Branch vs Company in Ireland

Short answer: If you already have a company abroad and want to test the Irish/EU market quickly — open a branch. If you want a fully independent Irish entity with its own liability shield — open a company (LTD).

Side-by-side comparison

	Branch	Company (LTD)
Legal entity	NOT separate — extension of parent	Separate Irish entity
Liability	Parent company liable	Limited to company assets
Setup cost	€399–€1,299	€49–€299 + €50 CRO
CRO form	Form F12	Form A1
Setup time	1–2 weeks	1–2 weeks
Documents	Parent cert + articles + director list + accounts	Constitution only
Local address	Required	Required
Local director	NOT required (local rep instead)	EEA director or S137 bond
Tax	Complex — depends on parent + branch allocation	12.5% Irish corp tax
Annual filings	Form F7 + parent accounts	B1 annual return + Irish accounts
Best for	Testing EU market, existing foreign company	New business, investors, long-term

When to choose a branch

• You already have a company in UK, US, Singapore or elsewhere
• You want EU market access without a new legal entity
• You're testing whether Ireland is the right base
• You want to keep things simple under one parent structure
• You don't need a separate Irish liability shield

When to choose a company

• You want a fully independent Irish entity
• You're raising investment from Irish/EU investors
• You want the 12.5% corp tax rate clearly
• You need personal liability protection (LTD)
• You plan to hire Irish employees long-term

Can I convert later?

Yes. Many founders start with a branch to test the market, then convert to a full Irish LTD once they're confident. The branch registration can be closed and a new company opened — your Irish address, bank account and customer relationships carry over.

What we offer

Open an Irish company from €49 or register an Irish branch from €399. Both include document preparation, CRO filing guidance, and e-signature.