If you want to start a new company or expand your business in another EU country, you need to know the national rules about business registration. You can find specific support available to start, expand or develop your business, such as funding opportunities or finding an investor.
To start a new company or expand your business in another EU country you need to know the rules that apply and the relevant national contact point to set up a company in that specific country.
Find information about starting a business in different EU countries:
| AUSTRIA | FRANCE | MALTA |
| BELGIUM | GERMANY | NETHERLANDS |
| BULGARIA | GREECE | POLAND |
| CROATIA | HUNGARY | PORTUGAL |
| CYPRUS | IRELAND | ROMANIA |
| CZECHIA | ITALY | SLOVAKIA |
| DENMARK | LATVIA | SLOVENIA |
| ESTONIA | LITHUANIA | SPAIN |
| FINLAND | LUXEMBOURG | SWEDEN |
What can you do?
As an EU citizen you are entitled to:
- set up your own business (even as a sole trader) in any EU country, as well as Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein
- set up a subsidiary of an existing EU-based business already registered in one EU country
Requirements
The requirements vary depending on the country. However, the EU encourages all countries to meet certain targets for helping to set up new companies, including:
- setting up in no more than 3 working days
- costing less than EUR 100
- completing all procedures through a single administrative body
- completing all registration formalities online
- registering a company in another EU country online (through the national contact points )
Funding and support
There are several projects dedicated to help startup businesses in the EU:
- Startup Europe strengthens networking opportunities between high tech startups, scaleups, investors, accelerators, corporate networks, universities and the media.
- Startup Europe Partnership is an integrated pan-European open innovation platform that helps the best EU scaleups grow.
- InvestEU Portal brings together investors and project promoters on a single EU-wide database of investment opportunities.
- Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is a cross-border business exchange programme, which offers new entrepreneurs the opportunity to collaborate with an experienced entrepreneur from another European country.
Read about EU funding programmes and how to get access to finance.
Other useful links:
Interactive map: companies funded by the EU via the SME Instrument
Find a company: access company information in the EU
Women entrepreneurship gateway
Source: European Commission
