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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
🇬🇪Georgiamoderate

$80 setup cost, 42 days, 15% corporate tax

7
🇷🇼Rwandamoderate

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

8
🇩🇰Denmarksafe

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

9
🇨🇱Chilemoderate

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

10
🇬🇷Greecemoderate

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

11
🇳🇿New Zealandsafe

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

12
🇰🇪Kenyacaution

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

13
🇮🇳Indiamoderate

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

14
🇷🇸Serbiamoderate

$185 setup cost, 32 days, 15% corporate tax

15
🇨🇴Colombiamoderate

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

16
🇱🇰Sri Lankacaution

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

17
🇰🇿Kazakhstanmoderate

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

18
🇨🇦Canadasafe

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

19
🇧🇭Bahrainmoderate

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

20
🇺🇸United Statessafe

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

21
🇦🇷Argentinacaution

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

22
🇧🇬Bulgariamoderate

$250 setup cost, 27 days, 10% corporate tax

23
🇲🇾Malaysiamoderate

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

24
🇷🇴Romaniamoderate

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

25
🇵🇱Polandmoderate

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

26
🇿🇦South Africacaution

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

27
🇰🇷South Koreasafe

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

28
🇫🇮Finlandsafe

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

29
🇸🇬Singaporesafe

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

30
🇳🇬Nigeriacaution

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

31
🇵🇪Perucaution

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

32
🇸🇪Swedensafe

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

33
🇲🇦Moroccocaution

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

34
🇹🇼Taiwansafe

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

35
🇦🇺Australiasafe

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

36
🇪🇪Estoniasafe

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

37
🇵🇹Portugalmoderate

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

38
🇬🇭Ghanacaution

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

39
🇧🇩Bangladeshcaution

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

40
🇰🇭Cambodiacaution

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

41
🇵🇭Philippinesmoderate

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

42
🇵🇦Panamamoderate

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

43
🇯🇴Jordanmoderate

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

44
🇧🇷Brazilmoderate

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

45
🇭🇺Hungarymoderate

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

46
🇪🇬Egyptcaution

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

47
🇨🇿Czech Republicsafe

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

48
🇺🇾Uruguaymoderate

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

49
🇮🇱Israelmoderate

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

50
🇮🇩Indonesiamoderate

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

51
🇪🇸Spainsafe

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

52
🇫🇷Francesafe

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

53
🇯🇵Japansafe

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

54
🇳🇴Norwaysafe

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

55
🇨🇷Costa Ricamoderate

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

56
🇮🇸Icelandsafe

$800 setup cost, 41 days, 20% corporate tax

57
🇹🇷Turkeycaution

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

58
🇲🇽Mexicomoderate

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

59
🇸🇦Saudi Arabiamoderate

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

60
🇲🇪Montenegromoderate

$1092 setup cost, 118 days, 12% corporate tax

61
🇩🇪Germanysafe

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

62
🇭🇰Hong Kongmoderate

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

63
🇶🇦Qatarsafe

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

64
🇳🇱Netherlandssafe

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

65
🇦🇹Austriasafe

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

66
🇨🇭Switzerlandsafe

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

67
🇧🇪Belgiumsafe

$2100 setup cost, 138 days, 25% corporate tax

68
🇲🇺Mauritiusmoderate

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

69
🇸🇻El Salvadorcaution

$2425 setup cost, 136 days, 30% corporate tax

70
🇮🇹Italymoderate

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

71
🇱🇺Luxembourgsafe

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

72
🇴🇲Omanmoderate

$3780 setup cost, 217 days, 15% corporate tax

73
🇨🇾Cyprusmoderate

$6080 setup cost, 275 days, 12.5% corporate tax

74
🇹🇭Thailandmoderate

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

75
🇦🇪UAEsafe

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

76
🇱🇹Lithuaniamoderate

$8330 setup cost, 298 days, 16% 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. 75 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.

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