What it really costs to set up in each of 6 jurisdictions
Every category of line item - government fees, agents, banking - so there are no surprises.
In this guide
There is no single number. Every jurisdiction charges in the same four categories: government and registry fees, agent or service-provider fees, the registered address or office requirement, and recurring annual renewals. The recurring cost usually matters more than the setup fee - it is where cheap first-year packages become expensive, and it is the number to ask for before you commit.
We don't publish our prices, and this guide isn't a workaround for that. What it does is explain the categories of cost that exist in every jurisdiction, so that when you receive a quote - from us or from anyone else - you can tell whether it's complete.
The four cost categories, everywhere
| Category | What it covers | Recurring? |
|---|---|---|
| Government / registry | Incorporation and licence fees paid to the authority | Yes, annually |
| Agent / service provider | Registered agent, company secretary, filings | Yes, annually |
| Address or office | Registered office, flexi-desk or real premises | Yes, annually |
| Setup extras | Tax ID, bank introduction, visas, notarisation, translation | Mostly one-off |
Why "from $X" numbers mislead
Almost every advertised formation price excludes something you will definitely need. The pattern is consistent: a low headline covers the registry filing, then the registered agent, the address, the tax registration, the visa, the bank application support and the first year's accounting arrive as separate line items.
An honest quote depends on your activity, your jurisdiction, how many shareholders you have, whether you need visas, and whether you want ongoing accounting. That's genuinely why we ask questions first rather than publishing a number that would be wrong for most readers.
The cost categories that exist everywhere
- Government and registry fees - the state's charge to incorporate. Non-negotiable and public.
- Registered agent or service provider - mandatory in BVI, Cayman, Delaware and Wyoming. Annual.
- Registered office address - required everywhere. Bundled into Free Zone packages; separate elsewhere.
- Professional formation fee - the work of structuring, preparing and filing correctly.
- Nominee or resident director - where the jurisdiction requires it. Singapore is the main case. Annual.
- Company secretary - mandatory in Singapore. Annual.
- Tax registration - EIN in the US, corporate tax and VAT registration in the UAE.
- Banking support - preparing the application and making introductions.
- Visas - where applicable. UAE residency involves entry permit, medical, biometrics and Emirates ID.
- Annual renewals - licence or franchise fees, agent fees, annual returns. Every jurisdiction has them.
- Accounting and filings - bookkeeping, tax returns, and audit where thresholds require it.
Roughly how the jurisdictions compare on cost shape
Wyoming is the leanest to establish and maintain. Delaware is similar to establish but carries an annual franchise tax that can surprise founders who authorise a large number of shares carelessly. BVI sits in the middle with meaningful annual agent and government fees. Cayman is higher, reflecting institutional-grade service providers - and considerably higher for regulated fund vehicles. Singapore carries real recurring costs from the corporate secretary and resident director. UAE varies enormously by zone and package, and visa allocation is a major driver.
Where people genuinely waste money
Forming in the wrong jurisdiction and restructuring later. Buying the cheapest Free Zone package and discovering the activity list doesn't cover what they actually invoice for. Authorising millions of Delaware shares without understanding the franchise tax calculation. Paying for a structure with three entities when one would have done - a holding layer earns its keep in specific circumstances, and adds pure cost outside them.
What to ask any provider
- What is the total first-year cost, including everything I'll need to operate?
- What is the recurring annual cost from year two?
- Is the registered address included, and for how long?
- Does this cover tax registration, or is that separate?
- What happens if the bank application is declined - is any of this refundable or re-usable?
- What isn't included that I'm likely to need?
Short version.
Because an honest price depends on your activity, jurisdiction, shareholders, visas and whether you want ongoing accounting. A "from $X" figure would be wrong for most readers. We ask a few questions and send an itemised quote instead.
Recurring annual fees - registered agent, address, licence renewal, corporate secretary. The year-two cost matters more than the setup cost.
Only if it fits your business. Forming in the wrong jurisdiction and restructuring later costs far more than the difference between any two setup fees.
Related guides.
Free Zone vs Mainland in the UAE: which is right for you?
Ownership, cost, visas and where you can actually trade - the honest breakdown for 2026.
Read →Wyoming vs Delaware LLC for non-US founders
Privacy and cost vs investor credibility - how to pick without regretting it later.
Read →The BVI + Cayman Foundation structure for token launches, explained
Why the two-entity setup became the industry standard for DAOs and token issuers.
Read →Want this applied to your situation?
Answer a few questions and we will send a structure recommendation and an itemised quote.