Corporate & Business Law · European Union
Complete Your Company Incorporation Without the Costly Mistakes
Incorporation turns your business idea into a recognised legal entity — but the final steps are full of formalities that vary by country. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted lawyer who handles incorporation in your target country daily and files everything correctly.
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Who this is for
Incorporation is the legal moment your company comes into existence
Incorporation is the specific legal act by which a company becomes a recognised legal entity, distinct from its owners — the step where the founding documents are executed, the initial capital is deposited where required, and the company is entered into the trade or companies register. It is the formal endpoint of a formation process, and it is where many founders hit the most technical requirements: notarised deeds, minimum capital, reserved names, registered office and, in some countries, mandatory publication of the new entity. Getting incorporation right matters because, until it is complete, the business has no separate legal personality and its founders may remain personally exposed. An incorporation lawyer manages the formalities in the correct sequence, liaises with notaries and registrars, and confirms the exact moment the company is validly incorporated and able to trade.
Why incorporation gets delayed
Incorporation is a sequence of formalities,
and any missed step stalls the whole process.
Notarisation, capital, registration and publication all have to happen in the right order — and the rules vary from country to country.
Getting the formalities wrong
Incorporation often requires notarised deeds, minimum capital deposits and specific filings. One document in the wrong form or order can send the process back to the start and delay your launch.
Name and object clause rejections
Company names are checked against national rules and existing registrations, and the stated objects must match local wording. Rejections on these points are common and entirely avoidable with local advice.
Trading before incorporation
Founders who sign contracts or accept payments before the company is incorporated can be personally liable. The timing of when you may legally act on the company’s behalf varies and is easily misjudged.
What you get
An incorporation lawyer who handles the final formalities
We only match you with lawyers who complete incorporations in your target country regularly, so the process is done correctly and in the right order.
Correct documentation
Deeds, articles, capital declarations and name reservations are drafted in the precise local form and language, then executed and notarised where required, so nothing is rejected for a technicality.
Notary & registry liaison
Your lawyer coordinates with notaries and the companies register, tracks the application and resolves any queries, sparing you from chasing government offices and re-filing documents.
Liability protection
By ensuring incorporation is completed before you trade, your lawyer protects you from the personal liability that can arise when founders act before the entity exists.
Post-incorporation set-up
Share certificates, registers, bank account opening and initial filings are completed promptly after registration, so the new company is fully operational and compliant from day one.
Coverage
Company incorporation lawyers across Europe
Incorporation formalities are set by national company law, so the right lawyer is one who completes incorporations in your specific country. We match cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Company incorporation — common questions
What is the difference between company formation and incorporation?
Formation is the broader process of choosing a structure and preparing the business, while incorporation is the specific legal act that creates the entity — executing the founding documents and registering the company so it gains separate legal personality. The two terms are often used interchangeably, but incorporation is the formal endpoint.
Is a notary required to incorporate a company in Europe?
It depends on the country and the legal form. In several European countries certain company types require notarised deeds or notarial involvement in incorporation, while in others registration is handled directly online. A lawyer will confirm what your specific case requires.
What minimum capital is needed to incorporate?
Minimum share capital requirements vary widely by country and legal form — some are nominal and payable later, while others require a meaningful deposit before registration. Your lawyer will confirm the exact figure and how and when it must be paid.
Can I trade before my company is incorporated?
In most countries you should not, because contracts signed before incorporation can leave founders personally liable. There are limited mechanisms for pre-incorporation activity in some jurisdictions, but the safest course is to complete incorporation first — your lawyer will advise on the correct timing.
How do I know when my company is officially incorporated?
The company is generally incorporated once it is entered in the relevant companies or trade register and, where required, the incorporation has been published. Your lawyer will confirm the exact date your entity became valid and when you may begin trading.
What documents do I receive after incorporation?
Typically a certificate of incorporation, the articles or deed of incorporation, and company registration numbers, followed by share certificates and statutory registers. Your lawyer will assemble the complete set and advise you on the initial filings and registrations that follow.
Free case review
Get your company incorporated correctly the first time
Tell us what you’re incorporating and where, and we’ll connect you with an incorporation lawyer who handles the formalities in that country daily — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.