Shelf Companies in Cyprus

Buying a Cyprus shelf company is considered standard practice, and the procedure can be completed with the support of our company formation specialists. We have our own ready-made companies specifically set up for this purpose.

Quick Facts
Legal entities available for shelf companies	Private and public limited liability companies
Time required for purchasing the company	It can take a few days to buy a shelf company in Cyprus
Types of features it includes (corporate bank account, VAT number, etc)	Trading name, bank account, statutory  documents, company director, tax identification number, VAT number possibly
The advantages of a shelf company	Simple and easy to buy, already registered entity, possibility to use it for various purposes
Appointing new directors (yes/no)	YES, after buying shelf companies in Cyprus, it is possible to replace the directors
Capital increase allowed (yes/no)	YES, it is possible to change the share capital of a Cypriot shelf company
Certificate of no commercial activities (yes/no)	NO
Participants in the purchase procedure	Buyer or a local representative and the seller
The cost of buying a shelf company	The price depends on the age of the company, legal structure, and share capital and can be more expensive than setting up a new company in Cyprus
Documents necessary for the purchase	Sale-purchase agreement, ID/passport of the buyer
Taxes applied to a shelf company	Corporate tax (12.5 %), VAT (19% standard rate)
Changing the registered address (yes/no)	YES, it is possibile to change the legal address
Aged shelf company available (yes/no)	YES, it is possible to buy aged shelf companies in Cyprus
The institution where corporate changes are registered	Cypriot Companies Register

There are various ways through which it is possible to start a business in Cyprus. One of the fastest ways of launching a company is by purchasing one. There are several ways procedures that can be used, among these the purchase of shares in existing companies or the acquisition of a shelf entity. This last option has several advantages.

Ready-made companies in Cyprus

A shelf company or a ready-made company in Cyprus is a legal business entity that has been incorporated but has not yet performed any trade activities. Essentially, it exists to be purchased by an entrepreneur who wants to start his or her business activity in Cyprus right away. Our company formation specialists in Cyprus are ready to help you purchase a Cypriot shelf company and guide you throughout the entire process until the company is ready to begin performing business activities.

Legal entities that can be sold as Cypriot shelf companies

A foreign investor who comes to Cyprus to buy a shelf company can choose the type of legal entity he or she wants to acquire. The most popular is the private limited liability company, however, it is also possible to purchase public companies at higher prices.

The private company comes with various advantages, among which:

1. they can be used for multiple purposes and are easier to find with different providers;
2. they have lower price ranges that depend on the age of the entity;
3. they come with all the documents a new company has, including the Articles of Association;
4. they can be subject to more amendments that are easy to complete with the Trade Register.

An advantage of buying a ready-made business in Cyprus is the simplified procedure that can be completed in a matter of days.

If you intend to acquire a shelf company and need support in verifying the service provider, we invite you to get in touch with our Cyprus company formation experts for evaluation.

We are also at your service if you are inclined to registering a new entity in order to make sure your company meets all your expectations.

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Multiple uses of shelf companies in Cyprus

A Cypriot shelf company might be useful for a number of activities:

• applying for loans from local banks (certain banks check a company’s activities, and a good track record is helpful for such a company);
• forming partnerships with the Cypriot authorities in accordance with the rules governing public-private partnerships;
• forming joint ventures with other Cyprus-based businesses;
• creating branches of the shelf company, having a parent company with a certain age.

Our company formation specialists in Cyprus are at the service of foreign investors who want to acquire off-the-shelf enterprises. Here’s an infographic on this subject:

Documents you will receive from an aged company

Those who wish to purchase a Cypriot ready-made business should request that it includes the following:

• a registered address with the Trade Register in Cyprus;
• a value added tax number and a tax number;
• a valid certificate of incorporation.

The memorandum and articles of association just need to be modified. The sale-purchase agreement will be the sole document the buyer must sign.

In Cyprus, any natural person or another firm may purchase a shelf company. When purchasing an off-the-shelf firm, the buyer must produce identifying documents such as a passport or identity card, or a certificate of registration if the company wants to purchase a ready-made legal organization. All the legal paperwork must be signed at a notary office by the buyer and seller for the transaction to be completed. The new company owner and other shareholders will be able to change the company name and other information in the Articles of Association after the selling process is complete.

Feel free to address our Cypriot business registration advisors on the entire procedure and how soon it can be completed.

If you want extend your business in another country and you want to buy a shelf company in Dubai we can put you in touch with our local partners.

Making changes in a Cypriot shelf company

A shelf company can be subject to a wide range of modifications. Foreign investors who want to purchase an existing company rather than forming a new Cypriot company must know that they have the option to change the company’s trade name, name its directors, and even its legal address. The company’s articles of association must be updated, and the shareholder’s name must be changed as a necessity. Also, all modifications must be submitted with the Companies House.

Apart from the mandatory changes, the share capital of the company may also be altered by the new owner. In most cases, an increase in share capital is required before the business can be used for the entrepreneur’s purposes. In some circumstances, a business license must also be obtained.

We can assist businesspersons interested in acquiring and making the necessary changes in a shelf company as soon as possible in order to comply with local regulations.

Tax aspects to consider when buying a shelf company

Any investor who purchases an aged company can take advantage of the double taxation agreements signed by Cyprus (approx. 65 treaties), as well as the tax regime established in the country for dividends and capital gains. Foreign investors should appoint an accounting specialist to manage all financial elements of the new company, and our accountants in Cyprus are at one’s service for this purpose.

We remind investors that, with regard to the taxation of businesses in Cyprus, the corporate tax rate is 12.5%, one of the lowest in Europe and the European Union.

It is worth knowing that those who purchase shelf companies can also take advantage of the tax breaks provided by the government.

New company vs shelf company in Cyprus

From a legal point of view, there are no differences between a Cyprus shelf company and a new enterprise, as their registration follows and respects the Company Law’s requirements. However, what will favor a ready-made enterprise is:

• – the fact that it is already incorporated, thus enabling the owner to save time with the authorities in charge;
• – that it has a tax identification number and even a bank account;
• – that it meets all the management requirements imposed under the law;
• – that in certain cases it can also have a VAT number (however, such entities are more expensive);
• – that it can be registered for several years, thus have a history which can be helpful in certain situations.

On the other hand, registering a new company implies dealing with the Trade Register and various service providers, such as public notaries to prepare the Memorandum and Articles of Association. This can lead to delays in the incorporation procedure. However, the overall cost of starting a new business in Cyprus is lower than buying a shelf company.

Foreign investors interested in what it implies to purchase a Cyprus shelf company can obtain all the relevant information from our local representatives. We are also at the service of those who want to open register legal entities from scratch.

How can the history of a Cyprus shelf company help its owner?

The main reason to acquire a ready-made company is usually age. Ready-made companies can be incorporated for a few months and up to a few years, which can be very helpful in several situations:

• when seeking to obtain loans from Cypriot banks;
• when seeking to enter partnerships with private or public enterprises in Cyprus;
• when seeking to incorporate the history of a foreign business into the Cypriot one.

In the first case, foreign investors who open companies in Cyprus can require financial assistance from local banks. However, these have strict requirements, among which proving financial stability over the years. This can be obtained with the help of a shelf company that has no debts and has a positive track record.

Franchise businesses have started to become popular in Cyprus and in this case, a Cypriot franchisor can request the foreign business to demonstrate market stability and trustworthiness in order to implement its model, which is where ready-made company can help.

Moving a foreign business to Cyprus can be done with the help of a shelf company in which the history of the overseas enterprise can be incorporated. Below, there is also a video on the shelf company in Cyprus:

Doing business in Cyprus

Shelf companies are not the only option for business owners who want to open a Cypriot company. Other types of companies that can be registered here include the limited liability company, the private company limited by shares, the public company limited by shares, branches or subsidiaries in Cyprus set up by foreign companies.

The business start-up costs in Cyprus vary according to the type of company. For shelf companies, our experts can provide a personalized offer which will include the costs for acquiring the new shelf company and other additional costs that may exist depending on various maintenance costs for the company.

Please contact our team of agents for company formation services in Cyprus. We can help you invest in the small but beautiful Mediterranean country. Whether you want to buy a ready made company or to open an offshore company in Cyprus, our team is at your disposal.