Starting a company · Amandine Levecq
Complete guide to starting an SL company in Spain
Creating a Sociedad Limitada (SL), or Spanish limited company, involves coordinating corporate decisions, documents and registrations with several public authorities. This guide gives you a complete view of the process before you begin.
This information is general guidance. Requirements may vary according to the business activity, autonomous community, shareholder structure and articles of association.
Before forming the company
Define the corporate purpose, registered office, ownership of the shares and management structure. You must also choose a company name and request a negative name certificate from the Central Mercantile Registry (Registro Mercantil Central).
An SL can be formed with share capital from €1. Additional reserve and liability rules apply until the combined share capital and legal reserve reach €3,000. It is therefore sensible to choose the capital according to the project's real needs, rather than relying only on the statutory minimum.
Main steps
| Step | Participant | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Company name | Central Mercantile Registry | Negative name certificate |
| Capital and articles | Shareholders and, where applicable, a bank | Contributions and company rules |
| Public deed | Notary | Deed of incorporation |
| Tax number and registration | Spanish Tax Agency (AEAT) | Identification and tax obligations |
| Registration | Provincial Mercantile Registry | Registered company |
Many of these steps can be completed through an Entrepreneur Service Point (PAE) and CIRCE.
Costs to distinguish
Do not confuse share capital with an expense: the capital becomes part of the company's assets. Formation expenses can include the company name, notary, registry and any professional services you choose. Recurring costs will later include accounting, tax compliance and filing annual accounts.
Use the public Spanish SL cost calculator for an indicative breakdown based on your chosen formation route.
How long formation can take
A standard electronic process with complete documentation may be faster than a formation involving customised articles or administrative issues. The availability of the company name, shareholders, bank, notary and registry all affects the timescale.
See the Spanish SL company formation timeline to understand the usual dependencies and durations.
Which legal form fits your project
Limited liability and the ability to bring in shareholders may favour an SL, but it carries more accounting and corporate obligations than operating as a self-employed worker (autónomo). Compare the main criteria with the self-employed vs SL vs SA tool.
Official sources
- Centre for Information and Business Creation Network (CIRCE)
- Law 18/2022 on the creation and growth of companies
- Assigning a tax identification number to entities — Spanish Tax Agency
Your next step
Put your project's decisions in order before starting formal procedures, and check which requirements depend on your specific business activity.
Editorial review: Guía Emprendedor editorial team, on 2026-08-13. Sources checked on 2026-08-13.