Corporate & Business Law · European Union
Form Your Company the Right Way, From the Very First Step
The structure you choose on day one shapes your tax, your liability and how easily you can raise money or sell later. We match you, free of charge, with a vetted lawyer who forms companies in your target country every day and gets the set-up right the first time.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
- No fee to get matched
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Who this is for
Founding a business is exciting — but the legal set-up has to be right from day one
Company formation is the process of creating a legal entity through which you will trade — choosing the right structure, drafting the founding documents, and registering the company with the relevant authority. Whether you are a first-time founder, a freelancer moving to a limited company, or a foreign entrepreneur setting up in a new European market, the choices you make now determine your personal liability, your tax position, how you can raise investment and how easily you can bring in partners or sell the business later. Each country offers its own menu of legal forms — limited companies, partnerships and more — with different capital, reporting and governance requirements. A formation lawyer ensures the entity is set up correctly, with the right articles and shareholder arrangements, so you avoid unwinding costly mistakes once the business is running.
Why founders struggle
The wrong structure is cheap to create and
expensive to fix.
Choose the wrong legal form or skip a registration step, and you can face personal liability, tax problems and delays you cannot undo.
Choosing the wrong legal form
A sole trader, limited company or partnership each carry very different liability and tax consequences. Picking the wrong one at the start can cost you personally and is hard to change once the business is trading.
Incomplete or incorrect registration
Filing the founding documents, naming rules, capital requirements and trade-register entries varies by country — a missing step or a rejected name can stall your launch for weeks.
No founders’ agreement
Skipping a written agreement on shares, roles and exit leaves co-founders exposed. Most disputes between founders could have been avoided with clear terms set down at formation.
What you get
A company formation lawyer who sets you up correctly
We only match you with lawyers who form and register companies regularly in your target country, so your set-up is handled properly from the start.
Structure selection
Your lawyer explains which legal form best fits your activity, risk and growth plans, comparing liability, tax and administrative burden so you choose with confidence rather than guess.
Drafting & filing
Founding documents, articles of association, name approval and trade-register filings are prepared and submitted correctly, in the right language and format, so your company is registered without avoidable delays.
Founders’ & shareholders’ agreement
Roles, share ownership, decision-making and exit terms are set down clearly in writing at the outset, protecting you and your co-founders if circumstances change later.
Tax & compliance set-up
Your lawyer coordinates the initial registrations and obligations — tax numbers, VAT where required and any sector licences — so the company is compliant from its first day of trading.
Coverage
Company formation lawyers across Europe
Company law and registration procedures are set nationally, so the right lawyer is one who forms companies in your specific country. We match formation cases across the following countries and beyond:
Frequently asked
Company formation — common questions
What is the best legal structure for my business?
There is no single right answer — the best structure depends on your activity, the number of founders, your liability tolerance and your tax and funding goals. In most countries, a limited liability company is the common default, but a lawyer will compare the options for your specific situation before you commit.
How long does it take to form a company in Europe?
Timelines vary significantly by country and legal form, typically from a few days to several weeks depending on the registration authority, name approval and any capital or licensing requirements. A lawyer familiar with the local process can often move things along more quickly.
Do I need a local lawyer or can I form a company myself?
Some countries allow you to register online without a lawyer, but the choice of structure, articles and shareholder arrangements still carry legal and tax consequences that are easy to get wrong. In several countries a notary or lawyer is required for certain steps — a lawyer will confirm what your case actually needs.
What is the difference between a sole trader and a limited company?
A sole trader trades personally and is generally personally liable for business debts, while a limited company is a separate legal entity that limits liability to the company’s assets in most cases. The two also differ in tax treatment, reporting duties and how easily you can bring in investors or sell.
Do I need a founders’ agreement if I start alone?
If you have co-founders, a founders’ or shareholders’ agreement is strongly advisable to define roles, ownership and exit terms. Even as a sole founder, structuring share rights correctly from the start matters if you later plan to raise investment or bring in partners.
Can a non-EU national form a company in Europe?
In most European countries, non-EU nationals can form and own a company, though residence, visa and director requirements vary by country. A formation lawyer will clarify the exact requirements and coordinate the necessary registrations for your situation.
Free case review
Start your company on the right legal footing
Tell us what you plan to build and where, and we’ll connect you with a formation lawyer who sets up companies in that country every day — free of charge, with no obligation to hire.