What you do.
You tell us about your business in a meeting with no obligation, online or at our office in San Marino. You tell us what you do, for whom, with how many people and on what timescale.
How it works
How to open a company in San Marino, stage by stage
There are five stages, from the first meeting to the end of your first twelve months in business. For each one you can read what you do, what we do and what you have in hand at the end.
How a company is opened in San Marino, in brief
To open a company in San Marino you need a legal form, a deed of incorporation, premises, a business licence and a business bank account. Then you need the people, the computers and everything else that makes a real company work.
With Quota Strategica those steps become five stages. One person stays with you throughout, your lead guide. In Italian the role is called “capocordata”, the lead climber on a rope team.
The order of the steps, the documents and the timings set by law are in our complete guide to opening a company in San Marino (in Italian), which is in Italian.
The five stages, in order
Stage
The first move.
What you do
You tell us what you want to do.
What we do
We tell you whether San Marino is right for you.
Stage
The site visit.
What you do
You come to San Marino for a day.
What we do
We take you to see premises and to meet the bank and the professionals.
Stage
The route.
What you do
You read the plan and decide.
What we do
We write it, with stages, timings, costs and who is responsible.
Stage
The opening.
What you do
You sign the deeds and choose your premises and your people.
What we do
We coordinate the company, the premises, the licence, the people and the IT systems.
Stage
At altitude.
What you do
You get on with your work.
What we do
We stay with you for the first twelve months.
Stage 1, the first move: we find out whether San Marino is right for you
What we do.
We ask the questions that matter and tell you frankly whether San Marino suits your case.
What you have at the end.
You have a clear answer. It can be a yes, a yes on certain conditions, or a no with the reasons.
Stage 2, the site visit: a day in San Marino with your lead guide
What you do.
You come to San Marino for a day and see everything with your own eyes.
What we do.
We organise the day. We take you to see possible premises and introduce you to the bank and the professionals you could work with.
What you have at the end.
You know where your company could be based, who it would work with and what still needs checking.
Stage 3, the route: the written plan with stages, timings and costs
What you do.
You give us the information that is still missing, read the plan and decide whether to go ahead.
What we do.
We write the plan for your case, with the stages, the timings, the costs and the person responsible for each step.
What you have at the end.
You have a document to read and discuss at your own pace. You know what happens, when, what it costs and who does it.
Stage 4, the opening: company, premises, licence, bank account and people
What you do.
You sign the deeds, choose the premises, meet the bank and choose the people to hire.
What we do.
We coordinate the deed, the registration and the licence, follow the negotiation for the premises and prepare the documents for the bank. Meanwhile we recruit your staff and set up your network, email, backups and artificial intelligence.
What you have at the end.
You have a company ready to work, with premises, people and protected IT systems. The licence is issued by the competent public offices, and on the business account the bank has the final say.
Stage 5, at altitude: your first twelve months, with us close by
What you do.
You work. When you have a doubt or a new need, you call your lead guide.
What we do.
We remain the people you call for twelve months. We keep in touch with the accountant, help with new hires and look after cyber security and artificial intelligence.
What you have at the end.
You have a year in business behind you. Beside you is someone who has known your company since day one.
Example
What the route says
After the site visit, the lead guide writes the route for an entrepreneur who wants to open a sales office in San Marino. The plan lines up the steps for this case, from the premises to the licence, and adds the bank and the first hires. Beside each step it says who does it, when, and what it costs. It also marks the days when the entrepreneur needs to be in San Marino, so there is time to plan ahead. The entrepreneur reads the plan, asks to postpone one hire, and then decides whether to go ahead.
This story is an example built to explain the service. It does not describe a real client.
The lead guideExample
Who does what: us and the qualified professionals
Us
We coordinate the whole process through your lead guide. We ourselves handle cyber security, artificial intelligence and on-the-ground support.
Professionals
The professional work is done by qualified professionals, chosen with you, who invoice you directly.
What this means for you in practice
The deed of incorporation, the bookkeeping and the tax returns are work for qualified professionals. We choose them together with you, and their invoice comes straight to you. We make sure they have the right documents at the right time.
The same clarity applies to the bank. We prepare the documents and go with you to the meetings, but the bank decides whether to open the account.
The full table, service by service, is on the page about our services for setting up a business in San Marino.
How long each stage takes
| Stage | How long it usually takes | What it depends on |
|---|---|---|
| The first move | One meeting | How many questions you have |
| The site visit | One day in San Marino | How many premises you want to see |
| The route | The time to check your case and write the plan | How much information has to be gathered |
| The opening | It's the longest stage | Paperwork, premises, bank and hiring |
| At altitude | Your first twelve months in business | It's a fixed length |
What happens if San Marino isn't right for you
We tell you at the first move, before you spend time and money. San Marino doesn't suit everyone. If you can't bring real premises, real management and real activity here, you're better off not opening.
A no always comes with its reasons. Sometimes it's a “not yet”, and then we tell you what would need to change. If another country makes more sense for your business and you ask us, we put you in touch with a partner.
Would you like an idea before talking to us? The test Is San Marino right for you? (in Italian) gives you a first result in a few questions. It's in Italian.
Mistakes to avoid when you open a company in San Marino
- Opening the company without real activity in San Marino.
A San Marino company needs real premises, real management and real activity here. If it's in fact run from Italy, the Italian tax authorities may treat it as an Italian company. Italians call this “esterovestizione”, and our guide to esterovestizione (in Italian), in Italian, explains how to avoid it. Other countries have their own rules on where a company counts as resident, so check them with a professional there.
- Leaving the premises until last.
The premises must have the right permitted use, which means they must be approved for the kind of business you'll run. That is why you start viewing premises at the site visit.
- Taking the bank account for granted.
The bank decides whether to open it, after its own checks. It pays to arrive with your documents in order, and we help you prepare them.
- Putting off computers and data until after the opening.
A company that starts without backups and without rules on who can access what is at risk from day one. We set everything up during the opening.
- Coordinating everything yourself.
Professionals, estate agents, the bank and public offices all work to different timings. If nobody keeps the calendar, every delay causes another.
A short story
You cross the border without noticing. The rest you'll notice.
Getting here is the easy part
Frequently asked questions about the five stages
Where do I start if I want to open a company in San Marino?
You start with the first move, a first meeting to get to know each other. Fill in the form on the page The first move and we'll reply by email. The meeting takes place online or at our office.
Does the first move commit me to anything?
It commits you to nothing. Its purpose is to find out whether San Marino is right for you, and the answer may be no. After that you decide, in your own time, whether to go on to the site visit.
Do I have to come to San Marino in person?
The first move can be done online. The site visit happens here, because premises and people need to be seen in person. The other moments when you need to be present are written in the route, so you can plan ahead.
Can I stop after a stage?
You decide, one stage at a time. At the first move you take on no commitment. Before each later stage you know what it includes and what it costs.
Who signs the company deeds?
You sign them, in front of the professional who prepares them. The professional work is done by qualified professionals, chosen with you, who invoice you directly. We coordinate timings and documents, so you don't have to act as go-between.
How much does it cost to work with Quota Strategica?
It depends on what you need, and we talk about it at the first move. In the route you then find the costs written down item by item. For the costs of opening itself, such as the deed, the registration and the licence, see our Italian guide to what it costs to open a company in San Marino (in Italian).
It all starts with one meeting
Tell us about your business at the first move, with no obligation. We tell you straight away whether San Marino is right for you.