International business structuring

This guide is for founders and operators who need a clear map of entity choice, banking, payments, accounting, and reporting when setting up or moving a business across borders. It is not for you if you already have a fixed structure and only need jurisdiction-specific steps.

Bankability depends on jurisdiction, business model, and documentation. Banks assess risk and compliance; see Bank account opening checklist for what they typically ask. Payment processors have their own rules; see Payment processors readiness. Plan for both banking and payments from the start.

Costs and timelines vary by jurisdiction and service level. See Costs, timelines, hidden fees for typical buckets and what drives variance. Allow time for both formation and banking; the latter often takes longer than incorporation.

Banks and some payment providers require ID, proof of address, business narrative, and source-of-funds evidence. See Bank account opening checklist and Bankability checklist.

Every structure has ongoing obligations: accounting, annual returns, renewals, and often tax and AML reporting. Factor these into jurisdiction choice; see jurisdiction pages and Costs, timelines, hidden fees for renewals.

Common pitfalls: assuming incorporation equals banking; choosing a jurisdiction without checking bank and processor appetite for your profile; weak business narrative or source-of-funds documentation; ignoring ongoing compliance cost. See Red flags & scams for buyer due diligence.

Alternatives depend on your use case: different entity types (e.g. free zone vs mainland), different jurisdictions, or keeping operations in your home country and only formalising where necessary. Use Compare jurisdictions and the Use cases hub to shortlist.

Is entity the same as banking?

No. Incorporation gives you a legal entity; banking is a separate process. Many jurisdictions make it easy to form a company but harder to open a bank account. Always check bankability before committing.

What are payments rails?

The channels that move money: bank accounts, payment processors, gateways. You need both a bank account and often a processor (e.g. Stripe, PayPal) to receive client payments. Processor rules can restrict certain business types.

How do I choose a jurisdiction?

Start with your use case and bankability needs; then use Jurisdictions and Compare. Consider timeline, cost, and ongoing burden, not only tax.

• Start here — decision flow.
• Jurisdictions — browse and compare.
• Bank account opening checklist — KYC and narrative.
• Payment processors readiness — gateways and evidence.
• Bankability checklist — printable readiness.
• Request introductions — when you are ready.