The three numbers per country
| Country | Start-up fees | Capital & upkeep |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Registry €85.15 + notary | Capital from €0.01; upkeep for the books and the annual accounts, plus your own address contract |
| Estonia / UK | Registry fees of a few tens of euros | Minimal capital; upkeep rises once you add real banking and accounting |
| Germany | Notary + court | €25,000 GmbH capital (half paid in); formal upkeep |
| France / Spain / Italy | Registry and notary fees | Modest capital; upkeep varies with mandatory filings |
| Luxembourg | Notarial formation | About €12,000 capital for the S.à r.l.; upkeep at professional-services prices |
Reviewed 18 August 2026.
Yearly costs over ten years
You pay the start-up fees once. You pay the running costs every year, and over ten years they add up to more than the start-up fees. In the Netherlands, the yearly costs for bookkeeping and filings are modest and predictable. See the service costs. Your business address is a separate cost under a contract that you sign yourself. For the formation itself, you get a written proposal with every amount for your situation before you decide. See the remote incorporation option.
Do you want to set up a Dutch BV from abroad? See setting up a BV in the Netherlands for the costs, the steps and the timeline. We arrange the notary and the KVK registration for you.
Are the Dutch terms new to you? Start with company formation in the Netherlands for non-residents. There you can read about the legal forms, the documents, the costs and the comparison with Germany.
Minimum capital in the Netherlands
In the Netherlands, share capital starts at €0.01. You choose the right amount for your company. See the full capital comparison for the rules in each country. See the incorporation speed per country for the timing.