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How do I start a business in Spain?
Regardless of the type of legal format in which you are going to set up your company, you are going to need to carry out a series of formalities and procedures. Below we guide you through the essential steps for setting up a company:
Step 1: Choosing the legal format
The first thing to do is to determine the type of company you are going to set up and determine the legal form: public limited company, limited company, cooperative… You can look here for the one that best suits your situation according to your characteristics.
Step 2: Negative Certification
You must obtain the Negative Certificate of Company Name (CNN) from the Central Mercantile Register, which certifies the exclusivity and non-existence of another company with the same name. This can be done in person or with a form from the offices of the Mercantile Register, by post or via the web.
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Step 4: Applying for the NIF
Obtain the Tax Identification Number from the Tax Agency, first provisionally by presenting the necessary documentation (form 036, copy of the deed of incorporation and copy of the articles of association), and then definitively (no later than 6 months) by presenting the deed
Step 5: Creation of the company
You must execute a public deed in the presence of a notary in which the partners sign the incorporation of the company.
Step 6: Registration in the Commercial Register
Registration of the company in the Provincial Commercial Register in order to obtain full legal competence. This will take place at the Commercial Register office in the same province where the company is domiciled.
Step 7: Registration with IAE
You must register with the Tax on Economic Activities with the business activity you are going to carry out, at an office of the Tax Authority (Hacienda).
Step 8: Company books
Legalize the company books (inventory book, annual accounts book and journal) at the corresponding Companies Register in the province. This consists of placing an official certificate on the first page of the books and marking the rest of the pages with the Register’s stamp.
Step 9: Registration of patents and trademarks
Registration of distinctive signs such as words, phrases, images or symbols at the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, as having previously registered a name in the Commercial Register does not mean that it is protected as a trademark.
Step 10: Start-up
After completing the above steps, you are almost ready to start your business, although depending on the type of business, you may have to do some more, for example, if you are going to have employees, you must notify the Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Employment and Social Security of the opening of the work center and obtain a visitors’ book for inspections. In addition, it is highly recommended that you obtain an electronic certificate to be able to sign documents electronically and speed up processes.
Setting up a website
After setting up your business, one of the first steps is to set up a website.
Your website will be central to your marketing strategy. Good web design is essential!! Your website is your online office where customers and potential customers can get in touch with you 24/7. Your website should contain useful information about your website and also, you should make it easy for customers to contact you by having a contact form (that is easy to fill in) and displaying your opening hours, phone number, and email address prominently.
A good website designer will be able to help you design a visually appealing website using your company’s colour scheme, and a SEO consultant will be able to help you position your website so that it is easily found on Google or Bing search engines.
Once you are up and running with your website, it is a good idea to try using Google Ads or Bing Ads to help you promote your business when people are actually looking for your products and services.
Both Google and Bing often offer promotions (i.e. a coupon) so that you can try out their services. We recommend hiring a certified Google Ads specialist in order to get the most out of your budget. A Google Ads freelancer is often the best option as they have very little overhead and are able to pass the savings on to you. Also, a freelancer generally has fewer clients and is able to offer a far more personalized service.
Here is a good article about what to look for when hiring a Google Ads Specialist
CONCLUSION
This whole process may seem tedious, although all of us who have set up a company have been through it and in the end it is easy to get used to it. But I have good news. here at gestorspain.com, we can help you
For hassle-free company formation, contact us today