Buy a ready-made company in Estonia “with a track record”
Buy an existing company in Estonia or register a new company and start operations from scratch: which is better?
The question that concerns many of our customers and is actively discussed on thematic forums is whether it is worth spending time and effort on the procedure of registering a new company if you can buy a ready-made Estonian LLC with a bank account or a licence for the type of activity you have already chosen?
Watch the video with the expert (3:35 min)
How to “Properly” Buy a Company in Estonia as a Non-Resident
There is no universal solution — in most cases, the choice depends on the client’s individual situation. If you have partners in the EU and want a company with an established history for image purposes, the most logical option is to buy an Estonian company with “age.” However, in all other cases, in our opinion, there are various options…
How to Register a New Company
A new company can be established in several ways:
- directly in Tallinn during a personal visit to the Estonian capital;
- remotely by power of attorney through our company Sowana or another intermediary;
- independently online using an e-residency card.
How Shelf Companies Are Transferred
The transfer of an existing company can be done not only in person but also remotely. However, it is not possible to buy a shelf company in Estonia using e-residency alone. In Estonia, the purchase or donation of a company is done exclusively through a notary office. The notary is obliged to verify several points:
- whether the company owner is married;
- whether the company is jointly owned by spouses;
- whether documents confirming the spouse’s consent for the sale or donation of joint assets have been provided.
The notary will also check whether reports have been filed, taxes paid, and whether there are any debts. They will inform the potential buyer or recipient of all relevant details about the company being acquired.
Ownership of the company transfers on the day the transaction is completed.
Changes regarding the owner and/or director (as well as the beneficiary data) are recorded in the Estonian Commercial Register within a few days. After that, you can request an updated extract (B-CARD) from the Register in either English or Estonian, depending on your preference.
- Important to understand:
In such cases, the main document confirming the ownership change is the purchase (or donation) agreement. The company’s founding agreement and articles of association remain unchanged and stay exactly as they were at the time the company was originally established.
The Name of a Ready-Made Company in Estonia
The new business owner may choose any desired company name or retain the existing one! It’s important to remember that if the name is changed, the previous name remains publicly accessible in the change history in the Estonian Commercial Register.
Timeframe for Re-Registration in Estonia
Registering a new company or transferring ownership of a ready-made company in Estonia takes between 1 to 5 days.
Cost of Starting a Business in Estonia
Company registration in Estonia: options and pricing
- Registering a company in Estonia with personal presence — €750.
- Registering a company in Estonia without personal presence (via power of attorney, remotely) — €950.
- Registering a company independently online using e-residency — €500.
When it comes to ready-made companies, the situation is different:
- The price of a company depends on its “age” — buying a company with a history will cost more than setting up a new one;
- If the company has fully paid share capital, its cost logically increases by the amount of that capital.
The total cost of a ready-made company in Estonia includes:
- the company itself;
- legal address for 1 year;
- contact person for 1 year;
- state fee and notary services;
- translation of documents for the transaction;
- transaction support services by Sowana specialists;
- share capital (if it was paid);
- entry of the new company beneficiary into the Estonian Commercial Register.
Note:
- As of September 1, 2018, all Estonian companies are required to notify the Commercial Register about their ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) within 30 days of establishment, ownership change, or transfer.
- A UBO is a natural person who owns more than 25% of the company.
- This notification must be submitted by a board member and should include all individuals who directly or indirectly own or control the company.
- The UBO notification can be submitted either at the time of purchase or online if the board member holds an e-residency card.
How to “Properly” Buy a Company in Estonia as a Non-Resident
There is no universal solution — in most cases, the choice depends on the client’s individual situation. If you have partners in the EU and want a company with an established history for image purposes, the most logical option is to buy an Estonian company with “age.” However, in all other cases, in our opinion, there are various options…
How to Register a New Company
A new company can be established in several ways:
- directly in Tallinn during a personal visit to the Estonian capital;
- remotely by power of attorney through our company Sowana or another intermediary;
- independently online using an e-residency card.
How Shelf Companies Are Transferred
The transfer of an existing company can be done not only in person but also remotely. However, it is not possible to buy a shelf company in Estonia using e-residency alone. In Estonia, the purchase or donation of a company is done exclusively through a notary office. The notary is obliged to verify several points:
- whether the company owner is married;
- whether the company is jointly owned by spouses;
- whether documents confirming the spouse’s consent for the sale or donation of joint assets have been provided.
The notary will also check whether reports have been filed, taxes paid, and whether there are any debts. They will inform the potential buyer or recipient of all relevant details about the company being acquired.
Ownership of the company transfers on the day the transaction is completed.
Changes regarding the owner and/or director (as well as the beneficiary data) are recorded in the Estonian Commercial Register within a few days. After that, you can request an updated extract (B-CARD) from the Register in either English or Estonian, depending on your preference.
- Important to understand:
In such cases, the main document confirming the ownership change is the purchase (or donation) agreement. The company’s founding agreement and articles of association remain unchanged and stay exactly as they were at the time the company was originally established.
The Name of a Ready-Made Company in Estonia
The new business owner may choose any desired company name or retain the existing one! It’s important to remember that if the name is changed, the previous name remains publicly accessible in the change history in the Estonian Commercial Register.
Timeframe for Re-Registration in Estonia
Registering a new company or transferring ownership of a ready-made company in Estonia takes between 1 to 5 days.
Cost of Starting a Business in Estonia
Company registration in Estonia: options and pricing
- Registering a company in Estonia with personal presence — €750.
- Registering a company in Estonia without personal presence (via power of attorney, remotely) — €950.
- Registering a company independently online using e-residency — €500.
When it comes to ready-made companies, the situation is different:
- The price of a company depends on its “age” — buying a company with a history will cost more than setting up a new one;
- If the company has fully paid share capital, its cost logically increases by the amount of that capital.
The total cost of a ready-made company in Estonia includes:
- the company itself;
- legal address for 1 year;
- contact person for 1 year;
- state fee and notary services;
- translation of documents for the transaction;
- transaction support services by Sowana specialists;
- share capital (if it was paid);
- entry of the new company beneficiary into the Estonian Commercial Register.
Note:
- As of September 1, 2018, all Estonian companies are required to notify the Commercial Register about their ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) within 30 days of establishment, ownership change, or transfer.
- A UBO is a natural person who owns more than 25% of the company.
- This notification must be submitted by a board member and should include all individuals who directly or indirectly own or control the company.
- The UBO notification can be submitted either at the time of purchase or online if the board member holds an e-residency card.
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