The cost of forming a company in Ireland depends on what the quote covers. Filing directly with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) has a government fee, while a formation service also prepares the application and supplies the documents listed in its package. Neither route automatically covers all the company’s future tax, accounting or filing work.
For a straightforward Irish LTD, start by comparing the total price payable, not just the advertised service fee. Then check the officer, address and identity requirements that apply to your particular company. Our Irish company formation service explains those requirements; the live package comparison shows current prices and inclusions.
What is the CRO fee to register a company?
The CRO currently lists €50 for an electronic Form A1 new-company application. This is the filing fee, not the full cost of using a formation agent. The application also requires a constitution and accurate details of the company name, registered office, directors, secretary, subscribers and shares. An Irish LTD has a single-document constitution, rather than a separate memorandum and articles.
You can prepare and submit the application yourself. Professional help may be useful where the structure or paperwork is unfamiliar, but it does not guarantee CRO acceptance or a particular processing date.
StartCompany.ie formation package prices
The listed prices below are the total payable for each package, with the CRO incorporation fee included. Optional services outside the chosen package are separate. Check the pricing page before ordering for the latest scope and checkout price.
| Package | Total payable | Main additional scope |
|---|---|---|
| Basic | €189 | Core incorporation, CRO filing and documents |
| Standard | €299 | Basic scope, plus IPN support and first annual return |
| Premium | €539 | Wider company records, registered office and RBO support |
| Non-Resident | €2,249 | Formation with a two-year Section 137 director bond |
All four packages list a company-name check, CRO fees, Certificate of Incorporation, constitution and share certificates. Standard adds IPN support where needed and the first annual return service. RBO registration is included in Premium and Non-Resident, not Standard. Premium also includes a registered office address for its stated term. The Non-Resident package is for a company that needs a Section 137 director bond; it is not simply Standard with a bond added. Compare every inclusion before choosing.
How to compare an Irish formation quote
- Total price: is the advertised amount the final amount payable?
- CRO fee: is the electronic Form A1 filing fee included or added later?
- Documents: are the constitution, certificate and share certificates included?
- Officer and identity needs: do you already have a separate secretary, a suitable director arrangement and the required PPSN or IPN details?
- Address: do you have an Irish registered office, or is an address service needed?
- Later work: which annual return, RBO, tax and accounting tasks are within the package, and which are not?
- Renewals: does any address, secretary or other service renew after the first term?
A quote can be genuinely lower because it covers less work. That is fine when you already have the missing pieces. It is a problem only when essential charges are unclear until checkout.
Costs after incorporation
The CRO currently lists €20 for an electronic B1 annual return. That government fee is separate from any professional filing service. Accounting, Corporation Tax returns and ongoing bookkeeping depend on the business. A registered office or company-secretary service can also have an annual renewal cost.
The first annual return is a real filing deadline even for a company that has not started trading. Read our first annual return guide and first-year budget guide before treating the formation payment as the whole first-year budget.
Which route is best value?
DIY filing has the lowest direct filing fee if you can prepare a compliant application and constitution yourself. Basic suits a straightforward formation where the required officers, registered office and identity information are already arranged. Standard is relevant when IPN support and the first return would otherwise need to be organised separately. Premium adds a broader set of first-year services. If no director is EEA-resident, check whether a Section 137 bond or exemption applies before selecting a package.
These are package-scope decisions, not a promise that one option is always cheapest. For your actual company, compare current packages or ask us to clarify what is included.