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Complete guide: entity types, registration, costs, taxes, labor laws, and break-even analysis
~56 days
Setup Time
~$800
Setup Cost
30%
Corporate Tax
100%
Foreign Ownership
#74
Ease of Business
| Entity | Min Capital | Foreign % | Liability | Min Shareholders | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Limited Liability Company Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (SRL) | None | 100% | Limited | 2 | Small to medium businesses - simpler structure with limited liability and fewer formalities than SA |
Corporation Sociedad Anonima (SA) | None | 100% | Limited | 2 | Most popular entity for foreign investors - flexible share structure with bearer shares converted to registered |
Branch of Foreign Company Sucursal | None | 100% | Unlimited | 0 | Foreign companies wanting direct operations in Costa Rica without creating a separate local entity |
Draft articles of incorporation
Prepare the escritura de constitucion (deed of incorporation) before a Costa Rican notary public
2-5 days
~$500
Notary Public
Register with the National Registry
File the incorporation deed with the Registro Nacional (National Registry) for legal personality
5-15 days
~$200
Registro Nacional
Obtain legal entity ID (cedula juridica)
Receive the company's legal identification number from the National Registry upon successful registration
1-3 days
Free
Registro Nacional
Register with tax authority (DGT)
Register with the Direccion General de Tributacion for income tax and VAT obligations
1-3 days
Free
DGT (Direccion General de Tributacion)
Register with CCSS for social security
Enroll the company with Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social for employer and employee contributions
2-5 days
Free
CCSS (Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social)
Obtain municipal business license (patente)
Apply for the commercial operating permit from the local municipality where the business operates
5-15 days
~$100
Local Municipality
Open corporate bank account
Open a business account at a Costa Rican bank with incorporation documents and cedula juridica
3-10 days
Free
Commercial Bank
$550/mo
Minimum Wage
$1200/mo
Average Wage
48 hrs/week
Work Hours
14 days/year
Paid Leave
3 weeks/year
Severance
26.5% of salary
Employer Social Security
10.5% of salary
Employee Social Security
Required
Foreign Worker Permit
Foreign Worker Quota: No formal quota but employers must demonstrate that foreign workers fill positions where qualified Costa Ricans are unavailable. DGME processes work permits.
Work Permit Process: Employer sponsors through DGME (General Directorate of Migration). Requires labor market test showing no qualified local candidate. Work permit tied to employer and position.
#74/190
Ease of Business Rank
23 days
Starting a Business
22 days
Registering Property
852 days
Enforcing Contracts
54/100
Corruption Perception
81%
Internet Penetration
CRC
Currency
UTC-6
Time Zone
13
Retail (months)
11
F&B (months)
10
Tech (months)
15
Manufacturing (months)
9
Services (months)