When choosing a jurisdiction for a business in Europe, you should understand that the European Union (EU) is not the same as Europe. There are some countries and exclusive jurisdictions that are geographically within Europe but are not part or all of the EU, for example Norway, Switzerland, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Liechtenstein. Some of these areas offer a low tax regime that can be useful for tax planning purposes. The governments of these European countries are very serious about attracting foreign investment and will continue to invest in this area and work to increase the amount of assets invested within their borders. Aside from their fast-growing financial services and entrepreneurship industries, some of these countries are perfect destinations to spend some free time during a vacation. Our professional lawyers and accountants will provide you with detailed advice on each of these jurisdictions, their tax regimes and their company formation procedures. We can create a unique solution just for you to help you develop a long-term tax planning program and business structure that will help you achieve your personal goals. Understand European companies These jurisdictions are not part of the European Union (some are partial members) so there are some regulatory differences in requirements and standards. Most of these areas have complex legal systems; However, there are plenty of business support services available as they are very popular among investors and entrepreneurs aiming for a low tax regime. All of this contributes to a friendly and pleasant environment in which to do business. However, do keep in mind that some of these jurisdictions are not fully entitled members of the EU, so if you are looking for easy access to the common internal European market, you would be advised to consult with our team first. Usually, companies are incorporated in these jurisdictions for the following purposes: To establish business and act as a trading company To achieve a particular corporate structure and serve as a holding company To hold property or other assets To own or operate ships To act as an investment company Benefits of establishing a European company Depending on the jurisdiction, establishing and operating a European company may provide some of the following benefits: Business-friendly tax authorities Understandable, predictable and transparent taxation system Opportunity to incorporate and maintain your business remotely Low-tax regime Perfect environment for operating a holding company Countless tax and corporate planning solutions http://www.confiduss.com/en/services/incorporation/location/europe/

A representative office of a company is an office established in a foreign market to perform marketing functions, data collection, and other operations that do not involve the sale of products or the provision of services. A key characteristic of a representative office is that, by definition, it cannot be involved in transactions, billing, or any other form of buying or selling products. Activities of a representative office Representative offices are mainly used for two activities that complement the main functions of the company: Representation of the parent company Managing information When representing the parent company, a representative office can contract and communicate with local partners on its behalf (e.g. organize meetings, send partners information to the parent company, etc.). In managing information, a representative office may conduct market research, organize marketing campaigns, and collect data from customers. It also serves as a point of contact between head office and customers when no other communication channels are available. In general, a representative office is a way for a company to venture into an unfamiliar foreign market without taking too many risks. This is because, in many countries, establishing a representative office is easier than opening a branch – since representative offices cannot sell products or services, they are often less strictly regulated than other types of companies. Representative offices require fewer resources (logistics networks, specialized sales staff, warehouses for goods) to perform their main tasks, so in case of failure, withdrawing from a particular market is not overly costly. Advantages of a representative office A representative office has several advantages over other ways of representing a company in a foreign market: Simpler registration and management Representative offices cannot perform business transactions, which is why in many countries they are not regulated as strictly as other entities. Ability to open bank accounts Although representative offices are limited in terms of their functionality, they can still be used to open corporate bank accounts for their parent company in a foreign market. Simple initial market entry Representative offices are an advantageous solution if the parent company is not sure whether to expand into a particular foreign market or not, as they allow it to enter the market for initial research without the need to establish supply chains, a customer base, etc. Bypassing restrictions In certain jurisdictions, branch offices and other forms of company representation with the ability to engage in transactions are prohibited or subject to certain limitations. Representative offices are a way to enter the market while bypassing these restrictions. http://www.confiduss.com/en/services/incorporation/structure/representative-office/