Interactive formation tool
Where to Incorporate: Country Comparison
The US isn't the only place to start a company. Compare 13 startup-friendly developed jurisdictions on what actually matters to a founder forming from abroad — the real government fee, the corporate-tax picture, minimum capital, whether you need a resident director, and how fast you can set up. Filter to the ones you can run 100% remotely with no local director.
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13 of 13 jurisdictions
| Jurisdiction | Gov. fee | Corp. tax | Min. capital | Resident director? | Setup time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Founders who want Stripe, U.S. banking and the world's largest market — our home base, covered here in the most depth. | $100 | 0% pass-through | ≈ none | Not required | 1–10 business days (varies by state; expedite available) |
| Founders who want a globally trusted brand and a same-day, fully remote setup with no local director. | $130 | 25% | ≈ none | Not required | 24 hours online (often same business day) |
| Digital/remote founders who reinvest profits and want a 0%-until-distribution tax model with fully online e-Residency setup. | $286 | 0% retained / 22% | ≈ none | Not required | 1–5 business days online (often same day) |
| Founders who want a globally credible, treaty-rich Asian HQ and tax-light early profits — and don't mind paying for a nominee director. | $245 | 17% | ≈ none | Required | 1–2 days |
| Non-residents wanting a sole-director-friendly, zero-VAT gateway to China/Asia with potential offshore-profit exemption — if they can handle mandatory audits. | $500 | 8.25–16.5% | ≈ none | Not required | 1–7 days |
| 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. | $4,000 | 9% | ≈ none | Not required | 3–10 days |
| 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. | $400 | 25% | ≈ none | Required | 1–2 business days |
| 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. | $150 | 15% | ≈ none | Not required | 1–2 business days |
| 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. | $200 | ~30% combined | $27,500 | Not required | 2–4 weeks (3–6 weeks end-to-end for a non-resident) |
| 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. | $55 | 12.5% | ≈ none | Required | 5–10 working days online (CORE) |
| Netherlands BV Non-residents who want a credible, EU-respected holding/trading company with near-zero capital and a fully remote setup. | $95 | 25.8% | ≈ none | Not required | 3–5 business days (1–2 weeks end-to-end with KYC and VAT number) |
| 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. | $83 | 28% | ≈ none | Required | Often same-day to 1 business day |
| 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. | $750 | ~11.8–21% (canton) | $25,000 | Required | 2–4 weeks once capital is deposited and the deed is signed |
Workflow
How to use it
- 1 Filter by region, or tick “no resident director needed” and “fully remote setup” to see only the jurisdictions a non-resident can run alone.
- 2 Sort by government fee, corporate tax, minimum capital, or setup speed to match your priority.
- 3 Open any country for the full breakdown — registry, taxes, banking difficulty, pros and cons, and official sources.
- 4 Compare it against forming a U.S. LLC, then choose with eyes open.
Why this matters
“Just open a Delaware LLC” is common advice — but it isn't always right. 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; if you're building toward Asia, Singapore and Hong Kong are credible bases; the UAE offers no personal income tax. The catches are rarely the headline fee — they're the hidden ones: Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland all force a resident director; Ireland needs an EEA director or a bond; Germany and Switzerland lock up real capital. This tool puts the honest trade-offs side by side so you compare the multi-year reality, not the sign-up price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best country to incorporate a company in as a non-resident?
There's no single best — it depends on where your customers, bank and tax home are. For a fully remote, no-local-director setup, the United States (LLC), United Kingdom (Ltd), and Estonia (OÜ) are the standouts. Estonia charges 0% corporate tax on reinvested profit; the UK forms in ~24 hours; a US LLC unlocks Stripe and US banking. Singapore and Hong Kong are strong Asian bases but Singapore needs a resident director. Filter and sort the table by what matters to you.
Which countries let a non-resident be the sole director?
The United States, United Kingdom, Estonia, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, Germany, the UAE, and Canada (if you incorporate in British Columbia or Ontario) do not require a resident director. Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland do require one — you'd appoint a paid nominee/resident-director service. Ireland needs at least one EEA-resident director or a Section 137 bond. Tick “no resident director needed” to filter.
Where is corporate tax lowest for a small company?
Estonia is 0% on profits you reinvest (22% only when you distribute). Hong Kong taxes the first HK$2M at 8.25% and only Hong-Kong-sourced profits. Ireland is 12.5% on trading income. The UAE is 0% up to AED 375k then 9% (0% on qualifying free-zone income, conditionally). A US LLC is pass-through — no entity-level federal tax by default. Headline rates hide nuance, so read each country's tax note.
Is it cheaper to incorporate abroad than in the US?
Government fees abroad are often similar or lower than US state fees (the UK is ~£100, Ireland ~€50, New Zealand ~NZ$137), but the real cost is rarely the filing fee. Countries that need a resident director (Singapore ~S$2,000–5,000/yr), a notary (Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland: €500–2,000), or paid-up capital (Germany €12,500, Switzerland CHF 20,000) cost much more all-in. The table shows the government fee; each country page covers the hidden costs.
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