Company Formation / Branch Opening / Representative Office Opening

Company Formation

Italy has several different options for those wanting to run a business in Italy.

The most common limited companies in Italy are Srl and Spa.

Here is some information about our incorporation services:

• recommendation on most suitable form of Italian company type to be incorporated;
• opening of an escrow account in case of a limited company incorporation;
• drafting of Public deeds of incorporation and company bylaws, including the aims of the company;
• arranging Public Notary procedures and certified translations;
• preparation of shareholder agreement if requested;
• obtaining VAT and Tax code;
• registering of a company;
• opening of a bank account in Italy support;
• setting up bank accounts;
• full range of domiciliation and entity management services.

Branch opening

Italy offers the opportunity to register a branch office as an alternative to establish an Italian company in order to run a business in Italy.

Here is some information about our services

• drafting of board of directors minutes;
• arranging Public Notary procedures and certified translations;
• obtaining of VAT and Tax numbers;
• registering the branch;
• setting up bank accounts;
• providing branch domicile.

Representative Office Opening

The first step for a presence in Italy could be a Representative Office. The Representative Office is the easiest way to establish a real presence in Italy for foreign companies. The deal of a Representative Office is to support the parent company interested in the Italian market, both for marketing activities and business opportunities research or prepare the launch of the business in Italy.

The Representative Office is not an Italian tax payer so the activities that could be conducted are exclusively limited to:

• promotional actions;
• marketing researches;
• data-gathering;
• storage, display or delivery of goods belonging to the headquarters.

It is not allowed to have business activities related to the selling.

The Representative Office is considered an extension of parent company and not a legal entity. The Representative Office does not create profit therefore, according to the Italian legislation and the OECD Tax Model, is not subject to taxation and has no obligation to keep books, publish financial statements or file income tax or vat returns. To open a Representative Office, it is required to be registered at the Chamber of Commerce. This registration will award the Representative Office to be recognized like a local unit of the parent company.

Instead foreign companies interested in real business activities may set up Italy company or Italy branch.

• collecting and preparing the relevant documents;
• arranging sworn document translations;
• obtaining of VAT and Tax codes;
• registering the Representative Office;
• setting up bank accounts;
• providing Representative Office domicile.