Company formation in Spain : Form a company : learn more
What does the price include?
Are there any other costs involved in forming a company in Spain?
Do I need a NIE?
What information do you need to get started?
The price covers all costs to have your Spanish company up and running. This includes notary fees, Mercantile Register fees, and transfer tax/stamp duty (only for the minimum backing capital of 3006€).
The price does not include VAT tax.
Are there any other costs involved in forming a company in Spain?
There are no other costs, unless you don't have a NIE. If you would like to sign with a notary of your choice, or in a city where we are not represented, then please contact us for a quote.
Once the SL is established, you are required to fulfill tax and accounting obligations, even if you have no invoices.
Do I need a NIE?
Yes, all directors and shareholders of the company need a NIE, as a result of the Fraud Prevention Act which came into force on February 2005. If you don't have a NIE, you can apply for it in person at the Spanish consulate, or in any Oficina de Extranjeros in Spain. If you like, we can accompany you to the Oficina de Extranjeros in Barcelona. We charge 140 euros for this service.
What information do you need to get started?
We need:
- Your top three choices for the name of the SL.
- A scanned or faxed copy of the passport of the director(s).
- Payment by credit card or bank transfer.
What are the tax and accounting obligations for a company in Spain?
You are required to file tax forms every quarter, as well as yearly tax forms. You are also required to fill out four accounting books, and present them yearly to the Mercantile Register. These requirements hold true even if your company has no financial movement. See our Accounting page for more information.
What if I want to change the company name, corporate address, etc. later on?
If you want to make a change to your title, the following table explains the procedure and costs.
| Description | Fees* |
|---|---|
| Give a power of attorney to Strong Abogados so you won't have to take another trip to the notary. Do this in the first trip to the notary if you think you might need to make a change to the title in the future. | free |
| Change of:
|
hourly rate (min. 250€) |
| Change of director. This cannot be effected with a power of attorney. The new director will need to take a trip to the notary's office. | hourly rate (min. 250€) |
| Change of business address to a different province. (This change must be registered with the Mercantile Register for that province.) | hourly rate (min. 350€) |
Why is it so expensive to form a company in Spain?
In the UK and the USA, forming a company can be done online. In Spain, company formation requires at least eight visits in person to various offices.
What should I look out for when shopping for incorporation services in Spain?
- Be sure to find out whether the price of the service includes the notary and registry fees, as well as transfer tax/stamp duty.
- When a company is formed, a temporary CIF (tax ID) is requested. Later, this CIF is made permanent. Be sure that the CIF you receive is permanent.
- Once you have the CIF, you can start billing for the company. However, you cannot activate your bank account for the company until the company has been registered at the Mercantile Register. The time it takes to register varies from province to province, so make sure you ask when you will be able to start using your bank account.
- Once the company has been formed, make sure the form to initiate business activity has been presented and stamped.