Lanzamo
中文

Global incorporation

The U.S. isn't your only option.

Compare 13 startup-friendly developed countries on the fees, corporate-tax picture, capital rules, resident-director catch, and setup speed that matter when you form from abroad.

Which country fits me? Compare all in a table
Jurisdictions
13
startup-friendly bases
No local director
8
remote-first options
Reviewed
June 2026
source-checked

Why look beyond a Delaware LLC?

A U.S. LLC is the default advice — and often the right call (it unlocks Stripe and U.S. banking, with no resident director and pass-through tax). It's our home base, and where we go deepest. But it isn't automatically best for everyone.

If your customers and bank are in Europe, an Estonian OÜ (0% tax on reinvested profit) or a UK Ltd (same-day, no local director) can fit better. Building toward Asia? Singapore and Hong Kong are credible bases. Want no personal income tax? The UAE. The honest catches are rarely the headline fee — they're resident-director rules, notary costs and locked-up capital. We lay them out side by side.

U.S. LLC cost by state Best formation services

Every jurisdiction

Tap any country for the full breakdown — fees, tax, banking and the non-resident catch. Or filter & sort them all in the comparator.

North America

(2)

United States

LLC

Founders who want Stripe, U.S. banking and the world's largest market — our home base, covered here in the most depth.

0% pass-through tax $100 setup No local director

Canada

Inc / Corp

Non-resident founders who want a credible North American base — incorporate in British Columbia or Ontario to sidestep the director-residency rule.

15% tax $150 setup No local director

Europe

(6)

United Kingdom

Ltd

Founders who want a globally trusted brand and a same-day, fully remote setup with no local director.

25% tax $130 setup No local director

Ireland

LTD

Founders wanting a 12.5% trading-tax, English-speaking EU/euro base — best if you have an EEA-resident director to skip the bond.

12.5% tax $55 setup Resident director

Estonia

OÜ

Digital/remote founders who reinvest profits and want a 0%-until-distribution tax model with fully online e-Residency setup.

0% retained / 22% tax $286 setup No local director

Netherlands

BV

Non-residents who want a credible, EU-respected holding/trading company with near-zero capital and a fully remote setup.

25.8% tax $95 setup No local director

Germany

GmbH

Founders who need a heavyweight, highly credible EU entity and can fund €12,500+ capital — or who use a UG to start lean from €1.

~30% combined tax $200 setup No local director

Switzerland

GmbH

Founders who can fund CHF 20,000 and secure a Swiss-resident director, and who want Switzerland's low-tax cantons and premium reputation.

~11.8–21% (canton) tax $750 setup Resident director

Asia

(2)

Singapore

Pte Ltd

Founders who want a globally credible, treaty-rich Asian HQ and tax-light early profits — and don't mind paying for a nominee director.

17% tax $245 setup Resident director

Hong Kong

Limited

Non-residents wanting a sole-director-friendly, zero-VAT gateway to China/Asia with potential offshore-profit exemption — if they can handle mandatory audits.

8.25–16.5% tax $500 setup No local director

Middle East

(1)

United Arab Emirates

FZ-LLC / LLC

Non-residents wanting 100% ownership, no personal income tax, and potential 0% corporate tax on qualifying free-zone income — if they can clear banking and substance hurdles.

9% tax $4,000 setup No local director

Oceania

(2)

Australia

Pty Ltd

Founders selling into the Australian/APAC market who can secure a resident director and want a well-regulated Pty Ltd with no state-level corporate tax.

25% tax $400 setup Resident director

New Zealand

Limited

Founders who want the fastest, cheapest, simplest incorporation in the developed world — provided they can line up an NZ-resident (or qualifying Australian) director.

28% tax $83 setup Resident director

How we built this

Every figure was researched against each country's official company registry and tax authority and corroborated with 2025/2026 sources — each country page links the exact ones we used. We describe each jurisdiction from the non-resident founder's point of view: not the headline tax rate, but whether you can actually own it, run it remotely, bank it, and what it really costs over multiple years. Data last reviewed June 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Where should a non-resident incorporate a company?

It depends on where your customers, bank and tax home are. For a fully remote, no-resident-director setup, the United States (LLC), United Kingdom (Ltd) and Estonia (OÜ) lead. Singapore and Hong Kong are strong Asian bases; the UAE has no personal income tax; Ireland offers 12.5% trading tax in the EU. Use the comparator to filter by what matters to you.

Do I have to live in a country to register a company there?

No — every jurisdiction here allows 100% foreign ownership. But several (Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, and Ireland for non-EEA boards) require at least one resident director, which usually means paying for a nominee service. The US, UK, Estonia, Hong Kong, Netherlands, Germany, UAE and Canada (BC/Ontario) do not.

How accurate are these figures?

Each country's government fees, corporate-tax rate, minimum capital and rules were researched against the official company registry and tax authority and corroborated with 2025/2026 sources (linked on every country page). They were last reviewed June 2026. USD amounts are approximate conversions — always confirm with the official source before you file.