Should consultants incorporate as a limited company in Ireland?

Yes, consultants benefit significantly from incorporation, especially when dealing with larger corporate clients. Limited companies provide professional credibility, 12.5% corporate tax rate, limited liability protection, and ability to claim business expenses for office costs, travel, and professional development.

What are the tax advantages for consulting companies in Ireland?

Irish limited companies pay 12.5% corporate tax on trading income. Consultants can deduct business expenses including office costs, travel, equipment, and professional development. This provides significant tax savings compared to sole trader personal income tax rates.

How much does consultant company incorporation cost in Ireland?

Open Forest offers consultant incorporation from €99 including CRO fees and basic constitution. For growth-oriented consulting businesses, the Future Proof package (€250) includes investor-ready documentation and advanced share structures.

Do consulting companies need a company secretary in Ireland?

Yes, if you're the sole director of your consulting company, you must appoint a separate company secretary by law. Open Forest provides professional company secretary services for €99/year to handle all CRO filings and statutory compliance.

Can consultants use trading names different from their company name?

Yes, consultants can use trading names that differ from their registered company name. For example, 'Smith Consulting Ltd' might trade as 'The Digital Marketing Experts.' Trading names must be registered with the CRO if they differ from your company name.

When should consultants register for VAT in Ireland?

Consultants must register for VAT once turnover exceeds €42,500 for services in a 12-month period. However, you can voluntarily register before reaching this threshold if it benefits your business operations or client requirements.

Can non-EEA residents set up Irish companies?

Yes, non-EEA residents can establish Irish companies but must either appoint an EEA-resident director or obtain a Section 137 Bond (€1,600 for 2 years). The entire process can be completed remotely through Open Forest.

What is a Section 137 Bond and how much does it cost?

A Section 137 Bond is a €25,000 insurance policy that allows non-EEA residents to operate Irish companies without EEA-resident directors. It costs approximately €1,600 for a two-year period and must be renewed every two years.

Do I need an IPN number as a non-resident?

Yes, all non-resident directors and shareholders owning 25%+ of company shares need an IPN (Identified Person Number). This serves as your identification for Irish tax and corporate matters. Open Forest assists with IPN applications for €150 per person.

Can I manage my Irish company remotely as a non-resident?

Yes, you can manage your Irish company remotely. However, you need a registered office address in Ireland, proper compliance systems, and may need to visit for banking setup. Open Forest provides ongoing compliance support.

What are the tax benefits for non-residents with Irish companies?

Non-residents benefit from Ireland's 12.5% corporate tax rate, access to EU markets, extensive double tax treaty network, and ability to establish economic substance in Ireland for international tax planning.

How long does Irish company setup take for non-residents?

Standard incorporation takes 5 business days. If you need a Section 137 Bond, this adds 7-10 business days for bond processing. Open Forest handles all documentation and compliance requirements remotely.

Non-residents | Open Forest

There are three possibilities:

Your most important consideration is the current residency of the directors.

Nationality & citizenship are not relevant.

Shareholder location is not relevant.

Companies with an Irish Resident Director
‍

At least 1 of the directors of your new Irish company will be resident in Ireland at all times.

Learn more below

Companies with an EEA Resident Director

At least 1 of the directors of your new Irish company will be resident anywhere else in the EEA, but not in Ireland.

Learn more below

Companies with No Irish / EEA Resident Director
‍

All of the directors of your new Irish company are resident outside of the EEA.

Learn more below

No matter which category you are in - Open Forest can help.

See full details below.

1. Companies with an Irish Resident Director

If your new Irish company will have at least 1 director who is resident in Ireland at any given time, you will need:

ID numbers for any director or shareholder (with over 25%) that do not have an Irish PPS number.

You can set your Company's Registered Office Address to be the address of the Irish resident director (or use Open Forest's address).

You can optionally appoint Open Forest as your Irish Company Secretary.

You DO NOT need a non-resident bond for this company.

You should have no issues opening a bank account.

Pricing

Learn more

2. EEA Resident Director (but no Irish Resident)

If your new Irish company will have at least 1 director who is resident in the EEA anywhere other than Ireland, you will need:

ID numbers for any director or shareholder (with over 25%) that do not have an Irish PPS number.

An Irish Registered Office Address - you can use Open Forest's address for this.

You can optionally appoint Open Forest as your local Irish Company Secretary.

You DO NOT need a non-resident bond for this company.

You should have no issues opening a bank account so long as it is in the name of the EEA resident.

Pricing

Learn more

3. Companies with no Irish or EEA resident directors

If your new Irish company will have no directors resident in Ireland or anywhere else in the EEA, you will need:

ID numbers for any director or shareholder (with over 25%) that do not have an Irish PPS number.

An Irish Registered Office Address - you can use Open Forest's address for this.

We strongly recommend appointing Open Forest as your local Irish Company Secretary.

You will also need a non-resident bond for this company (or to find an EEA resident director).

You may have issues opening a bank account - but we are working with some other providers to assist with this.

Pricing

Learn more

Here's how we can help you

Company Registration

We are local Irish incorporation experts who can help you set up in Ireland as quickly and painlessly as possible.

Non-Resident Challenges

We can help you obtain your Irish ID numbers and non-resident bonds if you have no EEA resident directors on your team.

Ongoing Compliance

We built new technology to ensure you never miss an obligation or a deadline - and it's free when you incorporate with us.

Tax Compliance

We can ensure that your tax registrations and ongoing tax filings are done cheaply, correctly and right on time.

Accounting

We can take care of your day to day bookkeeping, help you pay staff, prepare your year end financial statements and make sure they are filed on time.

Organisation

Our technology ensures your corporate governance is in great shape - from our (free) legal dataroom to our compliance calendar, you won't miss a thing.

See Pricing

Chat to us

Timeline

And here's what to expect:

Get started

Learn more

Complete our Incorporation Form

We take away the complexities of figuring out how to start a company. Just let our simple interactive form guide you.

Due Diligence Process

Upload your IDs and proofs of address and we run some quick checks. This step just takes a couple of hours.

Irish ID Numbers

For any directors who do not have Irish ID numbers (or shareholders with over 25%), we will obtain those numbers for you. This takes 2-3 business days.

Non-Resident Bond

In the event there are no EEA residents on your team and you can't find an EEA resident to appoint as a director, we can get a non-resident bond for you. This step can take up to 10 days.

Incorproaton Process

Once we have the ID numbers (and the bond if needed) we make the incorporation filing with the Companies Registration Office on your behalf. This usually takes 5 business days.

Approval Process

Once approved, you get full access to the Open Forest platform. You'll find all of your legal documents in your data room and upcoming legal obligations in your compliance calendar. We will introduce you to our banking and accounting partners at this stage if required.

Post-incorporation Filings

Check you upcoming obligations on your free compliance calendar and when the time comes, make the filings through the Open Forest platform. No more guesswork.

Ongoing Support

Incorporation is only the beginning. Open Forest will be there in support for your whole business journey. From legal agreements, to company changes, to tax filings - we do it all at super-low costs.

Don’t just take our word for it

Hear from some of our amazing customers who can now focus on their business,
while we watch their compliance.

PS - these are real reviews, see for yourself.

"OpenForest were so helpful to myself and my co-founder as first time founders. They helped us get setup quickly and ensured we had a constitution and founders agreement in place that was right for the company."

Christopher Lynch

Founder, Rekord

"Thanks to the Open Forest team for helping us navigate Irish company registration so seamlessly - professional, friendly and highly recommend".
‍

Fi from Fineo

Founder, Fineo

"Super helpful and efficient service that saved us so much time in setting up our business. Would highly recommend Open Forest to any start up that wants to get their business set up perfectly from the start."

Conor Fay

Founder, Abhar Materials

"Open Forest has truly been a game changer for us as founders. Their service has made obtaining vital legal documents at this early stage incredibly seamless."
‍

Laura Downes

Founder, Everly

"Open Forest set up our business, the entire process was seamless, stress-free and very efficient. The team just gets it, which allowed us to focus on other parts of the business with confidence. Thank you, Open Forest!"

Elaine Kelly

Founder & CEO, Curly Crowns

"Super service. They worked on weekends and after hours to ensure rapid registration. Despite a name change request by the CRO, we had the company registration in a week."

Brian Mahony

CEO, LCA Developments

Frequently asked non-resident questions

What is Open Forest?

Open Forest is an alternative legal services provider. We're a team of experienced lawyers and software developers - and importantly, we are founders too.

Do I need to come to Ireland?

No, we can open a new Irish company for you fully remotely in just a couple of days. You never have to leave your desk.

What do I need to provide?

We ask for ID and proof of address for all directors and shareholders. If you need an Irish ID number, we will need to have a very quick video call with you.

How long does it take?

5 business days for the incorporation. Add 3 days if your team need Irish ID numbers. Add another 10 days if you have no EEA resident directors.

How much does is cost?

It depends on how many there are in your team and where they are all located. See our compliance calendar on our Pricing Page.

How do I get started?

You simply need to fill our our interactive form, follow our instructions and we will take it from there.

We help all types of international businesses

Group Holding Companies

European Distribution Hubs

IP Holding Companies

Investment Vehicles

Licensing Companies

European Subsidiaries

Tax Blockers

Irish Trading Companies

EU Employee Vehicles

VAT Businesses

European HQs

Regional Head Offices

Royalty Collection Entities

Trading Companies

and much more...

There are three possibilities:

Companies with an Irish Resident Director‍

Companies with an EEA Resident Director

Companies with No Irish / EEA Resident Director‍

1. Companies with an Irish Resident Director

2. EEA Resident Director (but no Irish Resident)

3. Companies with no Irish or EEA resident directors

Here's how we can help you

Company Registration

Non-Resident Challenges

Ongoing Compliance

Tax Compliance

Accounting

Organisation

And here's what to expect:

Complete our Incorporation Form

Due Diligence Process

Irish ID Numbers

Non-Resident Bond

Incorproaton Process

Approval Process

Post-incorporation Filings

Ongoing Support

Read More From our Non-Resident Blog

Setting Up an Irish Company as a Non-Resident with Costs

The Non-Resident Section 137 Bond

The Irish ID Number for Non-Residents

Don’t just take our word for it

Frequently asked non-resident questions

What is Open Forest?

Do I need to come to Ireland?

What do I need to provide?

How long does it take?

How much does is cost?

How do I get started?

Contact us

Companies with an Irish Resident Director
‍

Companies with No Irish / EEA Resident Director
‍