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For Irish-resident founders

Starting a company in Ireland as an Irish resident

If you already live here, you've got a head start. The fiddly parts of setting up a company, like foreign directors and bonds, mostly don't apply to you. What's left is a few sensible decisions and some paperwork. We'll help you with the decisions and take the paperwork off your plate.

Talk to our team Check a company name

What living here saves you

Your home can be the registered officeNo need to rent an address just to register.
Your PPS number is your director IDOnly people without one need an Identified Person Number.
No director bond to arrangeThe EEA-resident director rule is already met.
Your road map

Four moves from idea to registered company

That's the whole journey. Most people finish the first two in a single afternoon.

MOVE 1

Pick your structure

Sole trader or limited company? Most growing businesses choose a private company limited by shares (LTD).

Try the helper
MOVE 2

Check the name

The CRO turns away names that are too close to existing ones, so test yours before you commit to a logo.

Name tips
MOVE 3

Register with the CRO

We prepare your constitution and forms, you check and sign, and we file everything.

Register online
MOVE 4

Sort your tax

Register with Revenue for the taxes that apply to you, such as corporation tax, VAT and payroll.

VAT registration
Sole trader or limited company?

Not sure which one suits you?

Answer three quick questions for a rough pointer. Nothing is stored or sent.

Quick structure helper

Tap one answer for each question.

1. Roughly how much profit do you expect each year?
2. How much does it matter to keep your own assets safe from business debts?
3. What are your plans?
Your answer appears herePick one option in each row.

Who's on the hook for debts?

A limited company is its own legal person, so your personal assets are generally protected. A sole trader is personally liable for everything.

Is your name protected?

A company name can't be registered by anyone else. A sole trader's business name doesn't get the same protection.

How are profits taxed?

Companies pay 12.5% corporation tax on trading profits. Sole traders pay income tax at 20% and 40%, plus USC and PRSI. Remember that paying yourself from a company is taxed too, so the saving isn't automatic.

This helper is a rule of thumb, not tax advice. Your accountant should look at your own numbers.

Already self-employed?

Switching from sole trader is easier than you'd think

Say you've been working as an electrician under your own name for a few years, and work is picking up. Moving into a company doesn't mean starting over. Customers carry on as normal, and you simply change who you're trading as.

  • Bring in investors or partners through shares
  • Keep personal assets apart from business debts
  • Open up company pension options, within Revenue limits
A common rule of thumb: many advisers start the conversation once profits pass about €50,000 to €60,000 a year. It varies a lot, so ask us before you decide.
Close off your business nameIf you registered one, tell the CRO you'll stop using it.
Choose a name and a company typeYou can often keep the name you traded under, if it's available. An LTD is the usual choice.
Register the companyWe handle the CRO filing and your company documents.
Pick your switch-over dateStop trading as a sole trader, and start trading through the company from the next day.
After you register

What you take on as a director

Nothing here is scary, but a company does come with routines. Here's what to expect.

Your annual return, every year

Every company has to file an annual return with the CRO by its deadline, with accounts attached. Miss it and late fees and penalties follow.

See our accounts and returns service

Tax with Revenue

Corporation tax, VAT if you qualify, and payroll if you hire.

Payroll help

Who really owns it

Your beneficial ownership details go on a register.

RBO filing

Proper records

Accounting records and statutory registers need to be kept up to date.

Bookkeeping

A company secretary

Every company needs one. With a single director it must be a separate person, and many owners hand the role to a professional.

Company secretarial services

Changes along the way

Tell the CRO when directors or the secretary change.

Make a change
Why not go it alone?

You can. Here's where we make it easier.

Plenty of founders register their own company. These are the places they tell us they'd have liked a hand.

Fewer rejected filingsWe know what the CRO accepts, so your paperwork is far less likely to bounce back.
One team for everythingWe're accountants as well as formation agents, so registration, tax and bookkeeping all sit in one place.
Plain-English answersAsk us anything. You'll get a straight reply, not a pile of jargon.
Keep reading

Helpful guides for new founders

GUIDEHow to set up a company in Ireland onlineRead more TAX TIPPicking the right business structureRead more TAXTax-saving tips for small businesses in IrelandRead more CHECKLISTRequirements for starting a business in IrelandRead more
Quick answers

Questions Irish-resident founders ask

How do I know my company name is free?

The first step is checking your name against the CRO register. The CRO can be strict, and it rejects names that are too similar to existing ones, so it's best to check before you order any branding.

Send us your name and we'll tell you whether it looks acceptable. See our naming tips.

Why choose a limited company over being a sole trader?

Three reasons come up most: limited liability, a protected company name, and the 12.5% corporation tax rate on trading profits. The trade-off is more admin, such as annual returns and company accounts.

Can I switch from sole trader to limited company later?

Yes. You register the company, choose a date to stop trading as a sole trader, and carry on through the company from the following day. We can walk you through the timing and the tax side.

Can a co-director live outside Ireland?

Yes. Because you live in the EEA, the company already meets the rule that at least one director must be EEA-resident, so your partner can live anywhere. Read about non-EEA directors.

Ready to get started?

Tell us a little about your business and we'll help you choose the right structure and get registered.

Register your company Talk to our team