Skip to content
We are hiring!Divuzl is expanding across India, the US, UK, Singapore, Australia and EuropeDivuzl is expanding across six marketsJOIN US →
Divuzl
ClientsSoftwares
Log in
Free consultation

Divuzl Europe

Set up in Europe and sell across the single market.

Company formation in the right member state, VAT and OSS registration, EORI for customs, GDPR-ready operations — plus the brand, marketing and product build to reach 27 markets from one base.

Start in Europe →or see everything we do

Europe at a glance

Regulator
The national commercial register of your chosen member state
Common structures
GmbH or UG (DE), BV (NL), Ltd (IE), SAS or SARL (FR), OÜ (EE)
Typical time to incorporate
Days to several weeks, depending on the country
Minimum capital
€1 for a UG or BV, €25,000 for a GmbH
Consumption tax
VAT, 17%–27% depending on member state
Cross-border VAT threshold
€10,000 EU-wide for distance selling
Currency
Euro (€, EUR) in the eurozone

Checked against the regulator on 2026-08-18.

Who you answer to in Europe

Companies register with

The commercial register of the member state you choose, via the for example the Handelsregister in Germany, KvK in the Netherlands, or the CRO in Ireland.

National register ↗

Tax is administered by

The national tax authority of your member state, with EU-level VAT coordination.

National tax authority ↗

VAT

Corporate tax

European company structures

Most of our clients here incorporate as a The right answer depends on where your customers, staff and banking actually sit — this is the decision we spend the most time on with European clients. Incorporation runs through a filing with the national commercial register, usually requiring notarisation. It typically takes From a few days in Estonia or Ireland to several weeks where notarisation and bank deposits are required. Minimum capital: Varies sharply — €1 for a German UG or Dutch BV, €25,000 for a German GmbH, €12,500 of which must be paid up. Varies by member state. Several require a local registered address, and some require notarised incorporation deeds or a local bank deposit before registration completes

German GmbH or UG

GmbH

Best for: Operating in the largest EU economy

Dutch BV

BV

Best for: Holding structures and EU distribution

Irish Limited Company

Ltd

Best for: English-speaking EU base with common law

French SAS or SARL

SAS

Best for: Trading into the French market

Estonian OÜ

OÜ

Best for: Fully digital, remote-first incorporation

Tax identities

  • VAT number — National VAT identifier, validated EU-wide through VIES
  • EORI number — Required to move goods across the EU customs border
  • National company number — Issued by the commercial register of your member state
  • OSS registration — One Stop Shop, for reporting cross-border B2C sales in a single return

Registrations worth having

  • VAT registration in your member state
  • OSS or IOSS for cross-border and import e-commerce
  • EORI registration for customs
  • GDPR records of processing, and a Data Protection Officer where required
  • EU trademark registration with the EUIPO

Every year, without fail

  • Annual accounts filed with the national register
  • Corporate income tax return in your member state
  • Periodic VAT returns, monthly or quarterly depending on the country
  • EC Sales Lists for cross-border B2B supplies
  • Intrastat declarations above national goods thresholds

What we run for European businesses

Business Incorporation & Legal ServicesBusiness & StrategyFinancial, CA, CS & ComplianceBusiness & StrategyStartup Advisory & Funding SupportBusiness & StrategyMarket Intelligence & AnalyticsBusiness & StrategyInvestor Relations & FundraisingBusiness & StrategyCrisis Management & Risk AdvisoryBusiness & StrategyStrategic Partnerships & AlliancesBusiness & StrategyBranding & DesignMarketing & BrandingSocial Media MarketingMarketing & Branding
All services →

Europe: common questions

Which European country is best to incorporate in?

There is no single answer, and anyone who gives you one without asking questions is selling something. Estonia and Ireland are fastest and most remote-friendly. The Netherlands is the classic holding jurisdiction. Germany gives you the largest domestic market but the heaviest formation process, including notarisation and €25,000 of share capital for a GmbH. The right choice follows where your customers, your staff and your banking actually sit — substance requirements mean a paper company in a low-tax state is increasingly likely to be challenged.

Do I need to register for VAT in every EU country I sell to?

No — that is what the One Stop Shop was built to prevent. Since July 2021, cross-border B2C sales of goods and digital services across the EU are reported through a single OSS return in your home member state once you cross the €10,000 EU-wide threshold. Below that threshold you can charge your domestic rate. You still need separate local registrations if you hold stock in another member state, which is what catches out sellers using overseas fulfilment warehouses.

What is an EORI number and do I need one?

An Economic Operators Registration and Identification number is required to move goods across the EU customs border. If you import into or export out of the EU, you need one — it is issued by your member state's customs authority and is valid across the whole union. Businesses trading only in services, or only within the single market, generally do not.

How much share capital does a European company need?

It varies more than any other factor. A Dutch BV or a German UG can be formed with €1. A German GmbH requires €25,000 of share capital, of which at least €12,500 must be paid up before registration. French and Spanish requirements sit in between. Where capital must be deposited before registration, opening the bank account becomes the slowest step in the whole process.

Does GDPR apply to my company if I am not based in the EU?

It can. GDPR applies extraterritorially where you offer goods or services to people in the EU, or monitor their behaviour — so a company with no EU entity at all can still fall in scope through its website and analytics. Companies outside the EU that are in scope generally need to appoint an EU representative under Article 27.

Tell us what you are building in Europe.

One form, one conversation, and a written scope before any work starts. We reply within one working day.

We reply within one working day. No spam, ever.

Divuzl
©2026 DivuzlBorn in India