Start a company in Estonia
with lawyers on your side

Setting up the company is the easy part. The harder questions are legal: which structure fits your situation, how your company is treated for tax, what you are committing to as a director, and what to do when something is not standard. We are practicing attorneys, not a self-service platform, so you get advice you can rely on - and a firm that can represent you if a problem arises later. Lepmets & N?ges is also the only Baltic member of ALFA International, a global network of over 140 top-tier law firms in more than 50 countries, so we also have your interest covered in cross-border situations.

No. With e-Residency you complete the entire process remotely and digitally. With the traditional approach you can either visit a notary in person or grant us a power of attorney so we handle it on your behalf.

Via e-Residency, the company can be registered within one business day. Applying for e-Residency itself takes up to 30 days and receiving your digital ID takes another 2-5 weeks.

The traditional notary route typically takes a few weeks in total, depending on how quickly the power of attorney is processed.

e-Residency is a digital identity issued by the Estonian government that lets non-residents use Estonian e-services, including establishing and managing a company entirely online from anywhere in the world. It is not tax residency and does not give you the right to live in Estonia or the EU.

In most cases, yes - but it helps to understand the difference between two routes. Accounts with payment and e-money providers such as Wise, Revolut, Payoneer, and Paysera can usually be opened remotely and quickly, and for most e-resident businesses these cover everyday needs: receiving payments, paying suppliers, and holding multiple currencies. Approval is still at each provider's discretion and subject to their own checks.

Opening an account with a traditional Estonian bank (such as LHV, Swedbank, or SEB) is harder. Banks generally require a genuine, demonstrable connection to Estonia - real business activity or meaningful local ties, not simply a company registered here - and will often decline non-resident companies without it. We can advise on what is realistic for your situation and which route fits your business.

Possibly - and this is exactly the question to resolve before you set up. An Estonian company does not automatically move your tax exposure to Estonia. Depending on where you live, rules on tax residency, permanent establishment, place of effective management, and controlled foreign companies (CFC) may mean your home country still has taxing rights over some or all of the company's profit. The right answer depends entirely on your country of residence and your specific facts.

We advise on the Estonian side and help you identify which of these issues apply to you, so you go in with a clear picture rather than a surprise later. Where your home jurisdiction requires it, we will point you to appropriate local tax counsel. This is a core reason clients choose a law firm over a self-service platform.

An Estonian company must keep accounting records, file an annual report, and - because the management board is abroad - maintain both a registered Estonian address and a contact person (both of which we can provide). If the company has taxable activity, monthly tax filings may also apply. We can advise on these obligations and connect you with ongoing accounting support so nothing is missed.

Every Estonian company must keep accounting records and file an annual report, even with no activity - but in practice this is light until the company is trading. Active monthly accounting and tax filings become relevant once you have taxable activity, for example paying wages. Monthly VAT filings become mandatory once your annual turnover exceeds 40,000 EUR, or earlier if you register for VAT voluntarily.

The good news is that accounting in Estonia is inexpensive: the system is fully digital and streamlined, so a small company can typically expect to pay around 115 EUR a month for full-service accounting. We work with a number of trustworthy accounting firms that would be glad to onboard you, so nothing is missed.

Package prices do not include state fees (265 EUR for online registration or 200 EUR via notary), the e-Residency application fee (150 EUR), or notary and translation costs where applicable. Our packages give you a full cost breakdown for your situation.

If you are unsure whether an Estonian company is right for you - or you have cross-border tax, ownership, or structuring questions - you can start with a 60-minute consultation with our attorneys for 150 EUR, fully credited toward any formation package if you proceed within 30 days.