What forming abroad costs: the package, the fees and the items beside it

Anyone forming a company abroad wants to know what it costs: in the first year, in the second and on an ongoing basis. At GCS you get a fixed price that includes the registry fee, address and statutory roles for twelve months. This article shows what is inside, what comes on top and how the route from enquiry to a finished company runs. The most affordable and fastest structure we offer is the US LLC, our core product.

Four cost groups every company has

Government fees. Every registry charges for incorporation, and many charge again each year:

• USA: each state sets its own formation and annual fees. Wyoming, for example, charges USD 100 for the articles of organization.
• Companies House: GBP 100 for the digital incorporation of a Ltd, GBP 50 for the annual confirmation statement (the confirmation of the register data).
• Estonia: EUR 265 for an OÜ.
• Georgia: GEL 200 in the standard procedure.
• Malta: from EUR 100 for authorised capital up to EUR 1,500.

Statutory roles. Almost every jurisdiction requires a person or address that can be reached:

• USA: a registered agent, an address for official mail. The LLC needs nothing more.
• Ireland, Cyprus, Malta: a company secretary for the register filings. Ireland also an EEA-resident director.
• Estonia: a contact person while management sits abroad.
• Everywhere: a registered address.

The article Choosing a legal form abroad shows which country requires which role.

Bookkeeping and accounts. Annual accounts, tax return, VAT, possibly an audit. These costs depend on the business: number of transactions, staff, VAT registration. For a single-member LLC with few transactions this item is small. Cyprus and Malta require audited accounts, which cost more.

Tax on the activity. Corporate income tax, withholding tax on distributions (tax deducted at payment) and personal tax where you live. With the transparent US LLC there is usually no US income tax without US business activity. Tax arises only where you are resident, and that can be a country that does not tax this income.

In short: fees and statutory roles are fixed, bookkeeping follows the business, tax follows your residence.

What a GCS formation package includes

The packages cover the standard case: one company with one individual shareholder and standard articles. Included are:

• preparation with document review,
• incorporation with the government, translation and certification fees of the standard case,
• the country-specific statutory role for twelve months,
• handover of the digital documents with a schedule of ongoing obligations.

All amounts excluding VAT, as of September 2026, the same details as on the country pages. GCS currently forms only the US LLC at a fixed price; for every other country you receive a fixed quote after the structure call. The Poland package covers a Sp. z o.o. (the Polish limited company), and a JDG (sole proprietorship) is priced separately. The Georgia package covers an ordinary LLC without Virtual Zone certification.

The differences come from statutory roles and local fees. The LLC needs only a registered agent and an address. Cyprus and Malta require a secretary, a registered office and a tax registration.

In short: the package covers incorporation, fees and the statutory role for one year, and the price follows the country’s effort.

From enquiry to incorporation

The process is the same in all eight countries, only the duration of the steps differs.

First conversation. GCS takes in business model, customers, shareholders and residence and establishes whether your plans fit what we do. The assessment of your individual case follows in the paid structuring call. If you work location-independently or live in a country without income tax, the US LLC is usually the right form. If you want to move to an EU country, we plan residence and company there together.

Planning. Legal form, state or registry district, articles, statutory roles and who is entered as director or contact person. For the LLC we choose the right state with you, since GCS forms in any US state. For Ireland we check whether an EEA-resident director is available or a section 137 bond (an insurance in favour of the register) is needed. The result is a written quote with a fixed price for the standard case.

Documents. Proof of identity and address, details of the beneficial owner (the person who ultimately owns the company) and the source of funds (where the money comes from). Where required, translations and apostilles (official certifications for use abroad). In Estonia we apply for e-Residency (digital access to the Estonian register), whose fee is in the package.

Filing. Registration with the registry. Georgia names one working day for the standard procedure with a complete application (NAPR). For the other countries we give no duration the authority does not state itself.

Handover. You receive the certificate of formation, articles or operating agreement, register extract, tax numbers and a schedule of ongoing obligations with deadlines. The article After incorporation describes that calendar by country.

In short: five steps from first conversation to handover, and the LLC is the shortest route.

What is outside the package, and why

Share capital is the company’s starting money, not a price. In Poland it is PLN 5,000, in Estonia with one shareholder EUR 0.01.

Bookkeeping, annual accounts and tax returns depend on the business and are quoted separately. Also quoted separately:

• physical offices and operational substance (real activity on the ground with staff and premises),
• nominee directors (appointed managers who stand in the register for you) and special licences,
• a second company, such as a holding above the Maltese Ltd,
• Small Business Status or a Virtual Zone structure in Georgia.

Preparing a bank application is part of some packages. In the end the bank or payment provider decides on the account.

In short: share capital, bookkeeping and substance sit outside the package, and residence decides the tax.

Our recommendation

For location-independent entrepreneurs GCS recommends the US LLC, our core product. It is the most affordable and fastest formation we offer: €1,490 in the first year, €999 from the second, no audited accounts, no presence required. Without US business activity there is usually no US income tax. It fits particularly well without a fixed residence or with residence in a country that does not tax this income.

If you want to live in the EU, form where you live. For an operating business that is usually Cyprus with residence under the 60-day or 183-day rule. Formation and basic administration come as a fixed quote after the structure call, plus bookkeeping and audit. For a small digital business, Estonia fits with an OÜ. Bulgaria offers 10% corporate tax and 5% on dividends, and the EOOD is quoted individually. Italy and Greece are flat-tax residence models for mainly passive foreign income.

If you move, clarify exit tax on existing shareholdings with your adviser beforehand. Deregistration is not enough describes the steps. GCS plans and coordinates company and residence. The professional you engage directly makes the tax assessment.

How to read a quote

Ask five things:

• Which government fees are included, as of when?
• Which statutory roles are covered, and for how long?
• What does the second year cost?
• What happens if the case departs from the standard, say two shareholders or a holding company as owner?
• Does the provider help with the annual filing, for an LLC for example with Form 5472?

A provider who answers these in writing has calculated properly. The prices by country are in the country comparison and on every country page, the scope of work under business formation abroad. In the structuring call we put these questions in order for your country before you decide.