Business registration on this page
France
Micro-entrepreneur / SASU or SARL. Non-EU citizens living in France need a residence permit that allows self-employment.
- Declare your micro-enterprise on the single online business portal (guichet unique) — free.
- Receive your SIREN/SIRET number.
- Set up your URSSAF account and declare your revenue monthly or quarterly.
- Open a separate bank account once your yearly revenue passes €10,000 two years in a row.
- Registration: free
- Micro-entrepreneur limit (sales): 203100 EUR
- Micro-entrepreneur limit (services): 83600 EUR
- VAT exemption (sales): 85000 EUR (tolerance 93500)
- VAT exemption (services): 37500 EUR (tolerance 41250)
https://formalites.entreprises.gouv.fr · https://www.impots.gouv.fr
United Kingdom
Sole trader / Private limited company (Ltd). Running a business in the UK needs the right to work here; non-residents can own a Ltd, and everyone setting one up must verify their identity with Companies House.
- Register for Self Assessment with HMRC — free, by 5 October after the tax year you start (if you earn over £1,000).
- Keep records of income and expenses.
- Register for VAT within 30 days of passing the threshold.
- Registration: free
- Companies House incorporation (online): 100 GBP
- Confirmation statement, each year: 50 GBP
- VAT registration: 90000 GBP
https://www.gov.uk/register-for-self-assessment · https://www.gov.uk/vat-registration
Germany
Sole proprietor (Einzelunternehmen) or freelancer (Freiberufler) / GmbH or UG. Non-EU citizens need a residence permit that allows self-employment or freelancing.
- Register a trade at the local Gewerbeamt (freelancers skip this step).
- File the tax registration questionnaire (Fragebogen zur steuerlichen Erfassung) through ELSTER — choose the small-business VAT exemption there.
- Join the chamber (IHK or Handwerkskammer) — automatic for trades.
- Small-business VAT exemption — last year's revenue: 25000 EUR
- Small-business VAT exemption — this year's revenue: 100000 EUR
https://www.elster.de · https://www.elster.de
Singapore
Sole proprietorship / Private limited company (Pte Ltd). A company needs at least one director who lives in Singapore, and foreign founders file through a registered filing agent; working here needs a pass.
- Reserve the business name on BizFile+.
- Register the sole proprietorship — usually approved within 15 minutes.
- Receive your UEN, your business ID for everything else.
- Name application: 15 SGD
- Registration (1 year): 100 SGD
- Name application: 15 SGD
- Incorporation: 300 SGD
- GST registration: 1000000 SGD
https://www.bizfile.gov.sg · https://www.iras.gov.sg
Philippines
Sole proprietorship (DTI) / One Person Corporation or corporation (SEC). Foreigners need a certificate of authority under the Foreign Investment Act; businesses serving the local market can be more than 40% foreign-owned only with at least US$200,000 paid-in capital (lower in some cases).
- Register the business name with the DTI online (valid 5 years).
- Get a barangay clearance for your business address.
- Get the mayor's (business) permit from the city or municipality — renewed each year.
- Register with the BIR within 30 days (Form 1901 for sole proprietors), and use BIR-registered invoices and books.
- DTI name — barangay scope: 200 PHP
- DTI name — city/municipal scope: 500 PHP
- DTI name — regional scope: 1000 PHP
- DTI name — national scope: 2000 PHP
- Documentary stamp tax: 30 PHP
- VAT registration: 3000000 PHP
- Optional 8% income tax rate: 3000000 PHP
https://bnrs.dti.gov.ph · https://www.bir.gov.ph
Australia
Sole trader (ABN) / Proprietary company (Pty Ltd). You need a visa that lets you work or run a business; every director needs a director ID, and a company needs at least one director who lives in Australia.
- Apply for an ABN on the Australian Business Register — free.
- Register a business name with ASIC if you won't trade under your own name.
- Register for GST within 21 days of reaching the threshold.
- ABN: free
- ASIC company registration: 611 AUD
- GST registration: 75000 AUD
https://www.abr.gov.au · https://www.ato.gov.au
Japan
Sole proprietor (kojin jigyo) / Godo kaisha (GK) or kabushiki kaisha (KK). Running a business needs a Business Manager status of residence, with capital and office requirements — check the Immigration Services Agency.
- File the business-opening notification (kaigyo todoke) with the tax office within a month.
- Apply for blue-form filing for its tax advantages.
- Consumption tax exemption (sales two years earlier): 10000000 JPY
https://www.nta.go.jp/english/ · https://www.nta.go.jp/english/
Italy
Sole trader with a VAT number (partita IVA) / SRL.
- Open a VAT number (partita IVA) with the Agenzia delle Entrate.
- Register with INPS for social security.
- Register with the Chamber of Commerce if you're a trader or craftsperson.
- Flat-rate regime (forfettario) limit: 85000 EUR
https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it · https://www.agenziaentrate.gov.it
India
Sole proprietorship / Private limited company. Foreigners usually form a private limited company, which needs at least one director resident in India.
- Register on Udyam (free) for small-business benefits.
- Register for GST once you pass the threshold.
- GST registration (services): 2000000 INR
- GST registration (goods): 4000000 INR
https://udyamregistration.gov.in · https://www.gst.gov.in
United Arab Emirates
Freelance permit or sole establishment / LLC (mainland or free zone). Free-zone companies can be fully foreign-owned, and so can mainland companies for most activities.
- Get the trade licence from the free zone or the economic department.
- Register for corporate tax, and for VAT once you pass the threshold.
- VAT registration: 375000 AED
https://u.ae/en/information-and-services/business · https://tax.gov.ae
Thailand
Sole proprietorship / Limited company. The Foreign Business Act limits foreign ownership to 49% in many activities unless you hold a Foreign Business Licence or BOI promotion.
- Register the business with the Department of Business Development.
- Get a tax ID from the Revenue Department, and register for VAT once you pass the threshold.
- VAT registration: 1800000 THB
https://www.dbd.go.th · https://www.rd.go.th
Every invoice needs: a unique number, the date, your name, address and business or tax number, the client's details, what you sold, and the amount (with any VAT shown).