Opening a company in Portugal can be quick, sometimes on the same day. What takes time is deciding well beforehand: what kind of company, with whom, for which activity and under which tax regime. These choices carry weight for years.
Before you incorporate
Decide between a single-member company (one partner) and a private limited company (two or more), the share capital (at least €1 per partner) and who will manage it. Choose the activity codes (CAE) and the name. Every partner and manager needs a NIF, foreigners included.
Incorporating the company
You can use Empresa na Hora at a desk, with a pre-approved name and articles, or Empresa Online with a digital signature. Either way, the commercial registration is done and the start-of-activity declaration can be filed at the same time.
After incorporation
Within 30 days, declare the beneficial owner in the RCBE. Open the company bank account, appoint a certified accountant and, if you have staff or paid managers, meet your Social Security obligations. From then on, the monthly and annual obligations begin.