In which European countries is it best to launch a new online startup?

Where can I register a startup in Europe? In which country in Europe is it possible to open a startup? What needs to be done to register and launch a startup as smoothly as possible? What should be the main administrative steps? What needs to be done at the preliminary preparation stage, even before the registration and launch of the startup in Europe (EU)? If you think that this text will give you clear and unambiguous answers to these questions, we have to disappoint you: it won’t.

The thing is that any ratings and comparisons don’t take into account the most important thing: the features of your specific case. That is why registering and starting a startup in Europe (European Union) can be profitable and successful in 99% of cases. The startup will create a successful business, and your company in a few years will be noted in the Forbes rating. But there are always exceptions – the very 1%, when the general molds prove to be unsuitable.

That is why we strongly insist that the rating of countries in Europe (European Union) where it is more profitable (easier and faster) to open a startup is a relative indicator. If you want to find out where you can register a startup in Europe (which country in Europe it is possible to open a startup in), contact our experts and tell us about your case. And let the material on the choice of a country to register and start a startup in Europe (the European Union) be a good help, effective at the stage of preliminary planning.

How to register a startup in Germany and start an online business?

The final score is 5.5.
Economic situation in Germany (with a focus on the startup / startup) – 5.3.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 5.0.
Conditions and climate for doing business in Germany – 4.3.
The qualifications (“quality”) of German employees – 7.7.

In what country in Europe is it possible to open a startup, the advantages of Germany:

The German economy is one of the most powerful and stable in the European Union.
Access to venture capital is simplified (an extremely important condition for launching a startup in conditions of funding shortage).
Relatively low corporate tax (15.825%).
High level of competitiveness (it will be easier to launch a startup’s real business after its registration in Germany).
Qualified employees.

How to register a startup in the UK and start an online business?

The final score is 5.9.
Economic situation in the UK (with a focus on starting up / launching a startup) – 6.8.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 3.3.
The conditions and climate for doing business in the UK – 5.8.
The level of qualifications (“quality”) of hired workers, UK citizens – 7.7.

In what country in Europe can you open a startup, the advantages of Great Britain:

Ease of doing business (applies not only to startups, but also to “adult” companies).
Availability of sources of additional financing.
Low cost of doing business (especially if local labor is needed to start a startup).
In Great Britain there are structures and organizations which help not only to start a startup, but also to run it as a practical business.

How to register a startup in Ireland and start a business on the Internet?

Total score – 6.2.
Economic situation in Ireland (with a focus on starting up / launching a startup) – 5.5.
Costs of doing business already after registration / launch of the startup – 5.3.
Conditions and climate for doing business in Ireland – 8.5.
The level of qualification (“quality”) of hired workers, citizens of Ireland – 5.3

In what country in Europe is it possible to open a startup, the advantages of Ireland:

The low corporate tax rate of 12.5%.
High level of education of workers in Ireland.
Ireland recently demonstrated the highest GDP growth rate among European/European Union countries.

How to register a startup in Switzerland and start a business online?

Total score – 6.3.
Economic situation in Switzerland (with a focus on the startup / startup) – 5.5.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 11.7.
Conditions and climate for doing business in Switzerland – 5.3.
Qualification (“quality”) of employees, Swiss citizens – 2.7.

In what country in Europe can you open a startup, the advantages of Switzerland:

Extremely high degree of prestige.
State support for business (including Startup) already after the launch / registration.
Interesting opportunities for tax optimization (if the registration of the business / startup is carried out in the “right” canton).
Excellent level of development of the financial sector (opening an account for a startup with registration in Switzerland is as simple as possible).
Well developed infrastructure.
After registration and startup in Switzerland you can eventually get a residence permit and citizenship.

How to register a startup in Estonia and start an online business?

The final score is 6.4.
Economic situation in Estonia (with a focus on starting/starting a startup) – 8.8.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 3.0.
Conditions and climate for doing business in Estonia – 9.0.
The level of qualification (“quality”) of hired workers, Estonian citizens – 5.0.

In what country in Europe is it possible to open a startup, the advantages of Estonia:

Widespread use of online services (including at the state level).
Estonia has one of the highest levels of education of its citizens in Europe (the European Union).
Simplified procedure for issuing Estonian visa for startups.
Possibility to apply for e-residence (unique service not only for the European Union, but also for developed countries from other regions).
Proximity to European and Scandinavian markets.
Clear interest of Estonian government in startup development (registration/opening, real business startup, further support).
Fastest way to register a company/startup.
Interesting (in terms of business incentives) tax system.

How to register a startup in the Czech Republic and start an Internet business?

Total score – 6.6.
Economic situation in the Czech Republic (with a focus on the startup / startup) – 6.5.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 2.0.
Conditions and climate for doing business in the Czech Republic – 10.3.
Qualifications (“quality”) of employees, Czech citizens – 7.7.

In what country in Europe is it possible to open a startup, advantages of the Czech Republic:

Close and understandable mentality.
Favorable taxes (for example, a startup can get a VAT refund after the real launch in the Czech Republic).
Loyal legislation.
After registration and startup of a startup in the Czech Republic it is possible to get a business visa.
Availability of funding sources.
The startup can easily open an account in a reputable bank in Europe and the EU.

Where can I register a startup in Sweden and start a virtual business?

The final score is 6.7.
Economic situation in Sweden (with a focus on startup / startup) – 7.0.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 6.0.
Conditions and climate for doing business in Sweden – 5.5.
Qualifications (“quality”) of employees, Swedish citizens – 8.3.

In what country in Europe can you open a startup, the advantages of Sweden:

Advantageous geographical location.
Absolute security (it is possible to register and launch a startup with long-term prospects).
Excellent infrastructure (applies to all spheres of life, not only company/startup business).
Conditionally low taxes.
A variety of legal forms of business.

Where can I register a startup in Norway and start a business online?

The final score is 6.8.
Economic situation in Norway (with a focus on startup / start-up) – 5.5.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 10.0.
Conditions and climate for doing business in Norway – 4.5.
Level of qualification (“quality”) of employees, Norwegian citizens – 7.0.

In what country in Europe can you open a startup, the advantages of Norway:

“Mature” companies do not “stifle” startups (there is no pronounced corporate hierarchy).
Stability in all spheres of life (business is no exception).
Stable and developed economy.
Simplified startup registration and launch procedure (the latter is true for any business).
A reliable financial system (it’s relatively easy to open a corporate account for a company/startup in Norway).
High reputation status of companies in Norway.
It is possible to register a company / business remotely.

Where can I register a startup in Finland and start an online business?

The final score is 6.8.
Economic situation in Finland (with a focus on startup / startup) – 9.0.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 6.7.
Business environment and climate in Finland – 5.5.
Qualification (“quality”) of employees, Finnish citizens – 6.0.

In what country in Europe can you open a startup, the advantages of Finland:

Finland’s focus on innovation.
Comprehensive business support by the government, start-ups in Finland enjoy special preferences.
General conditions for doing business are extremely attractive.
Low corporate tax – only 20%.
It costs not very much to run a real business by startup/company.
Stability.
Well-developed infrastructure.
Availability of sources of additional funding for a startup and a young company.

Where can I register a startup in the Netherlands and start an online business?

The final score is 6.8.
Economic situation in the Netherlands (with a focus on the startup / startup) – 4.8.
Costs of doing business already after registration/start-up – 7.7.
The conditions and climate for doing business in the Netherlands – 7.5.
The level of qualification (“quality”) of employees, Dutch citizens – 7.3.

In what country in Europe is it possible to open a startup, the advantages of the Netherlands:

Excellent reputation status.
Legislation oriented to support business.
Economic, political, financial stability.
Clear taxation.
Easy access to state services.
No currency control.
Simplified registration of a company/startup.
Variety of sources of financial support.
Long-term visas for startup founders.

Obtaining an EU startup visa after registering and launching a startup

If you have already answered the question of which country in Europe it is possible to open a startup, you should not forget about another one – how to obtain a visa. The immigration policy of the European Union has become very strict in recent years, and the current programs for obtaining a residence permit for investment imply quite high costs, which in the case of startups is unacceptable. That is why we have prepared for you a short overview of countries that give startup visas when registering a startup/company in the European Union.

Registration and launch of a startup in Denmark

Startup Denmark program.
Gives the right to live and work in Denmark.
Validity period is 2-3 years, prolongation is possible.
Collective application is possible.
Application for Startup Visa Denmark is submitted online.

Registration and launch of a startup in Finland

Approval by Business Finland is required.
Validity period – 2 years + prolongation.
Application for Finland startup visa is submitted online.

Registering and launching a startup in Estonia

There are startup visas for 90 days and 12 months. The second one can be extended for another 183 days.
Both non-EU citizens and Estonians themselves (in favor of other startup participants) can apply.
Application for Estonian startup visa is submitted online.

Registering and launching a startup in Lithuania

Requires the submission of an elaborate business plan.
Application review period is 15 days.
Application for Lithuanian startup visa is submitted online.

Registration and startup in the Netherlands

Term of validity – 12 months, extensions are provided.
Partnership with a business mentor is mandatory.
Application for a Dutch startup visa is submitted online.

Countries that issue common EU visas for startups, they give the right to live and work in any EU country:

France.
Ireland.
Italy.
Spain.
Germany.
Cyprus.

Registering and launching a startup in the European Union

The administrative procedures in different European countries are quite different. That is why we do not provide a single algorithm for registering a company/startup. But in order for the business to be successful, one should start with the most important step – the preliminary planning stage. In a sense it is even more important than the right answer to the question of which country in Europe you can open a startup. So if you are really interested in this topic, we invite you to discuss all the questions you have in an individual consultation.

How to start your startup in the EU – 20 most important steps:

Choose a country for registration/startup. Prepare 2-3 backup options just in case – they will be useful if the main jurisdiction is rejected for objective reasons.
Think of bigger things (e.g. cooperation with Google), but start small – estimate a budget for launching / registering a startup in the EU, develop your startup in the first months, and look for sources of additional funding.
Talk to people who have already gone through the EU startup/registration process and succeeded.
Do not “pull” bad ideas, but actively promote good / promising ones.
Prepare for failure, but don’t dwell on it. If you do it right, you’re sure to succeed.
Discuss ideas and plans with those who are knowledgeable about the topic.
Aim for your startup’s product/service to be unique in the marketplace. The ideal case is for them to be able to shape the market.
Hire knowledgeable employees. Launching a startup or technology company in the EU if you plan to do everything is doomed to fail.
Be prepared for change – both good and bad.
Don’t lose your temper. Politeness and tolerance are half the battle. The people you encounter after registering a startup in the EU may not think the same way you do.
Remember that a business (startup or “regular” company – it doesn’t matter) is not a school where the loser gets a second and third chance. If you see that your employees aren’t performing well enough, don’t “pull” them. The maximum they can afford is one mistake and one chance to correct it.
Always think one step ahead. A post-launch/registration startup development plan, at least a tentative one, is an important part of success.
Learn to manage your time. You can “find” a few extra hours in a day, but mental and physical exhaustion does not contribute to success.
Don’t give up after the first failure. If Steven Paul “Steve” Jobs had given up the personal computer idea right after he was rejected by the “big” business, Apple wouldn’t exist in the first place.
Come up with a bright and catchy name for your startup. Many successful businessmen believe that the name is one of the main conditions for success.
Have a web presence. The Internet is gradually becoming the main trading platform. If a company/startup in the EU ignores it, don’t expect success.
Share your assets. What is personal to you must be separated from the startup’s assets.
Work for a specific target audience. “Generic” marketing is much less effective than targeted marketing. It’s also much more expensive.
Test concepts and ideas before launching them. Erroneous ideas are better “fished out” at the testing stage; if you bet on them, the losses will be much greater.
Get the right licenses. Registering and actually launching a startup in the EU with the intention of getting permits “sometime later” is the worst thing you could think of.

Popular type of Internet startups in Canada

Internet usage in Europe is growing at a rapid pace, with nearly half of the population now online. This provides a valuable opportunity for online startups, as there is a large potential customer base. In addition, many European countries have high Internet speeds, making it easier to launch and operate an online business. However, there are also some challenges to starting an online business in Europe. strict laws governing Internet Casino Online make it difficult to launch these types of businesses. In addition, some countries have high taxes on Internet businesses. As a result, it is important to carefully research the legal and tax implications of starting an online business in Europe before launching a new startup.

Conclusion of the review with recommendations

Starting a startup or a company in the European Union is a very complicated task. If you believe the official documents, it may seem that there is not much of an organizational hassle, but this is not the case. It is impossible to open a startup in EU on a turnkey basis (registration, opening a bank account, obtaining licenses, and starting a real business) by yourself, even if some “experts” say otherwise.

The startup (company) that you try to open “on your knees” is doomed to fail. You will spend money on registration, promotion, marketing, staff salaries, but all these costs will never “pay off”. And you are unlikely to be much reassured by the fact that you “saved” money on registration and launching your startup (company).

So we strongly recommend not “reinventing the wheel” and recognize the fact that you need competent third-party assistance. To contact our experts, write us a letter of inquiry and find the right conditions for individual consultation.

Christy Gorczany