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    Home » Starting a business in the European Union

    Starting a business in the European Union

    eub2By eub227 November 2024Updated:14 February 2025 SMEs in the EU No Comments2 Mins Read
    — Filed under: EU Guides
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    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.

    Startup business - Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

    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:

    AUSTRIAFRANCEMALTA
    BELGIUMGERMANYNETHERLANDS
    BULGARIAGREECEPOLAND
    CROATIAHUNGARYPORTUGAL
    CYPRUSIRELANDROMANIA
    CZECHIAITALYSLOVAKIA
    DENMARKLATVIASLOVENIA
    ESTONIALITHUANIASPAIN
    FINLANDLUXEMBOURGSWEDEN

    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

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