Company formation & business setup in Portugal
Set up your company in Portugal,guided by a real person.
From your tax number to opening your bank account, Audrey Marques coordinates every step with a trusted network of partners. Not a company spun up in 2 hours, real, human support from start to finish.
Over 75 French-speaking entrepreneurs supported since 2025.
entrepreneurs supported since 2025
Certidão Permanente after the articles are signed
Only step handled from abroad; articles and bank account signed in person
What sets us apart
The real challenge isn't speed. It's getting it right.
Many promise a company "in 2 hours." But a poorly designed structure, run from France, with no real substance, exposes you to tax reclassification. Business Portugal is neither an accounting firm nor a tax adviser: it's your single point of contact, coordinating the right specialists to build a solid, lasting setup.
Free tools
Before talking to us, test it for yourself.
Two interactive, free, 2026-dated tools answering the questions everyone really asks, instant on-screen result, no sign-up.
The method
From idea to a working company
A clear journey, handled end to end. Expect about 3 weeks for a complete file.
Remote NIF
We obtain your Portuguese tax number without you having to travel.
File preparation
Articles, capital, business purpose, partners: everything framed with you before filing.
Company formation
Articles signed in person, then registration and Certidão Permanente within 24-48 h.
RCBE & compliance
Declaration to the central register of beneficial owners, handled by our partner lawyer right after the Certidão Permanente is issued.
Bank account
Support opening your account with our partner Millennium.
What you get: NIF, an incorporated company, Certidão Permanente, RCBE, articles of association and banking support.
Beyond formation
One network, one point of contact
Once your company is set up, Audrey connects you with the right specialists, and stays your point of contact.
Accounting
Introductions to our partner firms for your ongoing accounting.
Tax
Guidance to the right tax advisers for your situation: IFICI, personal tax, structuring.
Registered address
Business address solutions in Lisbon through our partners.
Recruitment
Introduction to a specialised firm to hire your first team members.
Business Portugal coordinates; regulated services are provided by registered partner professionals.
- Can you set up a company in Portugal without living there?
- Yes. No Portuguese law requires you to reside there or be a tax resident to set up a Lda or a Unipessoal Lda. The real question isn't whether you're allowed to set up, but where you'll actually run the business, that's what determines where it's taxed.
- What is the minimum share capital of a Lda or Unipessoal Lda?
- €1 per partner. The €5,000 figure still often quoted is incorrect. In practice, planning ~€1,000 gives the file consistency, particularly with banks. An SA, however, does require €50,000.
- How long does it take to set up a company?
- Allow on average about 3 weeks for a complete file, once documents are gathered. The Certidão Permanente is available within 24-48 h after registration. No serious firm guarantees an absolute date, which depends on administrations and banks.
- Can retirees benefit from the IFICI (former NHR)?
- No. The IFICI entirely excludes foreign retirement pensions: that's the major change from the former NHR. A private pension falls under the Portuguese IRS scale, while a public pension remains taxed in France (1971 treaty).
- Can a French resident run their Portuguese company from France?
- Yes, it's possible: you need a registered address in Portugal and, most often, to be able to show part of the activity takes place locally. The key point to watch is effective management: if the company is genuinely run from France with no substance in Portugal, the authorities may tax it in France. The danger isn't setting up, that's simple, but the later tax reclassification, which is exactly what we help you frame.
- Is Audrey an accountant or tax adviser?
- No. Audrey Marques is a company-formation and setup consultant. She incorporates the company and supports the bank-account opening, then connects you with a Contabilista Certificado and partner tax advisers for the regulated services.
Let's talk about your project.
The first conversation is free and with no commitment. We'll look together at whether Portugal is the right move, and whether we're the right fit.
30 minutes • in French • no commitment