Ireland - Ltd Company Incorporation

Company Type	Time to Incorporate	Cost
Limited Company Ltd	3-5 days	£480

The principal features of an Irish company are:

• Directors must be individuals and not corporate entities.
• One of the directors must be resident in the EU.
• A company secretary can be either an individual or company and does need not be resident in Ireland.
• The company must have a real and substantive presence in Ireland and not merely a local registered office.
• The company must at the time of incorporation classify the principal activity of the company using the NACE classification for its economic activities.
• Irish law states that all limited companies must have an official company seal.
• Shares must be denominated in Euros (€'s).

Ireland attracts investment from a variety of countries in a diverse number of sectors. While EU countries have dominated investment interest, countries from further afield are now showing more interest in Ireland’s many opportunities.
Ireland has two natural advantages: the geographic proximity to Europe and its cultural ties with America.
Ireland’s strategic advantages: the Irish workforce, Ireland’s tax and regulatory incentives, keeping tax below 10 to 15% making tax incentives  a key factor in competing with similar European countries for access to the EU market. In addition to a low tax rate, Ireland has also developed a non-financial incentive for businesses – reducing red tape.
The Irish government is openly committed to attracting business and making foreign companies as comfortable as possible by keeping taxes and regulations at a bare minimum. 

Formacompany will incorporate your company better, because no one appreciates your requirements more fully. Being Ireland's premier formation company, no one can match our knowledge, expertise or commitment in incorporating your company on time and at a fixed fee.

We provide you with full expert assistance throughout every step of the formation process; our service does not stop there. We will give you assistance and advice related to company formation, incorporation the moment you choose to incorporate with us and for as long after incorporation as you may require.

Our range of company secretarial services ease the set up and management of your company, providing the opportunity for non-residents to incorporate an Irish company.

Once you have  decided on the name of your new company please go to our order form. We will check your proposed name for availability at The Companies Registration Office (CRO) and advise you of any potential conflicts with companies already on the register.

We then draft your memorandum & articles of association with the principle objectives specifically drafted for your new company, emailing you the pre-registration and legal documents that will require your signature(s).

Once signed and returned, we then as members of the Companies Registration Office electronic filing scheme, electronically file your proposed company's documentation at the CRO. Your new company will be incorporated in 3-5 days.

We will then finalise and send you your new limited company formation pack with all documentation required to start trading and proceed to open a bank account.

Company Name

This is the name of your business. There are some restrictions, the main one being that it must be unique.

Registered Office

This is the official address of your business where all official documents are served. This does not have to be your trading address but it must be located in Ireland; residential addresses are permitted.

Company Directors

Irish companies require at least two individual directors both over the age of 18 and to provide addresses, dates of birth for each director and details of any other directorships. It is further required that one director is a permanent resident in the State. For this purpose the "State" is a "Member State of the EEA" (European Economic Area).  The EEA is all of the European Union plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.

That means that a company all of whose directors are resident in, say, the UK, will not require a bond or certificate of  real and continuous link with one or more activities in the State.

Company Secretary

Irish companies are required to have a company secretary who has the legal duty of filing all required documents and accounts. This may be an individual in which case their personal details are required, or a Corporation in which case the name and registered office address are required.

Principle Activities

The company's purpose must be outlined in its memorandum and articles of association and given a corresponding NACE code. We do this for you; we just need to know the purpose of your company.

• Setting up a limited liability company offers just that: limited liability.
• Greater degree of business credibility of trading through a limited company.
• Ownership of a limited company can be spread over a greater number of people.
• Shareholders in a limited liability company are only liable to lose the share capital to which they subscribe.
• The rights of shareholders are clearly defined and protected.
• Employees can acquire shares.
• A company is a legal form of a business organisation, which is classed as a separate legal entity and, therefore, is separate and distinct from those who run it.
• For sole traders and in partnerships, the individuals’ personal assets are at risk if there is a claim against the organisation.
• A company pension scheme can be secured through a limited company.
• A limited company has a greater ability to raise finance by the issue of shares and also finances under the Business Expansion Scheme.
• The company's name is protected: incorporation protects the name from use by another Limited company.
• Limited companies have flexible borrowing powers.
• The company continues despite the death, resignation or bankruptcy of members.
• The interests and obligations of the directors are defined.
• Appointment, retirement or removal of a director is straightforward.