Guides to Starting a Company in Portugal

12.5% Corporate Tax in Portugal's Interior (Low-Density) Regions

How startups and SMEs pay 12.5% IRC on their first €50,000 of profit by operating from Portugal's interior territories — conditions, pitfalls and how to set up.

7 min read

Corporate Tax in Portugal (2026): IRC Rates for an Lda.

IRC rates in Portugal for 2026: the 19% standard rate, the 15% SME rate, surcharges, dividend tax and key filing deadlines.

2 min read

Do I Need an Accountant for My Portuguese Company?

Why every Lda. must appoint a Contabilista Certificado, what they file for you, typical monthly costs and how to choose one.

1 min read

Empresa na Hora: Register a Company in Portugal in One Day

How Portugal's Empresa na Hora service works, what it costs, who can use it and how it compares with registering online.

2 min read

How Much Does It Cost to Open a Company in Portugal?

A full breakdown of the cost of opening an Lda. in Portugal: registry fees, name certificate, share capital, lawyer fees and running costs.

2 min read

How to Register a Company (Lda.) in Portugal: Step-by-Step Guide

The complete process to register a Sociedade por Quotas (Lda.) in Portugal in 2026: documents, name approval, registry filing, tax and RCBE.

4 min read

NIF for Foreigners: Getting a Portuguese Tax Number to Open a Company

Why every partner and manager of a Portuguese company needs a NIF, how non-residents get one, and when a fiscal representative is required.

2 min read

Opening a Business Bank Account in Portugal for Your Lda.

What banks ask for when you open an account for a new Portuguese Lda., how the share capital deposit works, and tips for non-resident founders.

1 min read

Owning a Portuguese Lda. Through a Holding Company (and What an SGPS Is)

How a foreign or Portuguese holding company can own an Lda., the participation exemption on dividends, and when a Portuguese SGPS makes sense.

2 min read

Portugal Company Registry: How to Search a Company and Get a Certidão Permanente

How to look up a Portuguese company for free, what the Commercial Registry shows, and how to get or read a certidão permanente (from €25/year).

2 min read

RCBE: Portugal's Beneficial Ownership Register Explained

What the RCBE is, who counts as a beneficial owner, the 30-day filing deadline, the annual confirmation and the fines for missing it.

2 min read

Registered Office in Portugal: Can I Use a Virtual Office?

Every Lda. needs a registered office (sede social) in Portugal. Here are your options — home address, office or virtual office — and what each involves.

1 min read

Unipessoal Lda.: The Single-Member Company in Portugal

What a Sociedade Unipessoal por Quotas is, how it differs from a standard Lda. and a sole trader, and how to register one.

2 min read

What Does "Lda." Mean? The Portuguese Limited Company Explained

"Lda." stands for Limitada — a Portuguese private limited company (Sociedade por Quotas). What it means, how it compares to an LLC or Ltd, and how to open one.

2 min read

Lda. vs S.A. in Portugal: Private or Public Limited Company?

The differences between a Sociedade por Quotas (Lda.) and a Sociedade Anónima (S.A.) in Portugal: capital, shareholders, governance, audit and costs.

1 min read

Lda. vs Sole Trader (ENI) in Portugal: Which Should You Choose?

Compare a Portuguese limited company (Lda.) with working as a sole trader (ENI or freelancer): liability, tax, Social Security, costs and credibility.

2 min read

Opening a Company in Portugal as a Non-Resident or Foreigner

How foreigners and non-residents open an Lda. in Portugal remotely: NIF, fiscal representative, apostilles, registered office and bank account.

2 min read

Portugal D2 Visa: Using a Portuguese Company (Lda.) to Move to Portugal

How non-EU founders use a Portuguese Lda. for the D2 entrepreneur visa: requirements, means of subsistence in 2026, the process and what the company must show.

6 min read