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Cheapest countries to incorporate a company (2026)

Filing fees are only a sliver of what a company actually costs, but they are a fair starting point. Compare the countries with the lowest government incorporation fees and the hidden costs that decide the real bill.

Compare countries How we research
Format
Guide
Reviewed
June 2026
Audience
Global founders

By the Lanzamo Editorial Team · Reviewed June 2026 · How we research

Key takeaway: The cheapest filing fee (Ireland, ~$55) is not the cheapest company to run. Watch for notary fees, paid-in capital, and — the big one — a mandatory resident director. Compare the multi-year, all-in cost.

Ranked by government fee (lowest first)

# Country Gov. fee The catch
1 Ireland LTD $55 Needs a resident director
2 New Zealand Limited $83 Needs a resident director
3 Netherlands BV $95 Notary deed required
4 United States LLC $100 Few hidden costs
5 United Kingdom Ltd $130 Few hidden costs
6 Canada Inc / Corp $150 Few hidden costs
7 Germany GmbH $200 Paid-in capital required
8 Singapore Pte Ltd $245 Needs a resident director
9 Estonia OÜ $286 Few hidden costs
10 Australia Pty Ltd $400 Needs a resident director
11 Hong Kong Limited $500 Few hidden costs
12 Switzerland GmbH $750 Needs a resident director
13 United Arab Emirates FZ-LLC / LLC $4,000 Few hidden costs

The five cheapest to form

By government fee, these five lead the pack — but read the catch column above before you decide.

  • Ireland — $55. Founders wanting a 12.5% trading-tax, English-speaking EU/euro base — best if you have an EEA-resident director to skip the bond.
  • New Zealand — $83. Founders who want the fastest, cheapest, simplest incorporation in the developed world — provided they can line up an NZ-resident (or qualifying Australian) director.
  • Netherlands — $95. Non-residents who want a credible, EU-respected holding/trading company with near-zero capital and a fully remote setup.
  • United States — $100. Founders who want Stripe, U.S. banking and the world's largest market — our home base, covered here in the most depth.
  • United Kingdom — $130. Founders who want a globally trusted brand and a same-day, fully remote setup with no local director.

Why the cheapest to form isn't the cheapest to run

A low filing fee is easy to advertise and easy to misread. Four costs routinely dwarf it:

  • A mandatory resident director. Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland legally require one. For a non-resident that usually means a nominee service at roughly $1,500–$5,000 every year — far more than any filing fee. Ireland needs an EEA-resident director or a ~€1,950/2-year bond.
  • A notary deed. The Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland require a civil-law notary to incorporate — typically $500–$2,000 on top of the registry fee.
  • Locked-up capital. Germany's GmbH needs about $12,500 paid in (or use a UG from €1); Switzerland's GmbH needs roughly $22,000 fully paid. That's not a fee, but it's cash you can't spend.
  • Mandatory audit. Hong Kong requires an annual audit by a local CPA for every limited company — a recurring professional cost most peers don't impose.

So which is genuinely cheap?

If you want low cost and no nasty surprises, the standouts are a UK Ltd (low fee, no resident director, no notary, no capital), an Estonian OÜ (0% tax on reinvested profit and no annual government fee, though it needs a paid local contact person), and a U.S. LLC (state-dependent, but Wyoming and New Mexico stay cheap year after year). Model the full numbers in the where-to-incorporate comparator or each country's cost page.

Compare the real, all-in cost

Filter and sort 13 jurisdictions by government fee, tax, capital and the resident-director catch.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the cheapest country to register a company in?

On the government fee alone, Ireland (about $55 via CORE), New Zealand (~$83) and the Netherlands' KVK fee (~$95) are among the lowest, with a U.S. LLC close behind (~$100, varies by state). But the cheapest filing fee is not the cheapest company to run — the Netherlands needs a notary, Ireland often needs a non-resident bond, and others require a paid resident director. Always compare the multi-year, all-in cost.

Is the cheapest country the best place to incorporate?

Almost never. The filing fee is a small part of the picture. A jurisdiction with a low fee but a mandatory resident director (nominee fees), a notary, locked-up capital, or a mandatory audit can cost far more over three years than one with a higher fee and none of those. Choose on the total cost and on fit with your customers and banking — not the sign-up price.

Which country is cheapest to run a company year after year?

Estonia stands out for ongoing cost if you reinvest profits: no government annual fee and 0% corporate tax on retained earnings (you only need a paid local contact person). New Zealand and the UK have low, predictable annual filings. Countries that force a resident director (Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland) carry that nominee cost every year, which usually dominates the total.

How much does it really cost to incorporate as a non-resident?

Budget for four things, not one: the government fee, any mandatory notary (Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland: $500–$2,000), locked-up paid-in capital (Germany ~$12,500, Switzerland ~$22,000), and an annual resident-director/nominee fee where required ($1,500–$5,000/yr). Each country page on Lanzamo breaks down the full line items.