Europe free zone name | Liverpool Free Zone | Freezone of Verdon | Duisburg Free Port | Bourgas Free Zone | Free Zone of Barcelona |
Corporate tax payable | 19%-25% | 25% | 15% | 10% | 25% |
Average monthly salary skilled labour | US$4,000 | US$3,700 | US$4,200 | US$4,100 | US$3,000 |
Average monthly salary unskilled labour | US$2,500 | US$2,000 | US$1,400 | US$3,600 | US$1,200 |
Office rental square meter per month | US$16 | US$12 | US$14 | US$8 | US$6.5 |
Total Europe company set up costs | £5,790 | €14,240 | €10,990 | €8,360 | €8,040 |
Subsequent annual costs (excl accounting and tax) | £1,100 | €6,780 | €2,400 | €2,330 | €3,830 |
How long to set the company up in Europe free zone? | 1 week | 2 weeks | 8 weeks | 2 weeks | 4 weeks |
How long to open Europe company bank account? | 4 weeks | 2 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 3 weeks |
Issued share capital required | No | €1 | €25,000 | €1 | €3,000 |
Corporate bank account | HSBC London | HSBC or SCB | Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank | Citibank Bulgaria | Citibank, Barclays Bank |
Tenancy agreement required before Europe company incorporation? | No | No | No | No | No |
Do you visit the country for Europe company incorporation? | No | No | No | No | No |
Resident director required? | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Resident agent required | No | No | No | No | No |
Legal considerations | | | | | |
Resident shareholder required? | No | No | No | No | No |
Minimum number of directors for Europe company | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Minimum number of shareholders for Europe company | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Resident company secretary | Yes | No | No | No | Yes |
Individual shareholders allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Corporate shareholders allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Corporate director(s) allowed | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Public register of shareholders and directors | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
All business permitted for foreigners | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tax and accounting considerations | | | | | |
Corporate tax payable | 19%-25% | 25% | 15% | 10% | 25% |
Statutory audit required | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Annual tax return to be submitted | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Access to how many double tax treaties | 120 | 28 | 80 | 65 | 10 |
Withholding tax payable | 20% | 30% | 15%-25% | 5% | 19%-21% |
How long to get Europe work permit approved | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
Can the entity hire expatriate staff in the country? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Logistic considerations | | | | | |
Allowed to invoice/sign sales contracts with local clients | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Can rent office premises in the country | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Allowed to import raw materials? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Allowed to export goods? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Europe employment visa fees | GBP3,950 | US$3,950 | US$3,950 | US$3,950 | US$3,950 |
What % of population speak English | 100% | 40% | 56% | 24% | 27% |
Literacy rate (%) | 99% | 99% | 99% | 98% | 97% |
Computer literacy rate (%) | 85% | 72% | 80% | 70% | 75% |
Country credit rating | AAA | AAA | AAA | A | AAA |
Internet connectivity rating | Excellent | Good | Good | Fair | Fair |
Global business efficiency index score (higher better) | 12 | 28 | 21 | 40 | 32 |
Ease of doing business global ranking (lower better) | 15 | 34 | 20 | 66 | 44 |
GDP per capita (US$) | 45,836 | 39,772 | 41,514 | 6,986 | 29,195 |
Europe population (in million) | 63 million | 65 million | 81 million | 7 million | 47 million |
Europe unemployment rate | 7% | 11% | 5% | 12% | 27% |
Inflation rate (2013) | 2.7% | 2.3% | 2% | 2.4% | 2.5% |
GDP 2012 (US$ billion) | US$2,435 billion | US$2,613 billion | US$3,400 billion | US$51 billion | US$1,349 billion |
Real GDP Growth rate (2012) | 0.3% | 0% | 0.7% | 0.8% | -1.4% |
Estimate of Europe business engagement costs | | | | | |
Healy Consultants engagement fees | £1,450 | €3,850 | €5,500 | €3,400 | €3,519 |
Company secretary and legal registered office fees | £1,450 | €2,800 | €1,100 | €1,100 | £1,100 |
Estimate of government registration fees | £40 | €96 | €700 | €60 | €1,071 |
Corporate bank account opening | £4,950 | €5,950 | €2,950 | €2,950 | €3,950 |
Estimate of total outgoings in Year 1 | $8,990 | €13,946 | €10,990 | €8,360 | €9,640 |
Draft sales invoice attached | View invoice PDF | View invoice PDF | View invoice PDF | View invoice PDF | View invoice PDF |