How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Limited Company in Ireland?
The cost to set up a limited company in Ireland depends on whether you register the company yourself or use a company formation agent, and whether you need additional services such as a registered office address, company secretary or Section 137 bond.
The Companies Registration Office (CRO) currently charges €50 to electronically register a new company using Form A1.
However, the CRO filing fee is only one part of the overall cost of establishing a company.
If you use a company formation agent to find out how to set up a company in ireland, your costs will normally include preparation of the incorporation documents, the company constitution, CRO submission and the documents required once the company has been incorporated.
At Irish Formations, our company formation packages currently start from €219 + VAT, while our Premium Company Formation Package costs €495 + VAT.
For overseas directors, additional costs can arise if the company requires an Irish registered office address, nominee company secretary or a Section 137 non-resident directors bond.
This guide explains the main costs involved so that you can calculate what it is likely to cost to establish your Irish limited company.
How Much Does It Cost to Register a Company in Ireland?
There is no single figure that applies to every company.
A straightforward Irish limited company with directors resident in Ireland or elsewhere in the European Economic Area (EEA) will generally cost considerably less to establish than a company where all the directors live outside the EEA.
Here is an overview of some of the main costs:
| Item | Current Cost |
|---|---|
| CRO electronic Form A1 filing fee | €50 |
| Irish Formations company formation packages | From €219 + VAT |
| Premium Company Formation Package | €495 + VAT |
| Registered Office Address | €270 + VAT annually or €45 + VAT monthly |
| Nominee Company Secretary | €260 + VAT annually |
| Section 137 Non-Resident Directors Bond | €1,950 |
| VIF/IPN service, where required | €75 |
| PPS number application service, where required | €190 |
| First Annual Return service | €155 |
Not every company will require all of these services.
For example, an Irish resident starting a company from an existing business premises may already have a suitable registered office address. If there are two directors, one of those directors may also be able to act as company secretary.
A non-resident entrepreneur establishing an Irish company remotely may require several additional services.
The best way to calculate the cost to set up a limited company in Ireland is therefore to look at the individual requirements of the proposed company.
What Is the CRO Fee to Register an Irish Company?
The Companies Registration Office currently charges €50 for the electronic filing of Form A1 to incorporate a new company.
This is the government filing fee.
It is important to distinguish between the CRO fee and the cost of using a professional company formation service.
The €50 CRO fee does not mean that €50 covers all the work involved in properly establishing and documenting your company.
Before the company can be incorporated, you need to decide matters including:
- The company name
- Company type
- Directors
- Company secretary
- Shareholders
- Share structure
- Registered office address
- Business activity
- Beneficial ownership
- Director identification requirements
The company will also require a Constitution and the appropriate incorporation documentation.
You can read our complete guide on how to register a company in Ireland for a step-by-step explanation of the incorporation process.
Company Formation Agent Costs in Ireland
Many people choose to use a company formation agent rather than preparing and submitting the incorporation themselves.
Irish Formations specialises in establishing Irish companies for both Irish and international clients.
Our company formation packages currently start from €219 + VAT.
Our Basic Company Formation Package includes items such as:
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Company Constitution
- Share certificates
- Schedule of company officers
- Preparation of VIF documentation for foreign directors where required
- CRO fees
- Digital company documents
- Secure online document storage
- Post-formation support
Using a formation agent can also help identify problems before an application is submitted to the CRO.
For example, issues with the proposed company name, directors, company secretary, registered office, share structure or identification requirements can delay an incorporation if they are not addressed correctly.
For a broader explanation of the entire process, see our guide to business registration in Ireland.
Basic vs Premium Company Formation
The cheapest formation package will not necessarily be the best package for every company.
A simple company that only requires incorporation may need very little beyond the Basic Package.
Other businesses may want tax registration and additional post-incorporation services completed as part of the formation process.
Irish Formations’ Premium Company Formation Package is currently €495 + VAT and includes additional services beyond the basic incorporation.
The Premium Package includes the company formation documents as well as services such as tax registration.
Choosing the correct package at the beginning can avoid having to order individual services separately after incorporation.
If you are unsure which option applies to you, contact Irish Formations before placing an order and we can identify which services you actually require.
Does an Irish Company Need a Registered Office Address?
Yes.
Every Irish company must have a registered office address in Ireland.
The registered office is the company’s official statutory address and is recorded with the Companies Registration Office.
It must be a physical address in the State and cannot simply be a PO Box.
If you already have an appropriate address in Ireland, there may be no additional cost.
However, many startups, home-based businesses and overseas directors prefer to use a professional registered office address.
Irish Formations currently provides a Registered Office Address for €270 + VAT per year or €45 + VAT per month.
Our service includes mail scanning so that statutory correspondence received for the company can be sent to you electronically.
Read our complete guide to choosing and using a registered office address in Ireland if you need more information.
How Much Does a Company Secretary Cost in Ireland?
Every Irish company must have a company secretary.
If an LTD has two or more directors, one of the directors can also act as company secretary.
However, a single-director LTD must have a separate company secretary.
This is particularly relevant to entrepreneurs who want to own and manage their company themselves.
If you do not have another suitable person or entity to appoint, Irish Formations can provide a Nominee Company Secretary service.
Our Nominee Company Secretary service currently costs €260 + VAT per year.
The service is provided on a nominee basis and is particularly useful for single-director companies.
You can read more in our guide explaining when you may need a nominee company secretary in Ireland.
Does a Non-Resident Director Cost More?
It can.
You do not have to live in Ireland to own shares in an Irish company, and Irish companies can have foreign directors.
However, the residence of the directors can affect the overall company formation cost.
One of the most important questions is whether the company has at least one director who is resident in the European Economic Area.
Where there is no EEA-resident director, the company may need to obtain a Section 137 bond, unless another statutory exemption applies.
This is one of the main reasons the cost of establishing an Irish company can be higher for some overseas founders.
How Much Does a Section 137 Bond Cost?
Irish Formations currently provides the Section 137 Non-Resident Directors Bond for €1,950.
This is an insurance bond rather than a refundable deposit.
The requirement generally arises where an Irish company does not have a director resident in an EEA state and has not obtained an alternative exemption.
For example, following Brexit, a director who is resident only in the United Kingdom is no longer an EEA-resident director for this purpose.
If your proposed company will have directors outside the EEA, it is important to establish whether a bond will be required before submitting the incorporation.
The bond can therefore represent the largest additional expense when calculating the cost to set up a limited company in Ireland as a non-resident.
What Are the Identification Costs for Foreign Directors?
Directors of Irish companies must satisfy CRO identity requirements.
Where a director does not have an Irish PPS number, additional identity verification procedures may be required.
This can involve a Verified Identity Form (VIF) and the allocation of an Identified Person Number (IPN).
Irish Formations currently charges €75 for our VIF/IPN service, where required.
The precise requirements will depend on the individual director.
We recommend establishing the identification position early in the formation process, particularly where several foreign directors are being appointed.
Do I Need an Irish PPS Number?
Not necessarily.
Foreign directors who do not have an Irish PPS number can use the CRO’s identity verification procedure to obtain an Identified Person Number for company filing purposes.
However, a PPS number may be required in other circumstances, particularly in connection with Irish tax matters.
Irish Formations currently provides a PPS Number Application service for €190, where required.
Whether you need this service will depend on your circumstances and the registrations being undertaken.
What Does Tax Registration Cost?
After incorporation, a company may need to register with Revenue for one or more Irish taxes.
These can include:
- Corporation Tax
- Value Added Tax (VAT)
- Employer PAYE
- Relevant Contracts Tax (RCT)
Revenue requires a company to have its CRO number before the company can be registered for tax.
If the company has a tax agent, the agent can submit the appropriate registration through the Revenue Online Service (ROS). Companies without an agent may need to use the appropriate TR2 registration process.
VAT registration is not automatically required simply because you establish an Irish company.
Eligibility and the requirement to register will depend on matters such as the company’s activities, turnover, customers and establishment in Ireland.
This is particularly important for non-resident companies, where Revenue may seek evidence supporting the company’s Irish activities.
What Is the Cost of the First Annual Return?
Incorporation is not the end of a company’s CRO obligations.
Irish companies have ongoing filing and compliance requirements.
The CRO currently charges €20 for an online annual return filing.
A newly incorporated company also has an initial annual return obligation.
Irish Formations currently offers a First Annual Return service for €155.
It is important to keep track of your company’s Annual Return Date and ensure filings are made on time.
Late annual returns can result in CRO late filing fees and can also have more serious consequences for the company’s audit exemption.
For more information, read our guide explaining what an annual return is.
Are There Other Costs After Setting Up a Company?
Yes.
When calculating the cost of starting a limited company, it is useful to distinguish between incorporation costs and ongoing business costs.
Depending on your company, ongoing expenses could include:
- Accounting and bookkeeping
- Annual financial statements
- Corporation Tax returns
- VAT returns
- Payroll
- Annual CRO filings
- Registered office renewal
- Company secretary services
- Insurance
- Business banking
- Professional advice
- Virtual office or telephone services
Some of these are optional, while others depend on the company’s activities and circumstances.
Your accountant should advise you on the company’s accounting and tax obligations after incorporation.
Example: Cost for an Irish-Resident Founder
Consider someone living in Ireland who wants to establish a straightforward LTD.
They already have a suitable Irish registered office address and will appoint two directors, with one director also acting as secretary.
They may therefore only require a company formation package.
The cost could start from:
Company formation: €219 + VAT
They would not necessarily require:
- A registered office service
- A nominee company secretary
- A Section 137 bond
This demonstrates why a straightforward Irish-resident company can be relatively inexpensive to establish.
Example: Cost for a Single Director
Now consider an entrepreneur establishing an Irish LTD with only one director.
An LTD can have one director, but the same individual cannot also be the company secretary where the company has only one director.
If the entrepreneur does not have another person or company to appoint as secretary, they could use our Nominee Company Secretary service.
Using the Basic Package as an example:
Company formation: from €219 + VAT
Nominee Company Secretary: €260 + VAT per year
Additional services would only be required where relevant.
Example: Cost for a Non-Resident Director Outside the EEA
A founder living outside the EEA may have additional requirements.
Suppose the company has:
- One non-EEA-resident director
- No EEA-resident director
- No Irish office
- No separate company secretary
The company could potentially require:
Company formation package: from €219 + VAT
Registered Office Address: €270 + VAT annually
Nominee Company Secretary: €260 + VAT annually
Section 137 Bond: €1,950
Additional identification or tax-related services may also be required.
This is why it is important for overseas founders to obtain a complete quotation rather than comparing company formation providers purely on the headline incorporation price.
Can a Non-Resident Set Up a Company in Ireland?
Yes.
Irish company law does not require all directors or shareholders to live in Ireland.
International entrepreneurs regularly establish Irish companies.
However, non-residents need to consider several additional matters, including:
- EEA director residency
- Section 137 bond requirements
- Registered office address
- Company secretary
- Director identification
- Irish tax registration
- VAT eligibility
- Banking
- Beneficial ownership registration
If you are establishing your company from abroad, our non-resident company formation in Ireland information explains the process in more detail.
Can I Register an Irish Company Myself?
Yes. You are not required to use a company formation agent.
It is possible to prepare the company documentation and submit an incorporation directly through the CRO.
The CRO electronic incorporation fee is currently €50.
However, the filing itself is only part of the process.
You are responsible for ensuring the company’s structure, Constitution, directors, secretary, shareholders, registered office and share capital are correctly established.
You must also deal with the company’s obligations after incorporation.
Using a formation agent is therefore not simply about paying someone to submit Form A1. It is about ensuring that the company is established with the correct structure and that the necessary company documentation is prepared.
If you want to understand the complete procedure before deciding, read our step-by-step guide to setting up a company in Ireland.
What Is Included in the Cost of Setting Up a Company with Irish Formations?
The precise services depend on the package selected.
Our formation services can include:
- Company name checking
- Preparation of incorporation documents
- Company Constitution
- CRO filing
- CRO registration fee
- Certificate of Incorporation
- Share certificates
- Schedule of company officers
- Director identification documentation where applicable
- Digital company documents
- Secure document storage
- Post-incorporation support
Our Premium packages include additional services.
Optional services such as a Registered Office Address, Nominee Company Secretary and Section 137 Bond can also be added where required.
This allows the formation to be tailored to the circumstances of the directors and shareholders.
How Long Does It Take to Set Up a Limited Company in Ireland?
Once we have received all the required information and signed documentation, an Irish company will typically take approximately 3–5 working days to incorporate, although CRO processing times can vary.
Applications can take longer where information is missing, documents have not been correctly completed or the proposed company name is rejected.
Non-resident formations can also require additional preparation because of director identification and residency requirements.
You can reduce the likelihood of delays by having your director, shareholder, secretary, registered office and share information ready before beginning the application.
What Is the Cheapest Way to Set Up a Limited Company in Ireland?
The lowest direct registration cost is to prepare and file the company yourself and pay the CRO’s electronic filing fee.
However, the cheapest filing method is not necessarily the lowest overall cost if mistakes need to be corrected afterwards.
Before choosing purely on price, consider what is actually included.
A low headline formation price may not include:
- Company Constitution preparation
- CRO filing fee
- Share certificates
- Company register
- Registered office
- Company secretary
- Tax registration
- RBO registration
- First Annual Return
- Foreign director identification
- Post-incorporation support
When comparing company formation costs in Ireland, compare like with like.
How Much Should I Budget to Start an Irish Company?
For a straightforward Irish company, it is reasonable to start by budgeting for the company formation package itself and then identify whether any additional statutory services are required.
Ask these questions:
- Do I have a suitable registered office address in Ireland?
- Will the company have one director or more than one?
- Who will act as company secretary?
- Is at least one director resident in the EEA?
- Do all directors have PPS numbers or the appropriate CRO identification?
- Does the company require tax registration?
- Will VAT registration be required?
- Do I require help with the Register of Beneficial Ownership?
- Who will look after the company’s accounting and annual compliance?
Once these questions are answered, the actual cost becomes much easier to calculate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to set up a limited company in Ireland?
The CRO electronic registration fee for a new company is currently €50. If you use a formation agent, the overall cost will be higher because the service can include preparation of the Constitution, incorporation documents, CRO submission and post-incorporation documentation. Irish Formations packages currently start from €219 + VAT.
What is the CRO fee for setting up a company in Ireland?
The CRO currently charges €50 for the electronic filing of Form A1 to register a new company.
Is €50 the total cost of setting up an Irish company?
No. €50 is the CRO electronic filing fee. Other costs can include professional company formation, a registered office, company secretary, director identification, tax registration and a Section 137 bond where applicable.
How much does a registered office cost in Ireland?
Irish Formations currently provides its Registered Office Address service for €270 + VAT annually or €45 + VAT per month.
How much does a company secretary cost in Ireland?
Irish Formations currently charges €260 + VAT per year for its Nominee Company Secretary service.
Does a single-director company need a company secretary?
Yes. An Irish LTD can have one director, but if there is only one director, that individual cannot also act as company secretary. A separate secretary must be appointed.
How much is a Section 137 bond in Ireland?
Irish Formations currently provides the Section 137 Non-Resident Directors Bond for €1,950. It may be required where the company has no EEA-resident director and does not qualify for another exemption.
Can a UK resident set up an Irish company?
Yes. However, since the United Kingdom is no longer part of the EEA, a company with only UK-resident directors may need a Section 137 bond unless another exemption applies.
Can a US resident set up a company in Ireland?
Yes. US residents can be directors and shareholders of Irish companies. If the company has no EEA-resident director, a Section 137 bond or another statutory exemption may be required.
Do I need an Irish address to set up a company?
The company must have a registered office address in Ireland. The directors and shareholders themselves do not necessarily need to live at an Irish address.
Do I need to register for VAT when I set up an Irish company?
Not automatically. VAT registration depends on the activities and circumstances of the company. Revenue may require supporting information, particularly for companies with non-resident directors or businesses without substantial activity in Ireland.
How long does it take to set up a limited company in Ireland?
Irish Formations generally expects incorporation to take approximately 3–5 working days once the required information and signed documents have been received, although CRO processing times can vary.
Start Your Irish Company
The cost to set up a limited company in Ireland can range from a relatively straightforward formation fee to a larger overall cost where registered office, company secretary and non-resident director services are required.
The important thing is to establish exactly what your company needs before you order.
Irish Formations has been helping Irish and international entrepreneurs establish companies in Ireland since 2009.
Our team can review your proposed company structure and identify the formation package and additional services you require.
If you are ready to proceed, you can register a company in Ireland with Irish Formations, or contact our team if you would like us to review your requirements first.
