NationsData
All Rankings

Cheapest Countries to Start a Business in 2026

How much does it cost to start a business around the world? We compared registration costs, setup timelines, corporate tax rates, and foreign ownership rules across 18+ countries with detailed business guides.

1
🇬🇧United Kingdomsafe

$15 setup cost, 35 days, 25% corporate tax

2
🇻🇳Vietnammoderate

$25 setup cost, 79 days, 20% corporate tax

3
🇵🇰Pakistancaution

$32 setup cost, 38 days, 29% corporate tax

4
🇨🇳Chinamoderate

$50 setup cost, 94 days, 25% corporate tax

5
🇮🇪Irelandsafe

$80 setup cost, 54 days, 12.5% corporate tax

6
🇷🇼Rwandamoderate

$90 setup cost, 24 days, 30% corporate tax

7
🇩🇰Denmarksafe

$90 setup cost, 28 days, 22% corporate tax

8
🇨🇱Chilemoderate

$100 setup cost, 36 days, 27% corporate tax

9
🇬🇷Greecemoderate

$100 setup cost, 31 days, 22% corporate tax

10
🇳🇿New Zealandsafe

$107 setup cost, 18 days, 28% corporate tax

11
🇰🇪Kenyacaution

$128 setup cost, 35 days, 30% corporate tax

12
🇮🇳Indiamoderate

$140 setup cost, 42 days, 25.17% corporate tax

13
🇨🇴Colombiamoderate

$190 setup cost, 57 days, 35% corporate tax

14
🇱🇰Sri Lankacaution

$195 setup cost, 50 days, 30% corporate tax

15
🇰🇿Kazakhstanmoderate

$200 setup cost, 20 days, 20% corporate tax

16
🇨🇦Canadasafe

$215 setup cost, 30 days, 15% corporate tax

17
🇧🇭Bahrainmoderate

$225 setup cost, 23 days, 0% corporate tax

18
🇺🇸United Statessafe

$250 setup cost, 49 days, 21% corporate tax

19
🇦🇷Argentinacaution

$250 setup cost, 77 days, 25% corporate tax

20
🇲🇾Malaysiamoderate

$252 setup cost, 19 days, 24% corporate tax

21
🇷🇴Romaniamoderate

$260 setup cost, 22 days, 16% corporate tax

22
🇵🇱Polandmoderate

$275 setup cost, 45 days, 19% corporate tax

23
🇿🇦South Africacaution

$281 setup cost, 72 days, 27% corporate tax

24
🇰🇷South Koreasafe

$300 setup cost, 25 days, 24% corporate tax

25
🇫🇮Finlandsafe

$300 setup cost, 35 days, 20% corporate tax

26
🇸🇬Singaporesafe

$306 setup cost, 72 days, 17% corporate tax

27
🇳🇬Nigeriacaution

$315 setup cost, 49 days, 30% corporate tax

28
🇵🇪Perucaution

$315 setup cost, 40 days, 29.5% corporate tax

29
🇸🇪Swedensafe

$330 setup cost, 67 days, 20.6% corporate tax

30
🇲🇦Moroccocaution

$340 setup cost, 32 days, 20% corporate tax

31
🇹🇼Taiwansafe

$355 setup cost, 47 days, 20% corporate tax

32
🇦🇺Australiasafe

$375 setup cost, 18 days, 25% corporate tax

33
🇪🇪Estoniasafe

$385 setup cost, 42 days, 20% corporate tax

34
🇵🇹Portugalmoderate

$430 setup cost, 42 days, 21% corporate tax

35
🇬🇭Ghanacaution

$435 setup cost, 40 days, 25% corporate tax

36
🇧🇩Bangladeshcaution

$455 setup cost, 67 days, 27.5% corporate tax

37
🇰🇭Cambodiacaution

$460 setup cost, 73 days, 20% corporate tax

38
🇵🇭Philippinesmoderate

$540 setup cost, 64 days, 25% corporate tax

39
🇵🇦Panamamoderate

$565 setup cost, 38 days, 25% corporate tax

40
🇯🇴Jordanmoderate

$565 setup cost, 37 days, 20% corporate tax

41
🇧🇷Brazilmoderate

$600 setup cost, 115 days, 34% corporate tax

42
🇭🇺Hungarymoderate

$600 setup cost, 21 days, 9% corporate tax

43
🇪🇬Egyptcaution

$615 setup cost, 39 days, 22.5% corporate tax

44
🇨🇿Czech Republicsafe

$630 setup cost, 47 days, 21% corporate tax

45
🇺🇾Uruguaymoderate

$650 setup cost, 39 days, 25% corporate tax

46
🇮🇱Israelmoderate

$660 setup cost, 71 days, 23% corporate tax

47
🇮🇩Indonesiamoderate

$700 setup cost, 101 days, 22% corporate tax

48
🇪🇸Spainsafe

$727 setup cost, 55 days, 25% corporate tax

49
🇫🇷Francesafe

$770 setup cost, 41 days, 25% corporate tax

50
🇯🇵Japansafe

$800 setup cost, 35 days, 23.2% corporate tax

51
🇳🇴Norwaysafe

$800 setup cost, 33 days, 22% corporate tax

52
🇨🇷Costa Ricamoderate

$800 setup cost, 56 days, 30% corporate tax

53
🇹🇷Turkeycaution

$850 setup cost, 21 days, 25% corporate tax

54
🇲🇽Mexicomoderate

$1000 setup cost, 89 days, 30% corporate tax

55
🇸🇦Saudi Arabiamoderate

$1015 setup cost, 30 days, 20% corporate tax

56
🇩🇪Germanysafe

$1125 setup cost, 87 days, 30% corporate tax

57
🇭🇰Hong Kongmoderate

$1190 setup cost, 40 days, 16.5% corporate tax

58
🇶🇦Qatarsafe

$1255 setup cost, 34 days, 10% corporate tax

59
🇳🇱Netherlandssafe

$1555 setup cost, 46 days, 25.8% corporate tax

60
🇦🇹Austriasafe

$1950 setup cost, 56 days, 23% corporate tax

61
🇨🇭Switzerlandsafe

$2100 setup cost, 54 days, 14.6% corporate tax

62
🇲🇺Mauritiusmoderate

$2110 setup cost, 43 days, 15% corporate tax

63
🇮🇹Italymoderate

$2700 setup cost, 49 days, 24% corporate tax

64
🇱🇺Luxembourgsafe

$2750 setup cost, 51 days, 24.94% corporate tax

65
🇹🇭Thailandmoderate

$6185 setup cost, 206 days, 20% corporate tax

66
🇦🇪UAEsafe

$6580 setup cost, 51 days, 9% corporate tax

Methodology

Countries ranked by total business registration cost in USD. Data includes government fees, registration charges, and mandatory legal costs. Does not include office rent or operational costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest country to start a business?

United Kingdom has the lowest business setup cost at approximately $15. The process takes about 35 days with a corporate tax rate of 25%.

Can foreigners start a business in these countries?

Foreign ownership rules vary. 65 of the listed countries allow 100% foreign ownership. Others may require local partners or have sector-specific restrictions.

What costs are involved in starting a business abroad?

Typical costs include company registration fees, legal documentation, notarization, capital deposits, work permits, and office rental. Our guides break down each cost for every country.

Want deeper analysis?

Get full investment scores, business setup guides, and AI-powered advisory for any country.

HomeCountriesInvestQuiz