating a business in Spain. He knows his stuff, intelligent, and transparent.”
Carlton Kahleim Giles, Esto y Eso Servicios SL — Google review (opens in a new tab)
Emma Sanchez
Account Manager | Legal and Tax Advisor
Madrid
Emma brings more than 25 years of experience in compliance, tax setups and international client files. She helps clients prepare their registration documentation and anticipate what the Spanish Tax Agency will need.
“If I could give more than 5 stars, I would. Working with Emma Sanchez ... has been an absolute privilege during our time navigating VAT and business registration in Spain as a foreign company.”
Dumitru Popescu, MEDYON DIGITAL TECH S.R.L. — Google review (opens in a new tab)
Alejandro Prieto
Account Manager
Madrid
Alejandro keeps communication clear and follows up carefully throughout the company-formation process. He helps clients feel informed and supported while their Spanish SL is being set up.
“Really good experience setting up my SL in Spain ... the communication and assistance from Alejandro Prieto made the experience much simpler than anticipated.”
Edward Graham, Luminare Collection SL — Google review (opens in a new tab)
The right route depends on who will own the business, sign contracts and work in Spain, where goods are held, and whether you need a separate Spanish legal entity.
A separate Spanish company with its own accounting, tax and corporate obligations. An SL with one shareholder, whether an individual or a company, is an SLU; its single-shareholder status must be recorded and disclosed.
An individual trading personally rather than through a separate company. The appropriate route depends on liability, activity, income, expenses and future plans; an SL is not automatically more tax-efficient.
Registering as an autónomo in SpainA registered Spanish establishment of a foreign business rather than a separate subsidiary. The foreign parent remains responsible for the branch. Read about branch registration in Spain.
Some VAT, customs or employment needs may be handled through the existing foreign entity without immediate incorporation. See non-resident company registration. Permanent-establishment and employment questions still need individual assessment.
Explore the wider comparison: 5 legal ways to structure your operations in Spain, including holding structures.
Yes. The legal minimum is €1, but we generally recommend €3,000. Capital below €3,000 carries two additional rules under Article 4 of the Capital Companies Law:
Starting with €3,000 avoids these additional below-threshold requirements. It can also help present a more credible funding position to banks, suppliers and commercial partners, although account opening and financing remain subject to their checks.
Capital is funding for your company. It is not a fee paid to Strong or money that must remain untouched: the company can use it for legitimate business expenses. It must represent a real contribution, rather than simply a promise to cover €3,000 of liabilities.
Once the required identification, documents, company decisions and signing arrangements are ready, a straightforward incorporation typically takes 1–3 weeks. Overseas documents, NIE/NIF applications, banks, notary availability and Registry queries can extend this estimate. Signing the deed and being ready to trade are different milestones.
Use the checklist that matches your shareholders. If you have both individuals and companies, both may apply. We confirm the final requirements for your country, ownership chain and signing route before you order documents or arrange legalisation.
Through our online notary and translation partner, we can arrange notarisation, Apostille or legalisation as required, shipping to our offices, and sworn translation of your corporate documents. This service is quoted separately. Coordinating everything through one partner simplifies the process and can significantly reduce the time needed to prepare your incorporation.
These checklists are for planning. Please send identity and corporate documents through the secure channel agreed with your account manager.
Questions? We're here to help!
Contact UsYes. Individuals and foreign companies can hold shares, subject to identification and compliance requirements. A foreign corporate shareholder needs its own Spanish NIF and supporting corporate documents. Registering that non-resident entity is separate from forming the Spanish SL and is charged separately.
An SLU is an SL with a single shareholder, which can be a person or a company. Single-shareholder status must be correctly recorded and disclosed. The same formation offer applies, with ongoing obligations assessed for the company’s activity. For the wider context, read our guide to business structures in Spain.
When you pay for six months of our standard accounting service in advance, we include the SL formation work, company-name certificate, bylaws, incorporation signing, incorporation notary fees and Mercantile Registry incorporation fees. The accounting service is paid and quoted for your company. Founder identification, foreign shareholder registration, powers of attorney, translations, banking support and other additional services are separate. See the formation scope and additional costs.
Allow approximately 1–3 weeks for a straightforward incorporation once identification, required documents, company decisions and signing arrangements are ready. Overseas corporate documents, NIE/NIF work, Apostilles, translations, banking, notary availability or Registry queries can add time. Operational registrations may follow incorporation, so we confirm the milestones for your case.
Yes, €1 is legally possible. Below €3,000, at least 20% of profit must be reserved until legal reserves plus capital reach €3,000. If liquidation leaves insufficient assets to meet obligations, shareholders are jointly and severally liable for the difference between €3,000 and subscribed capital.
We generally recommend €3,000 to avoid those additional requirements and provide a more credible initial funding position when dealing with banks and commercial partners. It is company funding that can be used for legitimate business expenses, rather than a formation fee. Read the capital explanation.
The route is confirmed with the notary for your case. Spanish law allows an SL to be incorporated without a bank deposit certificate if the founders declare in the deed that they are jointly and severally responsible for the reality of the cash contributions. This simplifies proof of the contribution; it does not remove the requirement for real capital. See Article 62.
A business bank account is a separate practical matter. Banks carry out their own checks, and neither incorporation nor €3,000 of capital guarantees account approval. Read our corporate banking guidance.
Many cases can be completed through a representative under a suitable power of attorney. You can sign before a Spanish notary with our team accompanying you, or we can arrange signing through remote notaries where suitable. We confirm the identification, signing, legalisation and translation requirements before you sign.
Our power-of-attorney service is quoted separately from SL formation. Its fee covers all notary, legalisation or Apostille, and shipping costs. If you do not already have an NIE, we can also use a suitably authorised power of attorney to apply for it on your behalf; the NIE application is a separate service. See our power-of-attorney services.
Identification depends on whether the shareholder is an individual or a company. Foreign individuals generally need an NIE; a foreign corporate shareholder needs its own Spanish NIF. The new Spanish SL also receives its own NIF. We review the shareholders, representatives and directors to confirm the exact requirements. NIE applications and foreign-entity registration are separately charged services.
Yes. We confirm the company’s registered office as part of the incorporation planning. If you need Strong to provide an address service, that is quoted separately. Official electronic notifications also need to be monitored once the company is operating. See our guide to digital certificates for access to online procedures, or ask about registered-office support.
We assess the activity, commercial risks, expected results, other founders, employees and growth plans. An SL creates a separate legal entity but brings corporate and accounting obligations. There is no universal income threshold or automatic tax advantage. See our comparison of ways to operate in Spain.
No. Owning or forming a company does not itself grant residence or work permission. A founder planning to live or work in Spain may need separate immigration advice and authorisation. See immigration services in Spain.
Shareholders normally benefit from the company’s separate legal personality, but protection is not absolute. Personal guarantees, directors’ duties, misconduct and the special rules for capital below €3,000 can create exposure. Our legal team reviews the management and funding arrangements for your situation.
They serve different purposes. Where there are several founders or investors, a shareholder agreement can address voting, transfers, deadlock, departures, funding and exit. It is additional work, quoted separately from the incorporation package. Our legal advisory services can help you assess what the agreement should cover.
Signing is one milestone. Registry, tax, banking, licensing or activity-specific steps may still be needed. We confirm when your intended operations can begin and what must be completed first. The after-incorporation services explain the work that may apply, including VAT obligations and hiring employees in Spain.
Yes. Having no sales does not automatically remove corporate, accounting, annual-accounts or tax-filing duties. We confirm the filings and records needed for the company’s status. See accounting and compliance support and our guide to company tax forms.
Buying an existing company can bring its history, liabilities and additional due diligence. Changes of ownership, directors and other registered details may still be needed. We assess any specific reason to acquire an existing entity rather than assuming it will be faster or simpler. Our company Registry search guide explains how to obtain registered company information.
