Entrepreneurs from different countries are increasingly coming to Portugal. Businessmen from all over the world are attracted by the quite simple conditions for opening their own business, as well as by the stable and safe economy. The lack of corruption and the sufficient number of niches in which you can be realized, give complete freedom for choice and activity. Scared of the unknown about starting up in a foreign country? The step-by-step instructions of business registration in Portugal will help you bypass the main “pitfalls”, and if you have any additional questions or problems, contact Move to Cascais, we will help, we will prompt.
Businesses in Portugal
LLCs are opened most often in Portugal. They come in different types. Let’s look at the most popular ones.
LLC/SpQ or LLC
This option is similar to our LLC and suits those who plan to run a small business. The main condition is the director and at least one shareholder. They can be of any nationality. Under the Portuguese law it does not matter at all.
The main “plus” is the minimum requirements to the share capital.
You only need to have one euro in your account to register a company. The annual audit is cancelled if in the past two years the company’s accounts were less than one and a half million euros, if the income did not exceed three million euros, and if the firm has no more than 50 employees. Audit is not required if in the past two years the company’s accounts were less than one and a half million euros.
Publicly traded company with a public company or PLC/SA
This option is ideal for entrepreneurs planning to expand their Portuguese business, wishing to take their firm to the Lisbon or even EU stock exchanges.
To register a PLC you need:
- Five individual or one corporate shareholders. Their citizenship is irrelevant.
- Capital from 50000 euros.
- Capital from 120,000 euros, two directors are needed.
Audit for PLCs should be done once a year.
Sociedad Europea (Eurocompany)
This type of company can operate throughout the EU, without going through the procedures required by national laws. In other words, there will be no need for a complicated system of opening subsidiaries, as it is customary under the laws of EU countries.
To create a European JSC, at least two EU companies with a total capital of at least €120,000 should be merged.
Branches
For those wishing to enter the European market without much trouble, the variant of opening a branch is suitable. It should be registered in the tax office, and then file reports on all financial transactions in due time.
Think that the income of the main office is not taxed in Portugal, there are no requirements for the size of the share capital, for the employment of workers, too.
Representation
This business format is suitable for conducting advertising companies, for defending the interests of the firm. Manufacturing and commercial activities are not included in the allowed for representation.
Features of registration
We have several detailed stories about starting a business by an individual, there is no point in retelling them, so we will just briefly summarize the information.
So, you can open a sole proprietorship. In this form of business, there are no restrictions on the size of the corporate debt and the amount of capital.
You can open a sole proprietorship with an LLC, you can open a sole proprietorship with an LLC. The start-up capital for this is 5 thousand euros.
If more than two people plan to register a Portuguese company, the following options are suitable:
- a private company with a CO, with deposits from 5000 euros. Each shareholder buys shares at 100 euros and is responsible for complying with the rules of the articles of association;
- LLC for one or five shareholders with at least €50,000 in investments from shareholders;
- partner company with two partners;
- partner company with two partners (minimum) who do business together;
- non-commercial corporation. There are no strict requirements for the capital and composition of the participants.
Registration Procedure
Have you heard about the bureaucracy in Portugal? That is in the past. Now there is a special program Simplex to simplify documents. It makes it possible to open a company both online and on site. The second option is easier. In terms of time, the procedure will take no more than an hour. In the first case, you need 2-3 days, but you do not need to go to the country.
The registration fee is 360 euros. It can be done online, by check, or via ATM terminal. When registering your business in person, you should contact any Empresa na Hora. You will be asked to choose a name from an existing list. To this name will be automatically connected the number of tax payer and social security number.
It is possible to choose an individual name. But to do this, you must first obtain a certificate of approval of that name from the National Register of Legal Entities.
Of course, ideally you should draw up your own charter, approve it, notarize it. But there is an opportunity to choose ready-made charters at Empresa na Hora. It is faster and more convenient.
If there are shareholders, everyone will need to appear at any nearby office (there are service addresses on this site). No possibility to be present? A power of attorney from a notary is required in the name of the representative of the interests.
The representative of the legal entity shall, in addition to own documents, have an excerpt from the Commercial Register and a document certifying the authority to represent the interests of the company.
Important. The documents must be translated into Portuguese and certified.
The final stages of registering a business in Portugal
The following “steps” are
- payment of share capital. It can be done 5 days after registration. Size from one to one thousand euros;
- filing the application on the beginning of the activity (it may be done in the office of the registration service). It is better to submit it at once, but if you fail to do so, then no later than two weeks from the beginning of the activity.
Register online
Online company registration (you can see our services Online company registration ) is very fast, if you choose one of the charters approved in advance by the national register of legal entities.
If the shareholders want to draft their own articles of incorporation, it will take a little longer.
On-line registration takes 1-2 days. The basic steps are the same. You have to determine the name, prepare the company charter and go to the third step. It consists of presenting the data about the company.
Include the type of company, registered offices, area of operation, size of capital, IBAN (if any). The registrar will also be interested in the value of the shares and the methods of payment of the share capital.
Shareholder Information
The following information will be needed:
- about the individual name, date of birth, gender, marital status, taxpayer number, nationality, address and contact information;
- about the legal entity – name, taxpayer number and address of the main office.
Accountant
This is a very important point, which is often ill-conceived initially and causes later difficulties with the registration. If you have your own accountant, you need to specify his data (name, taxpayer code, address, phone number and e-mail). If you do not have your own accountant, you can choose from certified specialists “Association”.
Final stage of registration
It remains to print the charter, sign it, fill out the signature confirmation form. Then scan the documents and file them online. No additional mailing is necessary.
380 euros will cost to register a Portuguese firm. There is a discount for some activities.
A little about taxes in Portugal
The tax for an individual depends on his income.
At 7,000 euros, the rate is 14.5%.
For €7000-20000, the rate is 28.5%.
at 20,000-40000 euros – 37%.
at 40000-80000 euros – 45%.
And at the income above 80,000 euros the tax rate is 48%.
Non-residents of Portugal pay tax only at source in the country. Residents shall pay contributions to the budget from worldwide income.
Why it’s profitable to open a business in Portugal
Let’s conclude with the pros of doing business in the country.
Every person who made this step can receive the Portuguese residence permit (the variant of receiving it for investments), and in five years to become a full citizen of the European Union.
Every business in the country can move freely within the Schengen area.
There are great prospects for the business itself, for example, expansion into the market of Europe.
The infrastructure for the business is excellent.
Register documents in an hour. No bureaucracy!
Loyal taxation system is provided for foreigners.
Business in Portugal can be opened from scratch, or you can buy an existing one.
Let us remind you that if you have any questions about moving to your dream country, please contact https://movetocascais.com/
