Share on facebook
Share on twitter
Share on linkedin

3 Best European Countries for Starting a Business

Businesses take a lot, literally. From that “idea” to “making it happen” is a long, sometimes an everlasting journey and you’ve got to keep yourself updated at all times, you’ve always got room to improve and grow. Opening a business starts with sketching the business plan, financing it, registrations and licensing and of course choosing the right business location. This is a pivotal point for businesses, as it allows them to deepen their roots through the course of time and in developing a strong success ladder.

The EU has always encouraged countries in the region to ease off their policies for new businesses. Another channel that really allowed for SME’s to grow is the financial sector and the growing sector of foreign exchange companies which allow businesses to send and receive money with very low fees and great currency exchange rates. According to data available on https://moneytransfercomparison.com/businesses/, 83% of small business clients claim their foreign exchange payment provider is cheaper than their bank.

Recent reports and releases by the World Bank and European Commission have brought us some very interesting details on countries best for businesses. The analytics are based on time required for licensing, fees and bank deposits.


Whether you’re looking to branch out your operations, relocate or just starting out your new business, these are the three best countries in Europe that you should consider:

Netherlands:

One of our best picks, Netherlands! Heaven we’d say, for any business. Netherlands is offering foreign investors a “start-up visa” which allows them to operate their business with maximum ease, flexibility, and a feel that you operate a business in your home country!

Join Our Small Business Community

Get the latest news, resources and tips to help you and your small business succeed.

Netherland holds a strategic position connecting you to almost all the possible markets i.e. Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas. The Visa has some requirements i.e. a facilitator in the Netherlands, proof of financial stability and the rest is your startup pitch. It’s always great to consult a local company formation lawyer to make sure that everything goes in the right direction.

Ireland:

Ireland’s economy has been stable throughout; the country also connects to majority EU regions along with the UK market which holds good potential and a consumer base with higher purchasing power. You might have to face some issues initially if you’re not an EEA citizen, but with a good Irish lawyer who has expertise in company formation, you can have a hassle-free process.

Ireland offers great opportunities, whether you are opening a regional office or starting up from scratch, you’ll find highly developed infrastructure, state of the art technological progress and a great deal of state support.  The country has also got you covered with Immigrant Investor Programme/Entrepreneur Start-up Programme.

Although the process is the same as almost any other EU country, it’s way too faster than others!

Norway:

The glacier boasting Scandinavian country has been included in the report I discussed earlier and the best thing about Norway is that most of the processes are online i.e. Bank Deposit (NOK 30,000 = GBP 2900) a minimal amount, registration with the Business Enterprise and VAT Registration. The VAT application can be submitted along with the company registration. Some mandatory plans i.e. Employee Pensions can be filed through the Pensions Agency and injury insurance through their Social Security Office.

All of these processes should not take more than 20-30 days if a good Norwegian company formation lawyer assisting you.

The Bottom Line:

Other countries in the EU region also offer startups with special programs in order to boost their work industries including Denmark, Malta, Portugal, Belarus and Macedonia, but the above three top the list due to ease of business, strategic location, infrastructure and better market connectivity.

Join Our Small Business Community

Get the latest news, resources and tips to help you and your small business succeed.

RECENT POST