Compare countries side by side.
Five things decide most setups: company type, setup speed, cost drivers, tax and banking. Each cell describes what drives the outcome in that country, never a promise about yours.
The comparison
Read down a column to see how countries differ on one question. Information only: Estonia is the live module and China is in pilot.
| Country | Entity model | Setup speed | Cost drivers | Tax notes | Banking readiness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChinaPILOTRead more → | Foreign-invested enterprise | Extended. Authority stages run in sequence, and document authentication adds time before filing begins. | Registered address, licensed activity scope, document authentication and translation, and local representation. | Corporate income tax, VAT, and local levies are administered separately. Treatment varies by activity and city. | Follows registration rather than running alongside it. Requires local presence; timelines vary by bank and city. |
| United Arab EmiratesROADMAPRead more → | Mainland or free-zone company | Often among the quicker routes, though mainland and free-zone paths differ and some activities need external approval. | Jurisdiction and licence choice, visa quota, office or desk requirement, and annual licence and immigration renewals. | Corporate tax and VAT may apply. Free-zone treatment depends on qualifying-income conditions and economic substance. | Reviewed independently of licensing and not guaranteed. Depends on activity, ownership, and demonstrable substance. |
| United StatesROADMAPRead more → | LLC or corporation | The state filing itself is usually quick. EIN issuance and bank onboarding typically take longer than formation. | State filing and franchise fees, registered-agent service, and multi-state or sales-tax exposure as operations spread. | Federal, state, and sales-tax layers are separate. LLC classification for a non-resident owner needs specific advice. | EIN precedes most applications. Non-resident onboarding varies widely between banks and fintech providers. |
| CanadaROADMAPRead more → | Federal or provincial corporation | Incorporation is usually straightforward. Extra-provincial registration and tax accounts add steps afterwards. | Incorporation jurisdiction, extra-provincial registrations, registered office, and recurring annual filings. | Federal and provincial corporate tax, plus GST/HST, payroll, and import/export accounts where applicable. | Independent KYC review. Non-resident directors and shareholders may face additional evidence requirements. |
| LithuaniaROADMAPRead more → | UAB or other suitable entity | Moderate. Regulated activities and non-resident verification extend the timeline well beyond incorporation. | Share capital, accounting, registered office, and any regulated-activity licensing review. | EU VAT regime applies. Corporate tax, payroll, and substance depend on where management actually sits. | Banks alongside a deep EMI and fintech market. Onboarding is evidence-driven rather than automatic. |
| EstoniaLIVERead more → | OÜ | Often among the quicker routes where e-Residency is already held. Obtaining it first adds a separate process. | Contact person and legal address, accounting, and any e-Residency or founder mobility applications. | Corporate tax applies on distributed profit. Obligations may still arise where management or staff are located. | Usually the binding constraint. e-Residency does not secure an account; fintech providers are common in practice. |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
The table compares countries. The assessment compares them to you.
Eight answers turn a general table into a ranked shortlist, with the reasoning shown.
- What does the business sell, and where are the customers?
- Will it trade, hire, manufacture, hold assets, raise investment, or operate remotely?
- Who are the founders and owners, and where do they live?
- What banking, payment, currency and transaction needs exist?
- Is founder or employee relocation part of the plan?
- Which licences or regulated activities may be required?
- What is the launch budget and tolerance for yearly compliance?
- Which markets may be added in the next 24 months?
Tell us about the business, not just the budget.
A ranked shortlist with the reasons for and against each country, in a few minutes.
General information only. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice and does not guarantee any registration, account, licence or visa.