VIRTUAL ONE STOP SHOP FOR INTERNATIONAL INVESTORS
/Doing Business in Spain
The main ways for a foreign individual or company to operate in Spain are as follows:
- Setting up a Spanish company: the most common corporate forms are the Limited Liability Company (SL) and the Public Limited Company (SA). In both cases, the liability of the partners is limited to the capital they have paid in.
- Registering as an individual entrepreneur: the business activity is carried out directly by the individual, with no distinction between personal and business assets. His or her liability will be unlimited.
- Establishing a representative office: this is a minimal structure that is often used prior to the establishment in Spain of the foreign company through a branch, subsidiary, etc. It lacks its own legal personality and cannot carry out an economic activity.
- Establishing a Branch or permanent establishment: they do not have their own legal personality, so their legal liability is linked to the foreign parent company.
- Establishing a subsidiary: this is a new company with its own independent legal personality, although it is controlled by the foreign parent company
- Through business cooperation (Temporary Business Union –UTE-or Economic Interest Grouping -AEI-): this is one of the main ways to partner with established companies and entrepreneurs in Spain. Economic Interest Groupings have their own legal personality.
/ Professional knowledge required
Starting a business in Spain typically involves working with professionals like notaries, the Commercial Register, and public administrations. Legal advice is recommended to help you choose the best corporate structure and complete all necessary procedures.
/ Key regulatory provisions
- Royal Legislative Decree 1/2010, of 2 July, approving the consolidated text of the Capital Companies Law
- Royal Decree, of 22 August 1885, approving the Commercial Code
- Law 18/2022, of September 28, on the creation and growth of companies
- Law 14/2013 of September 27, on support to entrepreneurs and their internationalization
- Law 20/2007, of 11 July, approving the Self-Employed Workers Statute
- Royal Legislative Decree 5/2004, of 5 March, approving the consolidated text of the Non-Resident Income Tax
- Royal Decree 1784/1996, of 19 July, approving the Mercantile Registry Regulations
- Law 28/2022, of December 21, promoting the ecosystem of emerging companies (startups law)
Consult other procedures
Information services
- / Doing Business in Spain
- / Support centres in Madrid for the incorporation of companies
- / Others ways of doing business and investing in Spain
Information and services
- / Municipal Licensing System (SLIM)
- / The Licenses and Urban Planning Files Consultation System (CONEX)
- / Virtual Licensing Assistant
- / Information request
- / Collaborating Urban Development Entities (ECU)
- / Common urban planning consultation
- / Special urban planning consultation
- / Advanced Personalized Urban Planning Consulting System (AUPA)
- / Feasibility report
- / Responsible declaration for first occupancy and operation
- / First occupancy and operation urban license
- / Statement of compliance
- / Basic licence
- / Urban planning licence
Procedures and formalities