Doing Business in Ireland

How to Register your Business

When starting a business, the first thing you will need to decide is the type of legal business structure that best suits your company’s operations. For a list of Irish business structures, use the Irish Companies Registration Office (CRO).

This site provides up to date comprehensive information on the procedures and obligations pertaining to the setting up and running of all forms of companies.

For information on a range of supports, both financial and non-financial, that are available to assist companies to grow, improve competitiveness, create employment and improve productivity go to Business Regulation website. The DBEI website also includes its support for SMEs.

Generally, the procedure required to set-up your business will depend on the legal structure you select. This information is further discussed in the DIFME toolkit Module 4, which explores different types of business formats, emphasizing how each format may facilitate your needs.

When establishing your business, it is imperative to consider the start-up capital you will need. Typically, this will vary according to your company’s legal status and anticipated expenses (e.g., rent for premises, employee wages, water and electricity, audited accounts etc.). For more information on start-up capital, please refer to the DIFME toolkit Module 2.

Micro and small companies in Ireland must file an annual return BUT are NOT required to submit audited accounts. (Chapter 15 Part 6 Companies Act 2014A)

The criteria are as below:

Balance Sheet Total not exceeding...Turnover not exceedingEmployees not exceeding
Micro€350,000€700,00010
Small€6m€10m50

Despite these exemptions it may be advisable to seek professional assistance from a qualified accountant prior to setting up a business.

Ireland: links and information