Most first conversations at GCS open with “which country is cheapest?” The better question is: which company fits your business, your customers and your residence? For location-independent entrepreneurs the answer is usually the US LLC, our core product. If you want to work with a team or local management in an EU country, you will find the right alternatives below.
Prices: GCS packages. Fees and tax rates: our country data, as of September 2026.
USA · LLC: the flexible structure for location-independent entrepreneurs
For whom. Entrepreneurs who work location-independently and have customers all over the world: consultants, developers, agencies, online retailers, creators. Two profiles come first:
- Without a fixed tax residence. Perpetual travellers and digital nomads who are not tax-resident anywhere and have no US income. For them the LLC is the company that travels with them.
- Resident in a country that does not tax this income. The United Arab Emirates do not levy income tax on individuals (UAE government portal). Countries with territorial taxation that leave foreign income untaxed work in a similar way.
The LLC also fits after moving from Germany, Austria or Switzerland to another country of residence, and as a building block of a holding structure.
Why this form. A single-member LLC, an LLC with one owner, is a disregarded entity unless it elects otherwise. The US attributes its income directly to the owner (IRS). A foreign owner without US business activity therefore usually pays no US federal income tax. Add the practical side: the LLC is an established legal form, familiar to customers, marketplaces and payment providers worldwide. Contracts and invoices run in the company’s name, US-dollar payments through providers such as Mercury, Relay or Wise.
Cost. €1,800 covers formation, EIN (US tax number), operating agreement, registered agent (service address) and business address in year 1. From year 2 €1,200. Wyoming charges at least USD 60 licence tax yearly, Florida USD 138.75 for the annual report. The annual Form 5472, the return on the foreign owner, you complete yourself with our guide, or GCS prepares it for €500 a year.
Matching residence. None is required, and that is exactly what makes the LLC so flexible. You form and run it online, from anywhere. A permanent service address is enough for payment providers. If you choose a residence, pick a country that does not tax this income.
The condition. If you stay tax-resident in Germany, Austria or Switzerland, the profits are taxed there. Germans who leave clarify extended limited tax liability and, with GmbH shares, exit tax (sections 2 and 6 AStG).
In short: the LLC is the most flexible company for entrepreneurs without a fixed residence or living in a country without income tax.
Cyprus · Ltd
For whom. International service providers, holdings and IP businesses whose owners move to Cyprus.
Why this country. Corporate tax has been 15% since 2026 (Cyprus Ministry of Finance). The IP box, a regime for self-developed intellectual property, exempts 80% of qualifying profits, leaving an effective 3%. Dividends to non-residents usually leave free of withholding tax (tax deducted at source). With non-dom status, dividends and interest escape the Special Defence Contribution, a Cypriot levy.
Cost. €4,500, from year 2 €1,800 with registered office. As sole shareholder you act as company secretary (mandatory corporate officer) yourself.
The condition. You actually run the Ltd from Cyprus. If a shareholder stays in Germany, the substance test, meaning office, staff and decisions on the ground, protects against CFC taxation.
Matching residence. Residence follows the 183-day rule or the 60-day rule (subject to further conditions), plus a non-dom application (Cyprus · Non-Dom).
In short: Cyprus works if you relocate and manage from there.
Bulgaria · residence and EOOD
For whom. Entrepreneurs who stay in the EU, want a simple tariff and run the business from Bulgaria.
Why this country. 10% income tax, 10% corporate tax, 5% on dividends (NRA), in euro since 2026 (ECB). The EOOD is the Bulgarian single-member limited company.
Cost. No fixed-price package. We plan company and residence together (Bulgaria · Residence & EOOD).
Matching residence. Here residence is the core, the company the accessory. The condition: your centre of life really is in Bulgaria. Authorities work in Bulgarian, and we coordinate the local advisers.
In short: Bulgaria fits if you really live there.
Estonia and Poland
Estonia · OÜ for digital sole entrepreneurs who move to Estonia. The OÜ, the Estonian limited company, is registered online: registry fee EUR 265, share capital EUR 0.01. You run it via e-Residency, a state digital identity. Retained profits stay untaxed, distributions cost 22/78 of the net amount (EMTA). Package: €650, from year 2 €390 for business address and contact person. The condition: you live in Estonia or in a country with a suitable treaty, because e-Residency is not a residence.
Poland · Sp. z o.o. for entrepreneurs who hire, manufacture or sell in Poland. The Sp. z o.o. is the Polish limited company. Corporate tax is 19%, or 9% on certain income for eligible small or new companies (Polish tax administration). Estonian CIT defers tax until distribution, subject to conditions. Price on request, minimum capital PLN 5,000. Solo self-employed people consider the JDG, the sole-trader form, with ryczałt, a flat tax on revenue. Poland involves the most administration in this comparison, all in Polish.
In short: Estonia and Poland pay off if you move there and manage locally.
Ireland, the United Kingdom, Malta, Georgia
Ireland · Ltd for English-speaking customers, demonstrably managed in Ireland. Tax: 12.5% on trading income, 25% on other income, 10% in the Knowledge Development Box, the Irish IP box (Revenue). Without an EEA director you need a section 137 bond (security deposit).
United Kingdom · Ltd for customers, suppliers or a presence in the UK. Tax: 19% up to GBP 50,000 profit, 25% from GBP 250,000 (GOV.UK). The director may live abroad.
Malta · Ltd for businesses really managed in Malta that can carry the refund system. Standard rate 35%, 6/7 refunded after distribution, effectively 5% on qualifying trading profits (MTCA). Optionally 15% final with a five-year commitment.
Georgia · LLC for business partners, projects or activity in the region. Tax: 15% profit tax only on distribution, 5% withholding on dividends, registry fee GEL 200 (Tax Code of Georgia).
In short: these four fit with a real connection there.
Comparison: profile, country, package, residence
| Profile | Country · form | Package | From year 2 | Residence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Location-independent, no fixed residence | USA · LLC | €1,800 | €1,200 | none needed, genuine deregistration |
| Resident in a country without income tax | USA · LLC | €1,800 | €1,200 | e.g. United Arab Emirates |
| Customers worldwide, online business, holding | USA · LLC | €1,800 | €1,200 | residence outside DACH |
| International services, holding, IP | Cyprus · Ltd | €4,500 | €1,800 | Cyprus with non-dom |
| EU residence with a simple tariff | Bulgaria · EOOD | individual | individual | Bulgaria |
| Digital sole entrepreneur in Estonia | Estonia · OÜ | €650 | €390 | Estonia, or a treaty state |
| Team, production or sales in Poland | Poland · Sp. z o.o. | on request | on request | Poland, with local management |
| English-speaking EU Ltd | Ireland · Ltd | €750 | €420 | Ireland or the EEA |
| UK customers | United Kingdom · Ltd | €990 | €490 | United Kingdom |
| Refund system, holdings | Malta · Ltd | €2,250 | €1,500 | Malta |
| Connection to the region | Georgia · LLC | €1,800 | €600 | Georgia |
As of September 2026, standard case with one individual shareholder, accounting and share capital extra. “Individual”: quote after a first conversation.
In short: for location-independent entrepreneurs the LLC comes first, for life in the EU the countries below it.
Our recommendation
For location-independent entrepreneurs we recommend the US LLC, our core product. It is the most flexible structure we offer: formed quickly, run fully online and familiar to customers and payment providers worldwide. Without a fixed tax residence, or when you live in a country that does not tax this income, it is the permanent solution. More on the USA country page.
If you want to live in the EU and run a company locally, move your residence first and form afterwards. Three combinations we plan most often:
- Cyprus: relocation, non-dom, a Ltd managed locally, for services, holdings and IP.
- Bulgaria: residence at 10% and an EOOD, for a simple setup inside the EU.
- Poland: residence and a Sp. z o.o. or JDG, for teams or self-employed people close to Germany.
With high foreign income, Italy (EUR 300,000 flat tax) or Greece (EUR 100,000) fit. Overview: Countries, Residence.
What you should do now
Answer four questions in writing: where are your customers? Where do you work? Where do you want to be tax-resident in twelve months, if anywhere? What stays in Germany? The country comparison puts the companies side by side with costs and obligations, and Choosing a legal form abroad goes deeper. Your tax adviser makes the tax assessment. GCS plans and coordinates both: the move of residence and the formation abroad.