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The world is becoming more interconnected than ever before. This brings a set of opportunities for international expansion not only for big corporations, but also small and medium-size enterprises that can expand their businesses globally. When carefully planned, international expansion and entering new markets can not only increase profits, but also reduce risks while rocket-launching growth on an international scale. However, the difference among jurisdictions, market specifics, customs, traditions and the business environment in general significantly affect which country has the best to offer and which are providing less benefits to specific types of businesses.
This overview for international expansion was created in cooperation with our global business community, Accace Circle, providing basic yet valuable information from 17 countries. The infographic layout allows you to quickly breeze through the specifics of international expansion and compare key data that may be crucial for your ambitions of international expansion.
International expansion and entering a new market can be a piece of cake with the right partner by your side. Whether you are just about to expand your business or you are starting from zero with entrepreneurship, our team of local experts can help you design the right business solutions for you. We specialise in providing full-range advisory and BPO services to keep your tax, legal and corporate agenda, accounting, reporting, payroll and HR operations not only effective and accurate, but also 100% compliant with your local duties and regulatory requirements.
To help you get started, we offer a free 60 minute call focusing on market entry where you can discuss your investment plans, understanding country specifics and discuss basic tax and legal aspects of international expansion with a selected expert. Head over to our eShop to book your call today!
What would be the best entity type for your international expansion? See below the most common legal forms of business per country to make a better decision, including information on incorporation time and incorporation fee.
Limited liability company
Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Morocco, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine
Private limited company
Estonia, Lithuanua
Private company (IKE)
Greece
Private company – limited by shares (LTD)
South Africa, United Kingdom
Joint-Stock Company (Sociedade Anónima – SA)
Portugal
* Depends on the nature of the legal form of the company; duty free for LLC
** The capital is freely determined
*** There are no fees applicable for the Trade Register, however Official Gazette fees for publishing documents will be applied.
**** If submitted online on Companies House, or more if done through a service provider
*****If through State Registrar
No costs specified for South Africa and Turkey
Bulgaria: www.portal.registryagency.bg/
Czech Republic: www.justice.cz
Estonia: www.rik.ee/en/e-business-register/e-business-register-portal
Greece: www.businessportal.gr
Hungary: www.e-cegjegyzek.hu
Latvia: www.ur.gov.lv/en/
Lithuania: www.registrucentras.lt/
Morocco: https://rnesm.justice.gov.ma/index.aspx
Poland: www.wyszukiwarka-krs.ms.gov.pl
Romania: www.portal.onrc.ro
Portugal: www.eportugal.gov.pt/en/espaco-empresa/empresa-online
Slovakia: www.orsr.sk
South Africa: www.cipc.co.za
Spain: www.registradores.org/el-colegio/registro-mercantil
Turkey: www.ito.org.tr
International expansion brings a number of new tax challenges. Get familiar with CIT, VAT and tax period.
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
*Reduced rate applies on dividend income of Czech tax resident entities from non-resident entities
**Reduced rate applies on certain investment fund profits
0% on pension funds
Estonia
*Automatically applied to regular profit distributions has been abolished from 2025
Greece
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
The rates will increase by 1% in 2026.
Morocco
*17.5% on net income below MAD 300,000; 20% for net income between MAD 300,000 and MAD 1,000,000; 22.75% for net income between MAD 1,000,001 and MAD 100,000,000; 34% for net income above MAD 100,000,000
Poland
*For small taxpayers, and taxpayers starting up a business
Portugal
*Standard rate in mainland Portugal
**Standard rate in the Autonomous Regions of Madeira and Azores
Romania
Starting January, 2024, for taxpayers with a turnover higher than EUR 50,000,000 in the previous tax year are required to pay a minimum tax on turnover of 1% if the corporate income tax is lower than the minimum tax on turnover.
Slovakia
*On annual taxable revenues exceeding EUR 5 million
**On annual taxable revenues between EUR 100,000 and EUR 5 million
***On annual taxable revenues below EUR 60,000
South Africa
Spain
*Reduced rate applies for newly created companies
Turkey
United Kingdom
*On profit over GBP 50,000 but below GBP 250,000
Ukraine
Calendar year
Bulgaria, Greece, Lithuania, Morocco, Poland, Portugal, Spain
Calendar or fiscal year
Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey
Fiscal year
United Kingdom, Ukraine
Calendar month
Estonia, Latvia
Company’s financial year
South Africa
Bulgaria
0% applies to services explicitly regulated by law
Czech Republic
Estonia
0% on the export of goods.
*From 2025, the additional 13% reduced rate is applied to accommodation services
Greece
Hungary
0% rate on daily periodics
Latvia
0% rate on exemptions
Lithuania
0% rate on exemptions
Morocco
*8% for pharmaceutical products, necessities (milk, sugar), school supplies, rental of electric meters, transactions related to the sharing of drinking water, 10% for banking services, hotel services, sale of food or drinks for on-site consumption, 20% for rental of electricity meters, 14% to 20% for passenger and freight transport operations
Poland
0% rate on exemptions
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
0% on the export of goods and services and intra-community supplies of goods under certain conditions
South Africa
Spain
Turkey
United Kingdom
0% applies to zero-rate goods and services
Ukraine
0% rate on exemptions
Your international expansion to new markets means also additional agenda around employment. For this, a good understanding of labour law is necessary. Take a look at our overview of PIT rates and contributions below.
Bulgaria
* On income acquired in a seafarer capacity
Czech Republic
15% on annual income up to CZK CZK 1,676,052, 23% on annual income above CZK CZK 1,676,052
Estonia
Greece
Based on income
Hungary
Latvia
Based on income
Additional 3% surcharge is applied to total annual income exceeding €200,000
Lithuania
Morocco
0% for annual income below MAD 40,000; 10% for annual income between MAD 40,001 and MAD 60,000; 20% for annual income between MAD 60,001 and MAD 80,000; 30% for annual income between MAD 80,001 and MAD 100,000; 34% for annual income between MAD 1000,001 and MAD 180,000; 38% for annual income above MAD 180,000
Poland
Based on income
Portugal
Based on the tax base
Romania
Slovakia
19% on annual taxable income below EUR 48,441.43, 25% on annual taxable income exceeding EUR 48,441.43
South Africa
Spain
19% for income up to EUR 12,450, 24% for income between EUR 12,450 and EUR 20,200, 30% for income between EUR 20,200 and EUR 35,200, 37% for income between EUR 35,200 and EUR 60,000, 45% for income between EUR 60,000 and EUR 300,000, 47% for income above EUR 300,000
Turkey
Based on the tax base
United Kingdom
0% on annual income below GPB 12,570; 20% on annual income between GPB 12,571 – GBP 50,270; 40% on annual income between GBP 50,271 – GBP 150,000; 45% on annual income above GBP 150,000
Ukraine
Overview of the rate paid by employer or employee
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Estonia
* In addition, 0.8% unemployment insurance contribution is paid by the employer
Greece
Hungary
Latvia
Lithuania
Self-employed persons pay social security at different rates.
*Plus 0.16% to Guarantee Fund
Morocco
Poland
*The accident insurance varies based on the business sector
Portugal
Romania
In addition, 2.25% labour insurance contribution paid by the employer
Slovakia
South Africa
Contributions are made to the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF)
Spain
*Plus a variable rate for occupational accidents, for instance 1.50% office work
** The maximum base for calculation is €4,909.50. In 2025 an additional “solidarity contribution” has been introduced for higher salaries.
Turkey
United Kingdom
0% on income up to GBP 5,000 per tax year
Ukraine
Overview of the rate paid by employer or employee
Bulgaria
Czech Republic
Estonia
Included in the social security contributions
Greece
Included in the social security contributions
Hungary
Included in the social security contributions
Latvia
There are no separate health insurance contributions – a portion of the social security contributions is allocated to healthcare
Lithuania
Included in the social security contributions.
Morocco
Included in the social security contributions
Poland
Portugal
Included in the social security contributions
Romania
Slovakia
South Africa
There is no mandatory health insurance; however, many employers offer medical aid as a benefit
Spain
Turkey
Included in the social security contributions
United Kingdom
Private medical insurance is optional and provided at the employer’s discretion. If offered, it is generally considered a taxable benefit for the employee. It is not covered by National Insurance. Employees contribute National Insurance at different rates than employers. Employee Class 1 NICs are currently:
Market entry support | Tax advisory and compliance | Legal advisory | Accounting and reporting | Accounting portal | Payroll outsourcing | Payroll portal | Attendance portal | HR administration | Transaction advisory | Transfer pricing | Company registration | Corporate and secretarial services | ESG reporting | Online consulting | Fixed service packages
About Accace
Accace is a proactive consultancy and outsourcing partner who bridges the gap between needs and solutions. Combining smart and streamlined technology with a holistic approach, we provide an all-round care to clients and consider their matters as our own. With over 800 experts and approximately 2,000 customers, we have vast experience with facilitating the smooth operation and growth of small to large-scale, global businesses.
About Accace Circle
Accace operates internationally as Accace Circle, a co-created business community of like-minded BPO providers and advisors who deliver outstanding services with elevated customer experience and erase the borders of service delivery. Covering over 60 jurisdictions with more than 7,000 professionals, we support over 80,000 customers, mostly mid-size and international Fortune 500 companies from various sectors, and process at least 800,000 pay slips globally.
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