How To Register A Company In Ireland
To register a company, several key elements are necessary. These include needing a director, company secretary, and shareholders. Additionally, you will need an Irish address, sufficient share capital, and a distinct company name are essential. Our comprehensive guide is designed to lead you through these steps, ensuring you grasp the entire process of forming a Limited Company in Ireland.
Once you have assembled these foundational components, the next steps involve preparing your incorporation documents. Once these are filled out they are submitted to the Companies Registration Office (CRO) in Ireland. Don’t fret if you are unfamiliar with the preparation process. The team here at Irish Formations are experts in this area and here are here to offer our assistance and guidance.
Furthermore, it is crucial to adhere to annual company obligations and filing requirements post incorporation. We will guide you through these obligations. You may include to choose some of these with the purchase of any of our premium packs or as a separate service. Any obligation we do not provide a service for we can offer you a FREE accountant referral where they would be happy to fulfill these obligations for you.
Get Started
Our client services team are always happy to talk to you about what’s best for your needs!
What Are The Different Company Types in Ireland
It is important to understand the several different company types and know exactly what a limited company is before setting one up.
We have compiled an extensive breakdown of the possible company types below.
- Private Limited Companies
The most common type of companies in Ireland are private limited companies. They offer limited liability and allowing for one or more owners. Shares in private limited companies are not publicly traded. This is the most popular type of company and can be managed remotely. - Public Limited Companies
On the other hand, public limited companies cater to larger businesses, enabling them to offer shares to the public. They must comply with more extensive regulations. - Companies Limited by Guarantee
Companies limited by guarantee are typically nonprofit organizations. Members’ liability is restricted to a predetermined amount, and shares are not involved. - Unlimited Companies
Unlimited companies have no liability limit, holding their members personally responsible for the company’s debts.. - Foreign Companies
Foreign Companies are those incorporated outside Ireland but conduct business within the country. - Other Companies
Additionally, there are various specific types of companies. Such as Designated Activity Companies, Investment Companies, and Industrial and Provident Societies, each serving distinct purposes and being subject to specific regulations. Each company type has its unique requirements for registration, governance, reporting, and compliance with the Companies Registration Office in Ireland.
Need Help Setting Up Your Company?
Call us! Our expert consultants are eager to assist you with any questions
What Is A Limited Company?
What Our Customers Are Saying
“I hate paperwork and for that reason, the company formation process gives me the heebie jeebies! Irish Formations were incredibly patient and helpful in breaking down the work flow needed to get the job done. With good humour and grace they hunted me down for the inputs I needed to make, and then seamlessly delivered on the project. I can’t imagine ever setting up a company with anyone else – there can be no better testament to their approach.”
Frank Hannigan
8651 registered users trust our process since 2009
Don’t hesitate to register a company today! We are happy to help you any step of the way.
Your Essential Company Set Up Checklist:
- Choose A Company Secretary
If your company has a sole director, it is essential to appoint a separate company or person as Secretary. However, in the case of two or more directors, one of them can also take on the role of the company Secretary. Irish Formations can take on the role of Nominee Secretary.
The company Secretary holds a primary responsibility, ensuring that the company meets its statutory Deadlines. Collaborating closely with the Accountant, they work to guarantee the timely filing of financial statements.
Late filing of the Annual Return can lead to hefty fines, and the financial statements may need auditing for a two-year period. To avoid any risk of missing the Annual Return deadline, we will remind you of these obligations. - Appoint A Company Secretary
If you have only one director, it is necessary to appoint a separate company secretary. However, if your company has two or more directors, one of them can also fulfill the role of the company secretary.
The primary responsibility of the company secretary is to ensure the company meets its Annual Return Deadline. Here at Irish Formations we thankfully provide this service. The filing of your first annual return is included in any of the premium packs or can also be purchased after incorporation. We do all the paperwork and filing for you, all we require is a signature. Late filing of the Annual Return can result in hefty fining and penalization to either the company or the stakeholders involved. To avoid any issues with missing the Annual Return deadline, our service offers peace of mind and can help you stay in compliance. The company secretary plays a critical role in ensuring adherence to the deadline and avoiding potential penalties.
“>We also offer a nominee secretary service which means we act as your secretary on all legal correspondence. We sit in the chair, but we don’t part take in any secretarial obligations. - Decide On A Shareholder
The shareholders are the rightful owners of your company. In many new businesses, it is customary for the director and company secretary to also be shareholders of the company.
If you are establishing a company with a co-founder, you might consider discussing shareholders’ agreements and voting rights. However, it’s important to be aware that these agreements are not mandatory when setting up a company in Ireland. - Decide On Shares
Shares can be envisioned as portions or units of ownership in the company that can be distributed to individuals. As a result, the division of shares defines the legal ownership structure of the company.
In the process of establishing a Limited Liability Company in Ireland, shares are issued. Once the company is registered, there is flexibility to either allocate additional shares or transfer existing ones to other parties. - Have 2 Irish Addresses
When registering a company in Ireland it is necessary to have a business address and a registered address. There is a distinct difference between the two.
The official legal address of your company must be a physical location within Ireland and regularly monitored. Often, this address is associated with your third party, as important notices are sent there. At Irish Formations we offer a registered office service. This address is publicly available on the CRO website.
On the other hand, a business address is where your company’s business mail, such as invoices, is received.Please be aware that, for tax purposes, Revenue needs to know the specific location where your business conducts its trading activities. This is referred to as a trading address, but it is not obligatory for setting up a company in Ireland. - Decide on A Company Name
When considering the registration of a Limited Company in Ireland, the company name is likely to be the first aspect that comes to mind. However, it’s crucial to bear in mind that the Companies Registration Office (CRO) maintains strict guidelines concerning company names.
To comply with the regulations, the company name must be unique and easily distinguishable from other names already registered in Ireland. It must adhere to specific company name guidelines.
The Registrar will perform comprehensive checks to ensure the proposed name meets these requirements. If the name is found to be too similar to existing names in the company register, the application will be returned, necessitating resubmission with a different name.
To simplify and expedite the registration process, it is advisable to enlist the services of an expert, like our team at Irish Formations. With our Company Formation Ireland Service, we provide a thorough company name check. Simply provide us with your proposed company name, and we will handle all the necessary procedures to ensure a seamless registration.
Is your company name available? Find out with one quick search!
- Sign Your Incorporation Documents
Once you have completed the necessary requirements, you are all set to incorporate your company.
You will need to sign Form A1 and Constitution form. Once you provide our support team here at Irish Formations with the necessary information we can fill out the rest of your documents. Your incorporation documents will be added to your Irish Formations account for viewing and also posted out to you. These will include a cover letter, first minutes meeting, register of directors and secretary, certificate of incorporation and share certificates. We will also ensure a compliant constitution is written.
The Companies Registration Office (CRO) usually takes 5-10 days to process your application for the new company. This can vary from time to time.
Still Not Confident
We have over 20 years experience in Company Formations, Business Name Registration, & Company Secretarial. Call us and speak personally with our Managing Director Mark Hegarty.
Post Incorporation Obligations
There are a number of post incorporation obligations in which every company must follow. Irish Formations will offer services and/ or support and guidance on all of these. These will include:
- Filing your first annual return: It is an obligation to file your first annual return after 6 months with the CRO regardless of trading status. We provide this service with the purchase of any company formation package.
- Register your beneficial owners: this is again an obligation for newly formed companies to register their beneficial owners with the RBO. This service is provided in any of our premium packages.
- Opening a business bank account: We can offer you a referral to an Irish bank account so that you can get set up efficiently and quickly.
- Register For Tax: All new companies need to apply for tax registration before they begin trading. This service is again offered as part of our premium packages.
- Accountant Referral – Anything after this such as tax advice, or services that we do not provide, we can offer an accountant referral.
Our clients couldn’t be happier
Hear from our satisfied customers
Ready to Register? Get In Touch Now!
Are you ready to register a new Limited Company in Ireland? If you’ve reached this stage and feel the time is right for you then get in touch and get set up today! Setting up an Irish Limited Company doesn’t have to be a challenging endeavor. With the right support and resources, your business can be up and running in no time. Our team of professionals is dedicated to providing you with the help you need. We are here to be your comprehensive guide to registering your Irish Company. Look no further and we will have you set up efficiently, accurately, and quickly.
