The founder’s reading room
Start informed.
Keep more of your budget.
Practical company setup tips, clear cost comparisons and checks that help you avoid misleading offers.
Avoid scams
Avoid scams
How to check a formation agent before paying
A polished website is a starting point for a conversation, not evidence that an agent is qualified.
Read the guide ↗Avoid scams
Spot fake registration and renewal invoices
Once a business exists, unsolicited letters can look surprisingly convincing.
Read the guide ↗Avoid scams
The agent’s bank details changed: what to check
An email announcing new bank details can arrive inside an otherwise legitimate business conversation.
Read the guide ↗Avoid scams
Before sending your passport to a formation agent
Company formation can involve legitimate identity checks, but sensitive documents should not be sent simply because a stranger asks for them.
Read the guide ↗Avoid scams
Be cautious with “guaranteed business bank account” packages
A formation provider can help prepare a banking application, but ask it to explain exactly what a “guarantee” means.
Read the guide ↗Avoid scams
What to ask when someone advertises a “zero-tax company”
A single tax rate rarely explains the full cost of operating internationally.
Read the guide ↗Avoid scams
What your formation contract should say about refunds
A useful contract explains what the provider will do and what happens when events do not go to plan.
Read the guide ↗Avoid scams
Think you paid a fake formation agent? Take these steps
If you suspect a formation payment went to a scammer, focus first on limiting further loss and preserving evidence.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Save money
Compare setup quotes without getting caught by hidden extras
Two incorporation packages can have similar names and very different contents.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Direct filing or an agent: where paying for help makes sense
The choice is not simply “cheap DIY” versus “expensive agent.” A direct application can be sensible when the authority permits it and your case is straightforward.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Build a realistic first-year company setup budget
The registration fee is only one part of starting a company.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Avoid renewal-fee surprises in incorporation packages
A discounted first year can be a fair offer.
Read the guide ↗Save money
US EIN applications: separate the free tax ID from paid help
If a US formation package includes an employer identification number, ask exactly what the charge covers.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Registered-office packages: check the service behind the address
An address package can sound like a simple purchase, but it may involve several different services.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Save on translations and apostilles by checking requirements first
Ordering certified copies, translations and legalisation for every document can become expensive.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Check the company name before paying for branding
A name can look available in one place and still cause problems elsewhere.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Check the business activity before you choose the company
A company can be properly registered and still need further permission to carry out its intended work.
Read the guide ↗Save money
Switch agents without losing access to your company
A provider relationship may change because of price, service quality or business growth.
Read the guide ↗Choose a structure
Choose a structure
Nominee and local-director services: ask who controls what
If an incorporation proposal includes a local or nominee director, take time to understand the role before signing.
Read the guide ↗Choose a structure
Remote incorporation is not the same as a residence permit
Being able to register or manage a company online can be convenient, but do not buy a package assuming it also gives you permission to live or work in that country.
Read the guide ↗Choose a structure
Buying a shelf company: check the history before paying for speed
An existing company can look like a shortcut because it already has a registration number.
Read the guide ↗Choose a structure
Choose a jurisdiction for the business, not just the lowest fee
The cheapest company to form is not automatically the cheapest company to run.
Read the guide ↗