Where to Incorporate: A Decision Guide for Founders

Five questions that decide the answer

1. Where are your customers and suppliers?
2. Where will the owners be tax resident, and what will that mean for the company?
3. Will you need a bank account — and in which currency?
4. Do you want residency to follow the company?
5. What reputation does the structure need to project to clients, banks and investors?

Thirteen jurisdictions compared

Jurisdiction	Typical entity	Often chosen for
USA	LLC or C-Corp (Delaware or Wyoming)	selling globally and accessing US payments and banking
UAE	Mainland or free-zone company	a regional hub with a route to residency
UK	Private limited company (Ltd)	a credible base with simple, low-cost formation
France	SAS or SARL	entering the French and wider EU market
Portugal	Sociedade por quotas (Lda)	an EU base alongside residency pathways
Estonia	Private limited company (OÜ)	digital businesses and e-Residency
Canada	Federal or provincial corporation	reaching the Canadian market
Spain	Sociedad limitada (SL)	Spanish and EU market presence
Switzerland	GmbH or AG	premium credibility and holding structures
Cayman Islands	Exempted company	funds, holdings and international structures
BVI	BVI business company	holding and international business structures
Singapore	Private limited company (Pte Ltd)	an Asian hub with strong banking
Seychelles	International Business Company (IBC)	offshore holding and trading

Common mistakes

• Choosing on price alone, then discovering the bank will not open an account
• Assuming a company in a low-tax country means no tax anywhere
• Forming first and thinking about compliance later
• Overlooking how the owners’ own tax residence affects the structure

How MLF helps

Choosing where to incorporate is a legal and tax decision before it is an administrative one. We advise on the structure, then form and maintain it. Start with the company incorporation overview.