Choosing the right legal status determines your taxation, social charges, asset protection and fundraising capacity. This guide compares the main business forms across the 27 EU countries and lays out the decision criteria. A wrong choice can cost tens of thousands of euros over 5 to 10 years — switching status later incurs fees and tax risks.
European legal forms cluster into 6 major families present (with local equivalents) in nearly all 27 EU countries.
Micro-entreprise (FR), Autónomo (ES), Einzelunternehmen (DE), Ditta Individuale (IT), Eenmanszaak (NL). Revenue caps, flat tax options, reduced social charges in early years.
SASU/EURL (FR), Einzel-AG/UG (DE), SLU (ES), Srl unipersonale (IT). Asset protection, director treated as employee or self-employed.
SARL/SAS (FR), GmbH/AG (DE), Sociedad Limitada/Anónima (ES), Srl/SpA (IT), bv/nv (NL), Sp. z o.o./S.A. (PL). Flexible governance, fundraising.
SCI/SCP (FR), GbR/PartG (DE), Sociedad Civil (ES), Società Semplice (IT). Transparent taxation, real estate or liberal professions.
SCOP (FR), Genossenschaft (DE), Sociedad Cooperativa (ES), Società Cooperativa (IT). Democratic governance, favorable taxation.
Association loi 1901 (FR), e.V. (DE), Asociación (ES), Associazione (IT), Stichting (NL). Non-profit status, reduced taxation under disinterested management.
Rather than comparing 80+ legal forms pairwise, our method cross-references 6 structural criteria against your profile to identify the optimal status.
Below micro/autónomo caps, simplified sole-trader is almost always optimal. Above, limited liability companies become relevant.
If you have personal assets to protect or high activity risks, prefer a form with limited liability (SASU, EURL, SARL, GmbH).
Director treated as employee (SASU, SAS chairman) vs self-employed (majority manager SARL/EURL). Impact: ~22% gap on social contributions for the same net compensation.
Personal income tax (transparency) vs corporate tax (IS). With dividends: 30% flat tax in FR (12.8% income tax + 17.2% social), equivalents per country.
Solo: SASU/EURL. Multiple: SAS/SARL or equivalents. The choice between SAS and SARL depends on statutory flexibility and fundraising plans.
Micro/autónomo: ~€30 to set up. Limited company (SARL/SAS): €200-500 + annual accountant €800-2,000. Weigh against tax gains and protection.
Each country has its own labels but structures are broadly equivalent. Our comparator knows the tax and social rules of all 27 EU countries.
Over 80 distinct legal forms exist across the 27 EU countries, but they cluster into 6 major structural families (sole trader, single-shareholder limited company, multi-shareholder limited liability, civil partnership, cooperative, non-profit). Our comparator knows the specific rules of all 27 countries.
Both are single-shareholder limited liability companies. In SASU, the president is treated as an employee (high URSSAF contributions but comparable social protection). In EURL, the majority manager is self-employed (lower contributions but reduced protection). On €100,000 of annual profit, the social cost gap can reach €8,000-12,000. Our quiz determines which is optimal for your profile.
Yes, you can create a French SASU from another EU country (free establishment, TFEU article 49). But your personal taxation remains that of your fiscal residence (Germany), and the SASU pays French corporate tax. Possible combination with a German structure for optimization. Our quiz takes bilateral tax conventions into account.
Switching legal status (e.g., micro → SASU) costs €3,000-15,000 depending on complexity: notarial fees, dissolution/recreation, tax impact of activity termination (capital gains, depreciation), accounting support. That's why the right initial choice is crucial — a wrong status can lose tens of thousands of euros before switching.
ChatGPT does not have the up-to-date tax and social rules of each EU country (URSSAF rates, micro caps, bilateral conventions). It can describe the main status families but cannot calculate a reliable 5-year tax projection or integrate 2026 legislative changes. Our comparator cross-references your profile with a regulatory engine covering all 27 EU countries, updated.
Yes. Some grants are reserved for specific statuses: France's ARCE only for unemployed founders; Germany's Gründungszuschuss requires sole trader or GmbH status; some regional subsidies exclude auto-entrepreneurs. Our grants simulator integrates these constraints by cross-referencing status and eligibility.
In 10 minutes, our comparator cross-references your profile with the tax and social rules of the 27 EU countries and recommends the optimal legal form. Timestamped PDF with 5-year projection, cited official sources (URSSAF, AEAT, Agenzia Entrate, Bundesfinanzministerium…). €69 incl. VAT.
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Is feidir, soláthraíonn an tuarascáil chomparáideach na heilimintí lárnacha chun do stádas a roghnú. Beidh seirbhís iomlán ullmhúcháin comhaid bhunaithe (foirmeacha M0/P0, doiciméid tacaíochta, ionad ilfheidhme) ar fáil go luath mar rogha.