Starting a business in Spain

How to set up a business in Spain

Once upon a time the only Britons heading for Spain were those who were planning to retire there. Not any more. Today, a growing number of younger people are moving to the country to set up their own businesses. Indeed, Spain is now one of the most popular places for people to launch their own start-up.

“The number of people looking to set up businesses in Spain is increasing all the time,” said Jose Morillo, director of investment at the Spanish embassy. His department gets 1,500 enquiries a year. Over the last five years, GDP growth in Spain has been 68% above the European Union average.

While the image of Brits buying pubs or bars on the Spanish coast still holds true, Morillo said people are going into a whole range of sectors, including construction, hairdressing, retailing, information technology and leisure, with scuba diving being particularly popular at the moment.

Setting up a business in Spain is straightforward, but it can be time-consuming making sure you have all the correct forms and licences. And there is the language barrier if you are not fluent in Spanish.

The following section looks at various aspects of starting a business in Spain, from buying a ready-made company, tips on corporate banking and information on what the Spanish ID numbers such as NIE and CIF mean. All content has been supplied by Strong Abogados specialists in company, property and employment law in Spain.

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