Open a company in Portugal: LDA or Unipessoal
Opening and running a company in Portugal costs less than in almost all of the EU: there is no minimum capital, corporate tax is 19% and VAT 23% on the mainland. We analyse your case and tell you whether an LDA or a Unipessoal suits you.
The most affordable company opening in our network.
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Companies already operating in Europe with Filnet
Book a meeting to design your expansion to Portugal
Our advisors analyse the market in Portugal and the tax strategy that best fits your case: legal form, taxes and annual obligations. Free and no commitment.
Everything clear in one hour
A video call with a Filnet expert advisor.
- Your landing in PortugalWe analyse the market, the legal form and the real costs of operating from Portugal, based on your activity and goals.
- A tax strategy tailored to youTaxes, holding structures and double taxation between Spain and Portugal, explained for your case.
- A local expert advisorIn your language, with paperwork handled and fixed prices.
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Key figures for Portugal
Corporation tax
IRC 19%
in Spain: 25%
Indirect tax
VAT 23%
in Spain: 21%
Time to incorporate
4-8 weeks
100% online, no travel
Market
Iberian market
50M+ consumers · same time zone as Spain
The legal structure you will operate with
We analyse your case and choose the structure that fits best; this is the usual one for most businesses.
Sociedade por Quotas (LDA)
LDA / Unipessoal
Benefits
- 19% corporate taxThe standard rate drops to 19% in 2026, and SMEs pay 15% on the first €50,000 of profit (Lei no. 64/2025).
- Participation exemptionDividends and capital gains on qualifying holdings (10% held for 12 months) are exempt: the basis of a Portuguese holding.
- Treaty with SpainThe Spain-Portugal treaty prevents double taxation on the same profit and caps dividend withholding at 15%.
- Same time zonePortugal runs an hour behind Spain, with daily flights and an Iberian market of over 50 million consumers.
- Lower running costsRents, salaries and services sit below the European average: useful if you place your back office or technical team here.
Key considerations
- Minimum capital
- No mandatory minimum capital (from €1)
- Timeline
- 4-8 weeks
- Corporation tax
- IRC 19%
No endless background checks to open your company bank account
Thanks to our agreements with Revolut and other partner banks, your company account in another country does not sit for months in reviews: the account opening runs in parallel with the rest of the project, so you can operate sooner.
- No files stuck for monthsWe work with partner banks that know the process and will not ask for the same documents five times.
- Open in daysAn operating account to invoice and get paid, without waiting for months.
- Setup and bank account in parallelWe coordinate both tracks so you lose no time on either.
How a company is opened in Portugal
You decide and you sign. We prepare, review and accompany you step by step.
We analyse your case and compare legal forms
LDA, Unipessoal or holding, with the numbers on the table: IRC, VAT, annual cost and what your activity requires. You decide with the report in front of you.
We show you the real cost of the process
We separate what you pay the notary, the registry and the bank from what you pay for advice, so you compare with nothing hidden.
We prepare the file for your signature
Articles, admissibility certificate and the NIF application ready for you to file and sign before the notary, with corrections already made.
We coordinate the local professionals
Notary, certified accountant and bank: we define who does each step, in what order and with which document in hand.
We set up accounting, tax and payroll
Chart of accounts, VAT and IRC calendar and payroll from the first month, with an adviser who answers you in English.
Year-on-year follow-up
Annual accounts, year-end close and a status report before each deadline, so you never miss a filing date.
Why Portugal
Opening a company in Portugal means registering an LDA or Unipessoal with the Commercial Registry, getting the company its own NIF, registering for VAT and keeping books with a certified accountant. Corporate tax is 19% and VAT is 23%. We analyse your case and work alongside a local adviser.
The most affordable company opening in our network.
Explore expansion options19% corporate tax
The standard rate drops to 19% in 2026, and SMEs pay 15% on the first €50,000 of profit (Lei no. 64/2025).
Participation exemption
Dividends and capital gains on qualifying holdings (10% held for 12 months) are exempt: the basis of a Portuguese holding.
Treaty with Spain
The Spain-Portugal treaty prevents double taxation on the same profit and caps dividend withholding at 15%.
Same time zone
Portugal runs an hour behind Spain, with daily flights and an Iberian market of over 50 million consumers.
Lower running costs
Rents, salaries and services sit below the European average: useful if you place your back office or technical team here.
Explore more about Portugal
Case studies
V2C
We supported V2C in its expansion to Portugal, France, Germany and Italy until it became the leader in electric chargers in Europe (+€30M).
Portugal · Francia · Alemania · Italia
View case
Hagen Group
We helped Hagen Group, the world’s largest pet supplies company, establish itself in Portugal, Andorra and Italy (×7 sales in Spain).
Portugal · Andorra · Italia
View caseFrequently asked questions
Notary and deed fees run between €500 and €900, the Commercial Registry and official fees between €250 and €400, and the bank account between €0 and €250. Those are third-party costs, not ours. Our fees are quoted after we analyse your case.
Accounting and tax start at €400/month and payroll at €30/month per employee. On top come the year-end duties, such as the IES return and the annual accounts. We give you the annual breakdown in writing before you start.
Yes, provided the company has real substance and its place of effective management is not in Spain. If you make the decisions from Spain you may create a permanent establishment taxed there. We review your case against the treaty before fixing the structure.
Portuguese banks ask for KYC on shareholders and beneficial owners, the articles, the NIF, your planned activity and the source of funds. We compare banks and prepare you for the interview; the bank opens the account with you.
Book a free call with a specialist
In 30 minutes we outline your expansion strategy with you: target market, legal structure and taxation for your case. No commitment.
First consultation free · no commitment
