25 countries · 2026

The cheapest countries to start a business

Checked November 4, 2026 · How we score

The cheapest countries to start a business in 2026 are USA, Georgia, UK, Armenia, Belize and Seychelles, where a non-resident can incorporate and run a small company for around $300–$2,500 in the first year. Our figures are all-in: government fees, registered agent or address, and basic accounting.

#	Country	Setup from	Yearly from	Days	Remote	Corporate
1	🇺🇸USA $300–$2,500 to set up, $400+/yr to run	$300	$400	3 days	Yes	21%
2	🇬🇪Georgia $400–$1,500 to set up, $600+/yr to run	$400	$600	2 days	Yes	15%
3	🇬🇧UK $150–$900 to set up, $900+/yr to run	$150	$900	1 day	Yes	25%
4	🇦🇲Armenia $500–$2,000 to set up, $800+/yr to run	$500	$800	3 days	Yes	18%
5	🇧🇿Belize $700–$2,000 to set up, $600+/yr to run	$700	$600	3 days	Yes	0%
6	🇸🇨Seychelles $800–$1,800 to set up, $500+/yr to run	$800	$500	3 days	Yes	25%
7	🇵🇾Paraguay $800–$2,500 to set up, $800+/yr to run	$800	$800	10 days	Yes	10%
8	🇷🇴Romania $800–$2,000 to set up, $800+/yr to run	$800	$800	5 days	Yes	16%
9	🇻🇬BVI $1,000–$2,500 to set up, $800+/yr to run	$1,000	$800	3 days	Yes	0%
10	🇲🇰North Macedonia $600–$2,000 to set up, $1,200+/yr to run	$600	$1,200	5 days	Yes	10%
11	🇪🇪Estonia $700–$2,200 to set up, $1,200+/yr to run	$700	$1,200	3 days	Yes	22%
12	🇱🇹Lithuania $700–$2,000 to set up, $1,200+/yr to run	$700	$1,200	3 days	Yes	17%
13	🇦🇬Antigua $1,200–$3,000 to set up, $800+/yr to run	$1,200	$800	7 days	Yes	25%
14	🇵🇦Panama $1,200–$3,000 to set up, $800+/yr to run	$1,200	$800	5 days	Yes	25%
15	🇰🇳St Kitts & Nevis $1,200–$3,000 to set up, $800+/yr to run	$1,200	$800	5 days	Yes	33%
16	🇳🇿New Zealand $600–$1,500 to set up, $1,500+/yr to run	$600	$1,500	2 days	No	28%
17	🇨🇦Canada $700–$3,000 to set up, $1,500+/yr to run	$700	$1,500	3 days	Yes	15%
18	🇷🇸Serbia $700–$2,500 to set up, $1,500+/yr to run	$700	$1,500	5 days	Yes	15%
19	🇨🇱Chile $800–$2,500 to set up, $1,500+/yr to run	$800	$1,500	7 days	Yes	27%
20	🇲🇪Montenegro $800–$2,500 to set up, $1,500+/yr to run	$800	$1,500	7 days	Yes	9%
21	🇧🇬Bulgaria $1,200–$2,800 to set up, $1,200+/yr to run	$1,200	$1,200	7 days	Yes	10%
22	🇧🇸The Bahamas $1,500–$3,500 to set up, $1,000+/yr to run	$1,500	$1,000	5 days	Yes	0%
23	🇨🇷Costa Rica $1,500–$3,500 to set up, $1,000+/yr to run	$1,500	$1,000	14 days	Yes	30%
24	🇭🇰Hong Kong $1,000–$2,500 to set up, $1,500+/yr to run	$1,000	$1,500	4 days	Yes	16.5%
25	🇮🇳India $1,000–$3,000 to set up, $1,500+/yr to run	$1,000	$1,500	14 days	No	25.17%

Questions people ask

What is the cheapest country to register a company?

The UK charges £50 to register a limited company online, and many US states charge $50–$100 for an LLC. Georgia and Estonia are cheap too. Annual accounting and agent fees usually matter more than the registration fee.

Can I start a company abroad for free?

Almost nowhere is free once you count a registered address, agent and accountant. The realistic floor is a few hundred dollars a year for a US LLC or UK company with no activity.

What hidden costs should I budget for?

Registered agent or address, accounting and annual returns, bank account fees, licences in places like the UAE, and visas if you plan to live there.

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.