Most trusted place to setup company in Europe?

[EliasIT]

Certainly; yet I guessed that for @benq (OP) it would not be a problem, in his situation....

I agree with @Forester this guy seems to do well with his business and to get a local director would be he last problem.

 

[benq]

We have used Deloitte for nearly a lifetime, and they’ve always ensured that the tax authorities are kept at bay while opening doors to bank credit when needed. Additionally, they’ve been excellent at optimizing my personal tax burden and, above all, have a solid understanding of my goals and preferences.

That said, I can see from the responses in this thread that there is room for alternative approaches to Deloitte’s suggestions, and I’ve truly appreciated reading all your insightful replies. I’ve now reached out to advisors in Liechtenstein to explore the potential for a setup there. I’m also still considering a company in Switzerland as a public-facing entity and have requested a thorough review of the tax disadvantages.

Please feel free to share more advice. I’ve contributed to the forum with a lifetime membership as a way to give back to this fantastic platform and to show that I’m serious.

 

[JohnnyDoe]

We have used Deloitte for nearly a lifetime, and they’ve always ensured that the tax authorities are kept at bay while opening doors to bank credit when needed. Additionally, they’ve been excellent at optimizing my personal tax burden and, above all, have a solid understanding of my goals and preferences.

That said, I can see from the responses in this thread that there is room for alternative approaches to Deloitte’s suggestions, and I’ve truly appreciated reading all your insightful replies. I’ve now reached out to advisors in Liechtenstein to explore the potential for a setup there. I’m also still considering a company in Switzerland as a public-facing entity and have requested a thorough review of the tax disadvantages.

Please feel free to share more advice. I’ve contributed to the forum with a lifetime membership as a way to give back to this fantastic platform and to show that I’m serious.

Try to think out of the box. Deloitte is the epitome of conventional thinking (when not incompetence).
I would also avoid patronizing such a company for a plethora of ethical reasons.
Do you remember Parmalat?
More recently: https://www.lidentita.it/lombra-di-...ortina-2026-tre-indagati-perquisita-deloitte/

 

[koohl]

I completely understand your choice of advisors for a larger enterprise like yours. While it may not seem enormous, it falls into the category of small to medium-sized Enterprises (SME's) in many countries. If you have the budget and flexibility to work with advisors like Deloitte and complement that with a skilled law firm and professional in-house bookkeeping, you can keep many potential problems at bay. In the end, it’s worth every penny.

In our business, which is roughly the same size as yours, we spend around €125,000 annually on accounting, tax advisory, legal services, and all financial matters. That investment pays for itself many times over every year.

For smaller business owners or people earning their money in a simpler, more convenient way, who only have to worry about their own well being, it might seem completely nonsensical. But if you’re playing at a professional level and want to stay there, you have to act like the pros. That’s the name of the game.

 

[lacomaco]

Two problems I see in these proposal: 1. To transfer part of full ownership of the operating company might be taxable if not done with proper transfer pricing. Possibility (nothing more, please check) of a share swap or forming a European SE could possibly avoid that. 2. With reference to Lichtenstein nobody indicated the WHT on the dividends coming out to the holding company, only the individual’s personal income tax liability from getting out the money from the holding company. As an EEA country the parent/subsidiary directive cannot be applied, and for this possible solution an EU holding company might be better than Lichtenstein.

And I might be wrong

 

[Don]

Two problems I see in these proposal: 1. To transfer part of full ownership of the operating company might be taxable if not done with proper transfer pricing. Possibility (nothing more, please check) of a share swap or forming a European SE could possibly avoid that.

2. With reference to Lichtenstein nobody indicated the WHT on the dividends coming out to the holding company, only the individual’s personal income tax liability from getting out the money from the holding company. As an EEA country the parent/subsidiary directive cannot be applied, and for this possible solution an EU holding company might be better than Lichtenstein.

Great point.. so a lot depends on the persons individual tax residence.

 

[benq]

Two problems I see in these proposal: 1. To transfer part of full ownership of the operating company might be taxable if not done with proper transfer pricing. Possibility (nothing more, please check) of a share swap or forming a European SE could possibly avoid that. 2. With reference to Lichtenstein nobody indicated the WHT on the dividends coming out to the holding company, only the individual’s personal income tax liability from getting out the money from the holding company. As an EEA country the parent/subsidiary directive cannot be applied, and for this possible solution an EU holding company might be better than Lichtenstein.

And I might be wrong

And this is where my very skilled tax advisors come into play, providing me with immense value by ensuring everything is done correctly from the start. You are absolutely right, it’s not everything that users here can or remember to share, which is why I use the thread as a hint and then conduct my own research.

I’m still very grateful for the help and input I receive here. It’s invaluable and something I can’t get from regular advisors.

 

[bubbledouble]

Which you will now share so we can judge what you paid them for

he did, it's an massive budget OP has for advisors

 

[Forester]

a lot depends on the persons individual tax residence.

Definitely. As far as I understand, we are dicussing company strategies here, until now. Personal taxation is another issue, not taken into account yet. Of course, these issues are linked, to some extent.

 

[aage]

Danish holding companies can be quite attractive for exits. There are special rules you can use to end up paying little to no tax in the event of an exit. I've seen a couple successfully executed.

Don't live in Denmark, though. Having a Danish holding company is a different story entirely from living there or even doing active trading business through a Danish company.

I completely agree with Sols that a Danish company, in terms of prestige, is on the same level as Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, or the Netherlands for that matter. However, I don’t know why Eliasit is so strongly opposed.