Types of Companies in Ireland
Our team of consultants in company registration in Ireland can assist with advice in choosing one of the company types available here.
The legislation enables the creation of various types of companies in Ireland. Our local specialists can assist with their opening, based on the needs of clients.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Types of entities available for registration | – sole trader, – partenership, – limited liability companies |
Requirements to set up an Irish sole trader | The sole trader can be set up by one participant who must be a natural person. |
Types of partnerships | – general partnership, – limited partnership |
| Types of limited liability companies | – private limited liability company, – designated activity company, – company limited by guarantee, – public limited company |
| Other types of companies | – unlimited company, – European company (Societas Europaea) |
| Most popular types of companies in Ireland | Limited liability companies |
| Legal forms available for foreign companies | The branch office and subsidiary are widely used. |
| Most employed legal form by foreign investors | The private limited liability company |
| Full foreign ownership availability (YES/NO) | Yes |
| Special requirements for foreign shareholder (if any) | Irish residence permits are required for those relocating to the country. |
| Simplest type of company to incorporate | The Irish pirvate limited liability company |
| Possibility for foreign companies to act as shareholders (YES/NO) | Yes, foreign companies can act as shareholders in all types of entities, with the exception of sole proprietorships. |
| Requirement of specific share capital | Such a requirement is available for certain types of companies only. |
| Average timeframe to register a company | 2 weeks |
| Assistance in starting a company in Ireland (YES/NO) | Yes, we can assist if you want to set up a company in Ireland. |
What types of companies can I choose from in Ireland?
The Irish legislation provides the following types of companies available for incorporation:
- private company limited by shares;
- designated activity company;
- designated activity company limited by guarantee;
- company limited by guarantee;
- public limited company;
- unlimited company;
- Societas Europaea;
- sole proprietorship;
- general partnership;
- investment limited partnership.
Our team of company formation agents in Ireland can offer more details on them.
Investors can also watch the video below for more information about the types of companies in Ireland:
What is the most common type of company in Ireland?
The most common and employed type of company in Ireland is the private limited company.
What are the main features of the private limited company in Ireland?
- It must have at least one shareholder and a maximum of 149;
- It can have a single director (with a separate company secretary); at least one director must be resident in an EEA state unless the company holds a EUR 25,000 section 137 bond;
- Its capital is divided into shares; however, it is not subject to a minimum amount requirement prior to registration;
- It can be used to set up a micro-enterprise in Ireland.
What are the main characteristics of public companies in Ireland?
- It must have at least one shareholder, who can be a natural person or another company;
- It must have at least 2 directors;
- The shareholders must deposit at least 25% of the minimum share capital, which is EUR 25,000, prior to the company starting to operate;
- Its name must bear the “Public Limited Company” termination;
- Annual audits are mandatory for such a company, even when the entity is a dormant one.
What are the available types of unlimited companies in Ireland?
In Ireland, there are three types of unlimited companies, namely:
- the share-capitalized private unlimited company (ULC);
- the public unlimited company (PULC) which has no share capital;
- the public company with a share capital (PUC).
What are the main features of a sole trader in Ireland?
- The sole trader can be set up by natural persons only, and it is the simplest business form in Ireland;
- The activities of the sole proprietorship must be completed by the registrant alone;
- The sole trader is fully liable for the debts and obligations of the business;
- This business form is also subject to specific licensing requirements, based on the trade or profession of the registrant;
- There is no minimum capital required to open a company in Ireland as a sole trader.
We also have an infographic on the main types of companies in Ireland:
How long does it take to open a company in Ireland?
For most company types in Ireland, the registration procedure is about 5 business days, provided all paperwork is correctly prepared.
Are there any foreign shareholding restrictions when opening a company in Ireland?
No, full foreign ownership is available for all types of companies in Ireland.
In case you want to open a company in Estonia, we can put you in contact with our partners – CompanyIncorporationEstonia.com.
Our agents can present our set of services related to the incorporation of a company in Ireland and can put you in touch with other company formation specialists in other countries, such as Bahrain, Cayman Islands, China etc.
For more information related to company registration, foreign businessmen can contact our Irish company formation consultants.
Bernhard Correa, Financial Consultant LSC & PARTNERS · 2 October 2026Bernhard Correa is a corporate and operational manager with LSC & Partners.