Maxim Stepanenko
Managing partner of Crystal.tax
A wide range of legal services from Crystal Tax: registration of offshore companies in all world jurisdictions, solving issues related to taxation, opening bank accounts and many others.
Full cost breakdown, 2026
A single foreign company costs roughly €1,000–6,000 to set up and €1,300–7,600 a year to run, depending on the jurisdiction. A holding-plus-operating structure runs €7,500–13,000 upfront and €6,500–14,200 a year. The tables below break down every line — registration, banking, accounting, audit — along with the hidden costs most providers leave out. All figures are indicative ranges from our practice at Crystal Tax.
Book a free 30-minute consultationMost providers quote "company formation from €1,500" and quietly omit the €5,000–15,000 a year you will spend on maintenance. Here is the complete picture with real numbers.
One company — a simple setup
When it makes sense: revenue under €500K, selling outside your home country, one founder.
Upfront costs
| Item | UAE | Estonia | UK | Delaware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company registration | €2,000–3,500 | €800–1,500 | €500–1,200 | €800–1,500 |
| Registered address | included | €300–600/yr | €200–400/yr | €200–400/yr |
| Bank account opening | €500–1,000 | €0–500 | €0–300 | €500–1,500 |
| Legal / advisory | €500–1,000 | €300–500 | €300–500 | €300–500 |
| Total upfront | €3,000–6,000 | €1,400–3,100 | €1,000–2,400 | €1,800–3,900 |
Annual running costs
| Item | UAE | Estonia | UK | Delaware |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licence renewal | €1,500–3,000 | €0 | €13 | €300 |
| Accounting | €1,000–2,000 | €1,200–2,400 | €1,000–2,000 | €500–1,500 |
| Registered agent | included | €300–600 | €200–400 | €200–400 |
| Visa renewal (UAE) | €500–1,000 | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Audit (if required) | €0–1,000 | €0 | €0–1,500 | €0 |
| Bank fees | €300–600 | €200–500 | €100–300 | €200–500 |
| Total annual | €3,300–7,600 | €1,700–3,500 | €1,300–4,200 | €1,200–2,900 |
Hidden costs nobody mentions
- VAT registration in EU countries where you sell (€300–500 per country, plus quarterly filing).
- Transfer-pricing documentation if you have related companies (€1,000–3,000).
- Annual return filings — late-filing penalties can reach €500–5,000.
- Bank compliance reviews — banks periodically request updated KYC documents, which costs you time.
- Currency conversion — earning in USD while spending in EUR adds a 1–2% FX spread that accumulates.
- Professional liability insurance — required in some jurisdictions.
Holding plus operating company
When it makes sense: revenue €500K–2M, multiple markets, IP to protect.
Upfront costs
| Item | Cost range |
|---|---|
| Holding company (Cyprus) | €2,500–4,000 |
| Operating company (Estonia / UK) | €1,000–2,000 |
| Inter-company agreements | €1,000–2,000 |
| Banking setup (2 companies) | €1,000–2,000 |
| Advisory / structuring | €2,000–3,000 |
| Total upfront | €7,500–13,000 |
Annual running costs
| Item | Cost range |
|---|---|
| Holding accounting + audit (Cyprus) | €3,000–5,000 |
| Operating accounting (Estonia / UK) | €1,500–3,000 |
| Registered addresses | €500–1,200 |
| Transfer-pricing documentation | €1,000–2,000 |
| Bank fees (2 accounts) | €500–1,000 |
| Advisory retainer | €0–2,000 |
| Total annual | €6,500–14,200 |
The break-even calculation
An international structure makes financial sense once the annual tax saving exceeds the annual running cost.
Simple setup (one company, ~€3,000/year cost):
- Save 15% on €200K revenue = €30K → ROI about 10x
- Save 15% on €100K revenue = €15K → ROI about 5x
- Save 15% on €50K revenue = €7.5K → ROI about 2.5x
Holding structure (~€10K/year cost):
- Needs at least €500K revenue to justify.
- At €1M revenue with 15% savings = €150K → ROI about 15x
What Crystal Tax charges
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Intro consultation | Free / 30 min |
| Strategic deep-dive session | €100 / 30 min |
| Written analysis (2–3 options) | €500–€1,000 |
| Full roadmap with structure | €2,000–€3,000 |
| Company registration | from €1,500 |
| Bank account opening | from €500 |
| Annual accounting | from €1,500/yr |
| Ongoing support retainer | from €500/mo |
Ranges include typical government and registration fees; exact figures depend on the jurisdiction and are confirmed in your roadmap.
Our pricing is itemised end to end. The consultation stands on its own — you leave with a clear picture even if you never come back. For the process behind each stage, see how we work.
Get a cost estimate for your structure
Book a free 30-minute call. We will size the setup and annual cost for your specific business before you commit to anything.
Book a free 30-minute consultationFrequently asked questions
What does the cheapest viable setup cost?
A UK or Delaware company: roughly €1,000–2,400 upfront and €1,300–4,200 a year to run.
Why is the UAE more expensive to run?
Licence renewal, the resident visa, and office requirements push annual costs to €3,300–7,600.
What hidden costs should I budget for?
VAT registration in each EU country you sell to, transfer-pricing documentation, late-filing penalties, periodic KYC reviews, FX spread, and professional liability insurance where required.
When does a holding structure pay off?
Usually above €500K revenue. At €1M with 15% savings the ROI is roughly 15x against about €10K a year in running costs.
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. The 30-minute intro consultation is free. An optional €100 deep-dive session is available for a focused review of one scenario.
Do your prices include government fees?
The ranges include typical government and registration fees. Exact figures depend on the jurisdiction and activity, and are confirmed in your roadmap.
Related pages
- Book a consultation — get a cost estimate for your case
- UAE vs Cyprus vs Estonia — cost and tax side by side
- E-commerce international structure — which model fits your revenue
- How we work — the five-stage process and pricing
- Maksim Stepanenko — managing partner, Crystal Tax
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Our advantages
We provide a wide range of legal services, including the registration of companies in foreign jurisdictions, legal support for activities, opening bank accounts, consultations and much more. others
Crystal Tax employs a team of highly qualified professionals, experts in all matters related to offshore. We have many years of successful experience.
We offer only the best solutions for your business - the best jurisdiction and type of company for offshore registration.
We register a company in any jurisdiction as quickly as possible. We guarantee confidentiality of data for each client
An individual approach to clients, solving non-standard tasks and the vast experience of our lawyers can lead your business to success.
The cost of services is agreed between us and the client. You pay only for the work done, which allows you to minimize costs. We work without intermediaries and overpayments.