Compare jurisdictions

Compare company setup across jurisdictions

What each authority publishes about filing routes, officers, registered office, tax, visas and compliance — side by side, with the source behind every value.

Direct answer

Choose a jurisdiction by your business objective first — where you will operate, sell and hire — then compare each shortlisted country's official rules for structure, officers, licensing, visas and banking. This table summarises what each authority publishes; it does not rank jurisdictions.

Topics
Jurisdictions
JurisdictionPrimary authorityOfficial filing routeCompany name stepDirectors and officersLocal agent or secretaryRegistered officeTax registrationVisa and residencyCorporate bankingOngoing complianceGovernment feesProcessing time
UAEUAE GovernmentEmirate authority; online routes such as Basher are described by the UAE Government Source guideTrade name registration is a formal step in the mainland process Source guideNot yet verifiedA local service-agent agreement may apply, depending on legal form Source guidePhysical operating address; premises rules are set locally Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedSome activities need approvals from specialised government entities Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
SingaporeAccounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)Bizfile, after reserving the business name Source guideApproved names can be reserved for up to 120 days Source guideAdditional rules for foreigners, including local-residency requirements Source guideA corporate service provider is required in certain cases for foreigners Source guideBusiness address required; a P.O. Box cannot be the main address Source guideNot yet verifiedWork-pass requirements are separate from business registration Source guideNot yet verifiedACRA publishes post-registration requirements Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
Hong KongCompanies Registrye-Services filing or hard-copy filing Source guideCheck the public company-name index and naming rules Source guideDirector and company-secretary requirements are set out in the Registry FAQ Source guideNot yet verifiedRegistered office of a local limited company must be in Hong Kong Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedFilings through Registry e-services; public inspection rules apply Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
UKGOV.UK / Companies HouseOnline registration through GOV.UK Source guideName and trademark checks before registering Source guideAt least one director; company secretary optional for a private company Source guideNot yet verifiedOfficial registered office and SIC code required Source guideCorporation Tax can be set up during online registration, unless dormant Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedGOV.UK lists follow-up steps after incorporation Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
USAU.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)State-level filing agency; depends on structure and location Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedRegistered agent needed in the state of registration for LLCs and corporations Source guideLocation affects registration, tax, zoning and licensing Source guideFederal and state tax IDs are separate from registration Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedSome states require reports soon after registration Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
MalaysiaCompanies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)MyCoID: direct incorporation, or name reservation first Source guideApply for incorporation within 30 days of name approval, unless the Registrar allows longer Source guideDirectors must be natural persons, at least 18 and ordinarily resident in Malaysia Source guideFirst company secretary must be appointed within the stated period Source guideRegistered office in Malaysia required Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedAnnual submissions, including an annual return Source guideNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
Saudi Arabia In preparationMinistry of Investment (MISA) and Ministry of CommerceNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
Philippines In preparationSecurities and Exchange Commission (SEC)Not yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verified
Thailand In preparationDepartment of Business Development (DBD), Ministry of CommerceNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verifiedNot yet verified

Each value links to the guide that cites the official source and its verification date. "Not yet verified" means we have not yet confirmed that value from the authority — we leave it open rather than estimate.

Jurisdiction guides

Official authority for each country

Open a country guide for its setup path and in-depth guides.

UAE

UAE Government

Official UAE Government guidance describes business activity selection, legal form, trade licensing, trade-name registration, initial approval, location and additional approvals.

Country guideOfficial source

Singapore

Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA)

ACRA provides official guidance covering eligibility, business structure, name selection and reservation, Bizfile registration and post-registration requirements.

Country guideOfficial source

Hong Kong

Companies Registry

The Companies Registry explains local company types, company-name selection, incorporation forms and articles, certificate issuance, and routes for non-Hong Kong companies.

Country guideOfficial source

UK

GOV.UK / Companies House

GOV.UK provides current guidance on company type, directors, shareholders, PSC information, constitutional documents, company name, registered office, SIC code, registration and post-registration steps.

Country guideOfficial source

USA

U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

The SBA explains that location and business structure affect registration, tax, licensing and permitting requirements, with state and local variation.

Country guideOfficial source

Malaysia

Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)

SSM publishes official company incorporation requirements and process information, including company types, name approval, directors, company secretary, registered office and annual submissions.

Country guideOfficial source

Saudi Arabia

Ministry of Investment (MISA) and Ministry of Commerce

Guide in preparation. Enquire and we will confirm the current official requirements for your case.

Country guideOfficial source

Philippines

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)

Guide in preparation. Enquire and we will confirm the current official requirements for your case.

Country guideOfficial source

Thailand

Department of Business Development (DBD), Ministry of Commerce

Guide in preparation. Enquire and we will confirm the current official requirements for your case.

Country guideOfficial source

Structures

Company, branch, subsidiary or representative office

General concepts; verify the local rules before choosing.

StructureLegal statusOwner liabilityTypically used forVerify locally
Company (private limited / LLC)A legal person separate from its ownersGenerally limited to the owners' investmentMost new operating businessesMinimum officers, local residency, ownership limits for the activity Guide
Branch of a foreign companyAn extension of the parent company, not a new companyThe parent company is generally responsibleExisting companies entering a new marketWhether a branch is permitted for the activity, and its registration route Guide
SubsidiaryA separate company owned by an existing companyGenerally limited to the subsidiaryGroups that want local separation of riskForeign-ownership rules and licensing for the activity Guide
Representative officeA presence of a foreign company, where the jurisdiction allows itDepends on local lawMarket research and liaison, where permittedWhether it exists locally and which activities it may carry out Guide

How to choose

Use our framework to weigh market access, activity rules, ownership, people, banking and tax — without assuming one jurisdiction fits every business.

Jurisdiction frameworkJurisdiction FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which jurisdiction is best for my company?

There is no single best jurisdiction. The right choice depends on where you will operate and sell, your activity and any licences it needs, who will own and run the company, visa needs, banking and tax. Start from your business objective, then check each shortlisted jurisdiction's official rules.

Why do some cells say "Not yet verified"?

We only show a value when it comes from the authority's published guidance. Where we have not verified a figure — especially fees and processing times — we mark it for verification instead of estimating.

Can I compare fees here?

Not yet. Government fees change and differ by structure, activity and route. We show a fee only with its official source and the date it was checked.

Next step

Not sure which jurisdiction fits?

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Authorities make the final decisions. We never guarantee incorporation, licensing, banking or visa outcomes.