How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Limited Company in Ireland?
Staxo Team, 2026-09-16
Setting up a limited company in Ireland is cheaper than most people expect. The state fee is modest. What adds up is everything around it: who prepares the documents, whether you need a registered office or a company secretary service, and the annual filings that follow. This guide breaks the costs into one-off setup costs and ongoing running costs, with a table at the end.
The one fee you cannot avoid: the CRO
Every Irish company is incorporated by filing Form A1 and a constitution with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). The CRO's published fee for an A1 filed online through CORE is 50 euro. The CRO fee table shows no paper option for the A1; incorporation is done online.
If you want to lock in a company name before you are ready to file, the CRO offers a name reservation for 25 euro. The name is held for 28 days, and if you incorporate within that window the 25 euro is deducted from the incorporation fee.
Every director must give a PPSN on the A1. A director without a PPSN needs a Form VIF, which carries no CRO fee but must be witnessed in person since 30 April 2026.
Doing it yourself versus using a formation service
Do it yourself
You can file the A1 on CORE yourself. Your only cost is the 50 euro fee. You will need to draft a constitution, decide on share capital, collect director and secretary details, and print and sign the A1 signature page. It is doable, but mistakes get the form sent back and restart the clock.
Formation agents
Most people use an online formation service. Prices vary widely depending on what is bundled. Across the market, a basic online formation that covers the CRO fee, constitution and filing tends to sit somewhere in the low to mid hundreds of euro, while packages that add a registered office address, a company secretary service, a company seal and printed registers can run to several hundred euro or more. Treat those as approximate ranges and compare what each package actually includes.
Staxo forms an LTD for 199 euro ex VAT, or registers you as a sole trader for 49 euro ex VAT. See company formation with Staxo.
Other setup costs to budget for
Registered office
Every company must have a registered office in the State. It must be a physical address where post can be delivered; a PO box is not enough. If you are happy to use your home or business premises, this costs nothing. If you want a separate address, registered office agents charge an annual fee. Figures vary; treat anything you are quoted as approximate until you see the contract.
Company secretary
An LTD with only one director must have a separate person as secretary. A family member or friend over 18 can do it for free. If nobody suitable is available, a corporate secretary service can act, again for an annual fee that varies by provider.
Section 137 bond (no EEA-resident director)
If none of your directors lives in the EEA, the company must hold a bond in the prescribed form to the value of 25,000 euro, valid for at least two years, from a bank, building society, insurance company or credit institution. The 25,000 euro is the cover amount, not the price. The premium you pay is set by the insurer and is not published by the CRO. Expect a few hundred to a couple of thousand euro for a two year bond, but treat that as an approximate range and get a quote.
Register of Beneficial Ownership (RBO)
Every company must file its beneficial owners with the RBO within five months of incorporation. There is no filing fee.
Bank account and tax registration
Opening a business bank account is free with most providers, though monthly fees apply once it is open. Registering the company for corporation tax, VAT or PAYE with Revenue is free.
Ongoing costs of running a company
Annual return (Form B1)
The CRO fee for a B1 filed online is 20 euro. The first annual return is due six months after incorporation and does not need financial statements. Every year after that, financial statements must be attached.
Miss the deadline and a late filing fee of 100 euro applies immediately, plus 3 euro per day up to a maximum of 1,200 euro per return. The company can also lose its audit exemption for two years, which is far more expensive.
Accounts and tax filings
The company needs annual financial statements for the CRO and a corporation tax return (Form CT1) for Revenue. Corporation tax on trading income is 12.5%. If you hire someone to prepare accounts and returns, fees depend on the size and complexity of the business. Software with support, such as Staxo, can bring the bookkeeping cost down considerably.
Officer changes and other filings
Filing a Form B10 to change a director or secretary is free online. Changing the registered office (Form B2) is also free.
Cost table
| Item | Typical cost | Verified? |
|---|---|---|
| CRO Form A1 (online) | 50 euro | CRO fee table |
| Company name reservation (optional) | 25 euro, deducted if you incorporate within 28 days | CRO |
| Formation service | Low hundreds to several hundred euro depending on package | Approximate market range |
| Registered office service (optional) | Annual fee, varies by provider | Approximate |
| Company secretary service (optional) | Annual fee, varies by provider | Approximate |
| Section 137 bond (no EEA director) | Premium on 25,000 euro cover; a few hundred to a couple of thousand euro for two years | Cover amount verified; premium approximate |
| RBO filing | Free | RBO |
| Revenue tax registration | Free | Revenue |
| Annual return B1 (online) | 20 euro per year | CRO fee table |
| Late B1 | 100 euro plus 3 euro per day, max 1,200 euro | CRO |
| Annual accounts and CT1 | Depends on who prepares them | Varies |
Frequently asked questions
Can I set up a company for 50 euro?
Yes, if you file the A1 yourself on CORE and act as your own registered office, with a friend or family member as secretary. Most people pay a formation service to avoid mistakes.
Is there a minimum share capital?
No minimum is set for an LTD. Many companies issue 100 shares at 1 euro each. The amount does not affect the CRO fee.
Are the CRO fees subject to VAT?
No. CRO fees are statutory fees. Formation service fees from private providers are usually quoted ex VAT.
What is the biggest hidden cost?
Late filing. A late annual return costs up to 1,200 euro in fees and can remove the audit exemption, which means paying for an audit for two years.
Sources
- CRO: Company fees
- CRO: Registration methods (name reservation)
- CRO: Company officers, directors and secretaries (Section 137 bond)
- CRO: Missed deadlines and late filing fees
- RBO: Who must file and when
Staxo forms your Irish limited company online for 199 euro ex VAT and then gives you accounting software with human support to keep the ongoing filings on track. Start your company formation.