Example only. EU-resident software consultant, 80% EU clients, approximately $120k revenue, withdrawing most profit, no visa need and no external funding.
1. Facts that drive the result
- Client procurement is mostly in the European Union.
- Profit is withdrawn rather than retained for long-term growth.
- A familiar invoice identity matters more than a residence package.
- The founder needs SEPA-compatible payment rails.
- Personal tax residence remains in the founder’s EU country.
2. Three options worth investigating
Estonia OÜ — EU identity and digital administration, subject to home-country management and distribution analysis.
UK Ltd — familiar client identity and low setup friction, with UK tax filings and post-Brexit VAT questions.
Wyoming LLC — low state cost and US rails, but weaker EU procurement fit and easily missed foreign-owner filings.
Ajman FZE — no UAE residence need and recurring cost outweighs the commercial benefit in this example.
3. Provisional decision frame
Estonia is the first option to test, not an instruction to incorporate. The decisive issue is whether the founder’s home country would treat the company as managed or taxable there. If that removes the expected administrative or distribution benefit, a domestic entity or UK Ltd may be more defensible.
Evidence still needed
- Written banking eligibility from the preferred provider
- Client confirmation that the proposed invoice entity is accepted
- Home-country advice on management, salary and distributions
- VAT registration and place-of-supply analysis
4. Questions for licensed advisers
- Where would this company be considered tax resident based on actual management and decision-making?
- Would the founder create a permanent establishment or payroll obligation in the home country?
- How are salary and distributions taxed personally, and what social contributions apply?
- Which VAT registrations and invoice disclosures are required for the actual client mix?
- Which annual filings remain even if the company has little or no local activity?
What the full pilot adds
A full pilot report cites each current source, records the recommendation assumptions, tailors the rejection criteria, and produces a concise adviser agenda. It does not replace professional advice or apply to a bank on your behalf.
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