By Shannon Power, 7th October 2025

The cost of setting up a limited company in Ireland varies based on your business’s specific needs and structure. If you are uncertain about the expenses you may encounter along your business journey, this guide will provide clarity on what to expect. We will break down the formation costs, ongoing fees, and the expenses associated with maintaining compliance as a limited company in Ireland.

The Cost of Registering an Irish Company

All Irish companies are legally obliged to register themselves with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). Below, we will outline the costs associated with registering a company in Ireland, as well as additional expenses if you choose to outsource any other aspects of the formation process.

• Outsourced Company Formation Service – from €249

Many entrepreneurs opt to outsource the company formation process to a formation agent. Our company formation service takes care of all the paperwork for you, ensuring that everything is accurate and properly organised to avoid any errors, as well as covering the CRO’s €50 filing fee. This approach allows you to have peace of mind, knowing that your registration will proceed smoothly.

• Register of Beneficial Ownership (RBO) Filing – from €75+VAT

All Irish companies are required to file their Register of Beneficial Owners (RBO) information with the central register within five months of incorporation. By choosing to file your RBO as part of our Company Formation service, you benefit from a discounted rate of €75+VAT. Alternatively, you can opt for our standalone RBO filing service, available for purchase at € 150+VAT, at any time.

The Cost of Setting Up an Irish Company

There is more to starting a company in Ireland than just the registration; you must consider your company secretary, your registered office, and all other legal requirements associated with running an Irish business.

• Company Secretarial Services – from €275+VAT/year

All Irish companies are required to appoint a company secretary to handle the filing of annual returns, update company details, and perform other related tasks. This is a vital position in any business, as they are responsible for keeping the company in good standing with the CRO. By outsourcing your company secretarial obligations to a company such as ours, you will benefit from:

– Access to years of expertise

– Saving money on maintaining a full-time in-house company secretary

– Minimising the chances of costly errors

– Having more time to focus on the core of your business

Company Bureau offer two levels of Company Secretarial services, depending on the requirements of your company.

1. Acting as Secretary Service: For €275+VAT/year, Company Bureau will act as the named Secretary for your company. This does not include any filings or generation of paperwork.
2. Annual Company Secretarial Maintenance Service: For €450+VAT per year, Company Bureau will handle all filings and paperwork generation, including Annual Returns, monitoring company changes, and more. This package does not include acting as Secretary, but you can avail of both services together at a combined discounted price of €595+VAT per year. For more info, send us a message online!

• Company Seal – from €35+VAT

Holding a company seal is a legal requirement for every Irish-registered company. This seal must feature the company name engraved in legible characters and is used to emboss official company documents to ensure authenticity.

• Registered Office Service – from €375+VAT/year

All Irish companies are legally required to have a registered office address within the Republic of Ireland; this address must be a physical location and not a P.O. Box. The Registered address is where all CRO and formal legal correspondence relating to the company will be sent.

Outsourcing your registered office address is ideal for individuals without a physical presence in Ireland, or those who use a residential address for business administration and wish to keep it private.

• Tax Registration Service – from €195+VAT

Once you have incorporated your company, you should immediately register it for the appropriate taxes with the Revenue. There are three main taxes in Ireland that companies can register for. These are:

1. Corporation Tax (CT)
2. Value Added Tax (VAT)
3. Employers PAYE/PRSI

Additional Costs for Non-Residents

When it comes to setting up a company in Ireland, there may be a few extra costs involved if you are not an Irish resident. In addition to obtaining a registered office, you may need to acquire some of the following to maintain compliance.

• Section 137 Non-EEA Resident Director Bond – €1,957.50

Suppose you want to start a business in Ireland but do not have a director who resides in Ireland or anywhere in the European Economic Area (EEA). In that case, you must obtain a Section 137 Bond. The Bond insures the company for a sum of €25,000, with the purpose of covering:

– Any fine imposed on the Company in respect of offences under the Companies Act 2014

– A fine for failure to supply certain information to the Revenue Commissioners

– Any penalty that the company has been held liable to pay under S1071 or S1073 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997

– Any expenses incurred in recovering the fines and penalties mentioned above

The Non-Resident Bond covers a period of 2 years and must be renewed once this period is up.

• IPN/ PPS Number – €75+VAT/€115+VAT per person

As of 2023, all directors of Irish companies are required to provide their Personal Public Service Number (PPSN) or Identified Person Number (IPN) on specific Companies Registration Office (CRO) forms. If any of your directors are not residents of Ireland, you will need to obtain a PPSN or IPN for each of them.

The Cost of Closing an Irish Company

If you are starting a company in Ireland, you will also need to consider the possibility that you may need to close this company at some point. To avoid any penalties, you must close an Irish company correctly, which does come with a cost.

• Voluntary Strike-Off – €350+VAT

An Irish company may be voluntarily struck off the Register if its assets and liabilities are worth no more than €150 or the balance sheet is zero. This is the fastest and easiest way to close a company in Ireland whilst remaining compliant.

• Liquidation – pricing available on request

Another option for closing a company is through liquidation. This is a more complex and costly option for business owners, making voluntary strike-off the preferred choice.