Opening a company in Italy, without getting lost in the paperwork.
Hi, I’m Lorenzo Mazza. When a foreign company decides to open in Italy, the plan is usually clear: an office, a team, the first Italian customers. What’s less clear is the road to get there: company forms, tax codes, notaries, registers, certified email. I walk you through it together with ILF Law Firm, who take care of the legal and administrative side, so you can stay focused on the business.
Before we choose a company form, let’s look at your plans for Italy:
Most foreign businesses enter Italy through an SRL, the Italian limited liability company: flexible, with liability limited to the capital, and a minimum share capital of €1. The simplified SRLS costs less to set up but is open only to individuals, so it rarely fits a foreign parent company. For a first test of the market, a branch or a simpler setup may be enough. We compare the options with your plans, not in the abstract.
Every director needs an Italian tax code (codice fiscale), and usually a digital signature. Your company documents are translated into Italian with a certified translation, and often apostilled. Outside the EU, rights follow the principle of reciprocity, and some sectors have their own rules: ILF Law Firm checks your case before anything is signed.
The articles of association are drafted in Italian and signed in front of a notary, by you or by a proxy. Then the company is registered with the Company Register, gets its VAT number and registers for social security. It also needs a certified email address (PEC) and electronic invoicing, both mandatory. You don’t have to chase any of these steps: we follow them for you and keep you updated in English.
Once the company is open, the real work begins: bookkeeping, VAT and tax filings, payroll if you hire, and the yearly deadlines every Italian company has. With ILF Law Firm and the accountants in my network, you know what’s due and when, and nothing gets lost between two countries.
Sometimes the fastest way into Italy is a company that already has customers, staff and a name. We help you look at the business behind the deal: its market, its online reputation, how Italians search for it. ILF Law Firm takes care of due diligence, contracts and the transfer.
Company formation is legal work, and I leave it to the lawyers. Here’s how we split it:
Whatever the size of the project, you’ll always have one person to call: me.
In most cases, yes. EU citizens and companies face no special restrictions; outside the EU, it depends on the principle of reciprocity and, in some sectors, on specific rules. ILF Law Firm checks your case in a first call.
Not necessarily. The deed is signed in front of a notary, but shareholders can be represented by a proxy with a power of attorney.
No. All documents are in Italian, but we translate and explain every step in English, and I keep you updated throughout.
It depends on the company form and on how quickly your documents are ready. After a first call, ILF Law Firm gives you a clear plan with timing and costs.
Yes. With my network we take care of compliance, and with my other services we help you enter the market: brand, website, Italian SEO and launch.
