Head of practice
Head of Corporate Law and Fintech Practice. Expert in the creation and reorganization of companies, support of M&A transactions, as well as legal support for opening and running a business in the EU, Asia, and North America.
Business registration in Liechtenstein
You manage an international holding, crypto project or fund that suddenly needed a reputation “like a Swiss bank, but without the Swiss administration fees”. Or you are simply tired of explaining to counterparties why your jurisdiction is not an offshore with sand and a nominee director.
Liechtenstein is not about “we will register in three days”. It is about the trust of the century, real financial monitoring and, oddly enough, pragmatic benefit. But you can get this benefit without a headache only on one condition: you understand where exactly you are investing your time and money. And this is exactly what a full-cycle service is needed for – from choosing a legal form to submitting the first report, while you are doing your business, not bureaucracy.
Prikhodko and Partners does not offer an “individual approach” – we offer a step-by-step action plan. Then there will be no water.
What does “registering and supporting a business in Liechtenstein” really mean?
Let’s break it down. It’s not just filing a form with the Commercial Register (Handelsregister). It’s a complex process that includes:
- legal analysis of the business model for compatibility with local law (yes, even your DeFi project can be considered banking);
- preparation of statutory documents in German – with translation, apostille and no surprises from the registrar;
- finding a local board member, if this is provided for by the structure (more often than not);
- opening a corporate account – please note, this is a separate level of the quest in Liechtenstein;
- subsequent reporting to the tax office (Fiskus) and the Financial Supervisory Authority (FMA) – depending on the type of activity.
This service is needed when you are still at the “take and do” stage and do not understand the difference between AG (joint stock company), GmbH (limited liability company) and Stiftung (foundation). Or you understand, but do not know that with a minimum capital of 50,000 CHF for AG, you can operate in the “capital – in the account, share – in the statute, dividends – later” mode.
Without proper support, you risk:
- being denied registration due to name inconsistency (in Liechtenstein, this is serious);
- being subject to FMA inspection due to incorrect description of activities;
- having problems with the bank when trying to explain the origin of funds as “crypto since 2017”.
In conclusion: the service solves your main task – you get a ready-made, legal, transparent structure in one of the most stable jurisdictions in Europe, and not a bunch of questions from the registrar.
What structures are most often registered through us?
| Type of structure | Minimum capital | Who is suitable (in practice) | Features for non-residents
|
| AG (Aktiengesellschaft) | 50 000 CHF | Medium and large holdings, public companies | Requires a real local director
|
| GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) | 10 000 CHF | Small and medium businesses, IT exports | Possible management from abroad
|
| Stiftung (Foundation) | 50 000 CHF | Family assets, inheritance planning | Strict control of beneficiaries
|
| Establishment (Anstalt) | 30 000 CHF | Financial transactions, intra-group financing | May be without shareholders |
Note: Capital is paid in cash or in kind; CHF 10,000 for a GmbH is the minimum, but we recommend more for bank credibility.
What our expertise consists of: practical nuances
Here are three lists that will save you from common mistakes. You don’t have to memorize them – just know that Prikhodko & Partners already controls them.
List 1: Mandatory steps that clients try to skip (in vain)
- Apostilled copies of the articles of association of directors and shareholders (translated into German).
- Declaration of beneficial owner with notarized signature.
- Confirmation of business reputation – for financial or trust licenses.
- Physical address in Liechtenstein (we help with renting a virtual office with correspondence).
List 2: Typical risks that disappear after transferring the case to us
- Bank refusal to open an account due to the wording “the purpose of the company is any lawful activity”. In Liechtenstein, this is a red flag for compliance.
- Fine for failure to submit an annual confirmation to the commercial register (up to CHF 5,000).
- Account blocking due to an incorrectly executed power of attorney for a non-resident manager.
List 3: List of documents that need to be prepared before starting
- Certified copies of passports of all founders and directors.
- Bank certificate of no debts (to confirm reputation).
- Detailed description of the business – what you will do, with whom, in which markets.
- Declaration of sources of initial capital (for the FMA and the bank).
An important nuance: in Liechtenstein, they do not accept “we will think about it” – any change in the structure after registration costs a lot of money and time. Therefore, at the planning stage, we “disassemble” your business model down to the level of each transaction.
How does Prikhodko & Partners register a business in Liechtenstein (step by step)?
- Model diagnostics and restriction check. You send a business description. We check whether it falls under FMA licensing (e.g. asset management, crypto custody). If so, we calculate the license budget.
- Preparation of a package of documents + translation. We prepare the charter, the minutes of the appointment of the director, sample signatures. We translate everything into German by a licensed translator (because “approximately” does not work here).
- Registration in the trade register and submission to the tax office. We submit documents online or through a notary (depending on the type). We receive a UID (identification number) and notify the tax office about the start of activity.
- Opening an account in Switzerland or Liechtenstein bank. We provide a KYC questionnaire, explain to the bank the origin of the funds. If the bank refuses, we have replacement options (without re-registering the company).
- Post-registration support – accounting setup, submission of zero reporting, appointment of a local representative for correspondence.
Why is working with us not a game of “legal roulette”?
- Checking counterparties before registration. We don’t wait for the bank to say “no”. We check ourselves whether the local registrar will accept your structure.
- Fixed estimate. No “extra payments for urgent translation” in the process – everything is spelled out in the contract.
- Working with the FMA and the tax office without intermediaries. We have experience in communicating with supervisory authorities, including regarding licenses for fund management.
- Language support. You receive all letters, instructions and requests from the registrar in translation with comments – without “they wrote to you in German that you need a certificate, but they didn’t say which one”.
Ready to move from “how are they doing” to “here’s our account opened”? Leave a request. Prikhodko & Partners will prepare a preliminary registration plan in 24 hours – without water, promises and calculations “if we’re lucky.”
Calculate the cost of services
1 question
Does your business have a transparent ownership structure (no nominee shareholders retroactively)?
2 question
Are you prepared to explain the origin of your capital even if the amount is CHF 10,000?
3 question
Do you need more than just an account, but also a reputational status for working with major partners?
4 question
Do you plan to change your director or address within the first six months after registration?
Is it possible to register a company in Liechtenstein without being present in person?
Yes, it’s possible. The most you’ll need is a certified copy of your passport (notarized or at the embassy). All other procedures are performed through a power of attorney granted to a lawyer at Prikhodko & Partners. A personal visit may be required only for some banks, but we have options that don’t require a visit.
Is it true that Liechtenstein has a lower corporate tax rate than Switzerland?
Yes, but there are some caveats. The corporate tax rate starts at 12.5% (including municipal taxes). For holding companies, it’s even lower due to dividend and capital gains exemptions. However, you must prove that the company is actually managed from Liechtenstein.
What happens if I don't appoint a local director for the AG?
The registrar will not accept the documents. For an AG, at least one resident (a citizen of Liechtenstein, Switzerland, or an EU country with a local address) is mandatory. We provide verified candidates for the role of nominee director with a full liability agreement.
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Compensation for moral, material damage
Protection of honour, dignity, and business reputationContract Development for Business and Legal Entities
Licensing of business activities
Compensation for moral, material damage
Legal services in the field of cryptocurrency and blockchain
REGISTRATION OF COMPANIES AND OPENING OF BANK ACCOUNTS
Sale and purchase of ready-made firms
Grants and attracting investment
Business registration and support in Great Britain
Business registration and support in Switzerland
Business registration and support in the EU
Business Registration and Support in the Gulf Countries (GCC)
Business registration and support in Turkey
Business registration and support in USA
Lawyer for administrative cases
Legal services for medical businesses and doctors
Protection of honour, dignity, and business reputation
Real estate transaction support
Escort of the tender participant
Trial lawyer: support and defense in court
European Court of Human Rights (ECHR)

