Setting Up a Company in Barcelona: Lawyer Costs Explained

"How much does it cost to set up a company in Spain" and "company formation Barcelona cost" both come up constantly from founders moving here. The short version: budget roughly 1,500 to 3,000 euros in fees, plus 3,000 euros in capital that becomes company money, not a cost you lose.

SL or S.A.: which company type do most founders choose?

Almost every small or medium business in Spain forms as a Sociedad Limitada (SL), the rough equivalent of a UK limited company or US LLC. It needs a minimum 3,000 euros in share capital, deposited in a Spanish corporate bank account before incorporation. The alternative, a Sociedad Anónima (S.A.), needs 60,000 euros minimum capital and is really built for larger companies planning to list shares, so most founders never need it.

What does an SL actually cost to set up?

Published 2026 guides put the full cash outlay, excluding the share capital itself, at roughly 1,500 to 3,000 euros, sometimes quoted up to about 6,500 euros once translations, apostilled documents and remote signing are included for founders who are not in Spain to sign in person. That breaks down roughly as:

• Lawyer or legal advisory fees: roughly 800 to 1,700 euros, covering the articles of association and guiding you through each step
• Notary fees: roughly 400 to 600 euros for the incorporation deed
• Mercantile Registry fees: roughly 175 to 400 euros
• Company name certificate and NIF/NIE registration: roughly 20 to 60 euros combined
• Translations and apostilled documents, if signing remotely: roughly 200 to 500 euros, not needed if you sign in Spain

Some gestorías and lawyers quote a single all-in package rather than itemising each fee, which can be easier to budget against but makes it harder to see what you are actually paying for. Ask for the breakdown either way.

The steps, in order

• Reserve your company name with the Spanish Tax Agency (a "Certificado de Denominación Social", valid for two months)
• Open a Spanish corporate bank account and deposit the minimum 3,000 euro share capital
• Get a provisional tax identification number (NIF)
• Sign the incorporation deed before a notary, in person or remotely with power of attorney
• File the deed with the Mercantile Registry (Registro Mercantil), often done electronically by the notary
• Receive your permanent company registration number

With a lawyer or gestor handling the paperwork, the whole process commonly takes one to two weeks once your documents and bank account are ready. Foreign founders without a Spanish NIE already in hand should expect that step to add time, since it has its own appointment system.

English-speaking business lawyers who can handle company formation, by area: All of Barcelona, or by area: Eixample, Poblenou, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Les Corts, Diagonal Mar & Vila Olímpica, Gràcia, El Born & Barri Gòtic and Sants.

Opening a Spanish bank account as a foreign founder

This step trips up more founders than any other part of the process. You need a Spanish corporate bank account open before you can deposit the share capital and incorporate, but banks routinely ask for documents that are circular for a new arrival: proof of a Spanish address, your NIE, and sometimes a Spanish tax history that a brand-new company obviously does not have yet. Some banks are noticeably more used to handling foreign founders than others, and a lawyer or gestor who sets up companies regularly will usually know which branches move faster for this specific situation. Budget extra time here if you are not already resident in Spain with a Spanish address.

What happens after incorporation

Forming the company is only step one. You will also need ongoing accounting, payroll if you hire staff, and corporate tax filings, which published guides put at roughly 3,000 to 8,000 euros a year depending on how much activity there is and whether you outsource it fully. An autónomo accountant or gestor can quote this separately, and it is worth getting that figure before you incorporate, not after.

Avoiding the foreign-founder markup

More than one guide aimed at foreign entrepreneurs specifically warns that quotes for the same service can vary widely, and that some providers charge non-Spanish clients more than they would a local one. Get two or three quotes before committing, ask exactly what is included (a bank account, a registered address, ongoing support, or just the paperwork), and confirm whether the quote is fixed or can grow once you are already committed.

English-speaking tax advisors and gestores for ongoing accounting once your company is formed: All of Barcelona, or by area: Eixample, Poblenou, Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Les Corts, Diagonal Mar & Vila Olímpica, Gràcia, El Born & Barri Gòtic and Sants.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Company law, fees and registry rules can change, so confirm current figures and requirements with a qualified lawyer before you commit.