30 countries · 2026
The best countries to start a business
Checked November 4, 2026 · How we score
| # | Country | Score | Corporate | Personal | Setup from | Days | Remote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇦🇪UAE Founders and freelancers who want zero personal income tax and a residence visa · Trading, consulting and e-commerce companies serving global clients | 8.0 | 9% | 0% | $3,000 | 10 days | Yes |
| 2 | 🇪🇪Estonia SaaS and online founders who plan to reinvest profits · Non-EU founders wanting an EU company without moving | 7.7 | 22% | 22% | $700 | 3 days | Yes |
| 3 | 🇬🇪Georgia Freelancers and consultants with low overhead · Remote workers seeking a one-year visa-free stay | 7.6 | 15% | 20% | $400 | 2 days | Yes |
| 4 | 🇸🇬Singapore Asia-focused SaaS and fintech startups · Holding companies and regional HQs | 7.6 | 17% | 24% | $1,500 | 3 days | Yes |
| 5 | 🇱🇹Lithuania Fintech and payments startups · Founders using the small-company rate | 7.4 | 17% | 32% | $700 | 3 days | Yes |
| 6 | 🇺🇸USA SaaS and e-commerce founders selling to US customers · Startups raising venture capital (Delaware C-Corp) | 7.4 | 21% | 37% | $300 | 3 days | Yes |
| 7 | 🇻🇬BVI Holding companies, joint ventures and investment vehicles · Crypto and token issuers needing a zero-tax wrapper | 7.3 | 0% | 0% | $1,000 | 3 days | Yes |
| 8 | 🇭🇰Hong Kong Trading and e-commerce companies sourcing from Asia · Consultancies with genuinely offshore clients | 7.2 | 16.5% | 16% | $1,000 | 4 days | Yes |
| 9 | 🇧🇸The Bahamas Offshore holding, trading and crypto companies · High-net-worth individuals seeking zero income tax and a nearby-to-US base | 7.0 | 0% | 0% | $1,500 | 5 days | Yes |
| 10 | 🇦🇲Armenia Software and IT service companies using the 1% regime · Freelancers and micro-businesses under AMD 24 million | 6.9 | 18% | 20% | $500 | 3 days | Yes |
| 11 | 🇧🇭Bahrain Service and consulting companies wanting no corporate tax at modest cost · Fintech and crypto firms using the CBB sandbox | 6.9 | 0% | 0% | $2,500 | 10 days | No |
| 12 | 🇧🇬Bulgaria Startups wanting the lowest headline tax rates in the EU · Dev outsourcing and shared service centres | 6.8 | 10% | 10% | $1,200 | 7 days | Yes |
| 13 | 🇰🇾Cayman Venture-backed startups using Cayman holding structures · Investment funds, crypto foundations and DAOs | 6.8 | 0% | 0% | $3,000 | 3 days | Yes |
| 14 | 🇵🇦Panama Freelancers and online businesses earning only foreign-source income · Founders seeking a territorial base and USD-denominated economy | 6.8 | 25% | 25% | $1,200 | 5 days | Yes |
| 15 | 🇸🇨Seychelles Online businesses and consultancies that need a very cheap offshore holding or trading shell · Traders and brokers needing a low-cost entity | 6.8 | 25% | 15% | $800 | 3 days | Yes |
| 16 | 🇮🇪Ireland Tech and IP-heavy businesses selling into the EU · Founders who can use an EEA-resident director | 6.7 | 12.5% | 40% | $1,500 | 10 days | Yes |
| 17 | 🇬🇧UK Founders who need maximum credibility with banks and investors · VC-backed startups and fintech | 6.6 | 25% | 45% | $150 | 1 day | Yes |
| 18 | 🇲🇪Montenegro Small service and IT businesses wanting 9% tax and cheap, quick setup · Digital nomads who want a euro-denominated base | 6.5 | 9% | 15% | $800 | 7 days | Yes |
| 19 | 🇲🇰North Macedonia Low-cost IT outsourcing and service companies · Manufacturers targeting a TIDZ tax holiday | 6.5 | 10% | 10% | $600 | 5 days | Yes |
| 20 | 🇵🇾Paraguay Freelancers and online business owners wanting a cheap territorial base · Founders seeking easy South American residency and a second passport route | 6.5 | 10% | 10% | $800 | 10 days | Yes |
| 21 | 🇧🇲Bermuda Insurance, reinsurance and fund structures · Web3 and digital-asset firms seeking a regulated base | 6.4 | 0% | 0% | $3,500 | 7 days | Yes |
| 22 | 🇬🇬Guernsey Funds, insurance and holding structures with local substance · High-net-worth residents under the Open Market regime | 6.4 | 0% | 20% | $3,000 | 7 days | Yes |
| 23 | 🇧🇿Belize Low-cost offshore holding or trading companies · Retirees using the QRP programme | 6.3 | 0% | 25% | $700 | 3 days | Yes |
| 24 | 🇵🇷Puerto Rico US citizens and green-card holders who can relocate and want 4% tax · Remote service businesses and consultants with clients outside Puerto Rico | 6.3 | 4% | 33% | $3,000 | 13 weeks | No |
| 25 | 🇮🇲Isle of Man Substance-based businesses (e-gaming, fintech, shipping) operated from the Island · High-net-worth residents using the tax cap | 6.2 | 0% | 21% | $2,500 | 7 days | Yes |
| 26 | 🇯🇪Jersey Funds, holding and finance structures with local substance · High-net-worth individuals using HVR status | 6.2 | 0% | 20% | $3,000 | 7 days | Yes |
| 27 | 🇻🇺Vanuatu Asset-protection and holding structures with low reporting risk tolerance · Individuals seeking a second passport who understand the Schengen limitation | 6.2 | 0% | 0% | $1,500 | 7 days | Yes |
| 28 | 🇵🇱Poland IT contractors using ryczałt · Companies using Estonian CIT to reinvest profits | 6.1 | 19% | 32% | $1,000 | 7 days | Yes |
| 29 | 🇦🇬Antigua Individuals seeking a second passport with a short residency requirement · Offshore IBCs and international trading structures | 6.0 | 25% | 0% | $1,200 | 7 days | Yes |
| 30 | 🇱🇻Latvia Companies reinvesting profit (Estonian-style CIT) · Founders targeting the Baltics and Nordics | 6.0 | 20% | 33% | $1,000 | 5 days | Yes |
Questions people ask
What is the best country to start a business as a foreigner?
For a remote online business, Estonia (e-Residency, online in a day), the US (a Wyoming or Delaware LLC) and the UAE (a free-zone company with a visa) are the easiest. Georgia and the UK are the cheapest. Singapore and Ireland are best if you want a reputable base in Asia or the EU.
Which country is the cheapest to register a company in?
The UK (£50 at Companies House), New Mexico and Wyoming LLCs (about $50–$100), Georgia and Estonia are among the cheapest. Remember annual costs: accounting and registered agents usually cost more than the registration.
Which countries are the easiest to start a business in?
Estonia, Georgia, the UK, New Zealand, Singapore and the UAE let you incorporate within one or a few days, mostly online.
Does the country I incorporate in decide my taxes?
Only partly. Your company's taxes depend on where it is managed, and your personal taxes depend on where you live. A Dubai company run by someone living in France is usually taxed in France.
Keep reading
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Not tax or legal advice. Rates and rules change; we check official sources and update every page, but verify with a licensed adviser in the country before acting. Spotted something out of date? Use the correction form below.