Setting up an SRL: the real costs, the timing and the decisions that matter.
Setting up an SRL (Italian limited liability company) is quick; setting it up well takes about ten decisions, taken in the right order. Here is what to decide, what it really costs and what happens in the first ninety days.
The decisions to take before the notary
Shareholders and shareholdings: who comes in, with what percentages and under what exit rules (those clauses are written while you are still friends, not when you are quarrelling). Capital: the legal minimum is symbolic, but capital consistent with the business gives credibility with banks and suppliers. Management: sole director or board, powers and remuneration. Corporate purpose: as broad as it needs to be, not an endless list.
Realistic first-year costs
Item
Order of magnitude
Notary and incorporation taxes
from roughly 1.500 € upwards
Chamber of Commerce fees, stamp duties and book stamping
a few hundred €
PEC (certified email), digital signature, e-invoicing
modest amounts, recurring
Ordinary-regime bookkeeping and financial statements
depends on volumes and complexity: this is the item to budget for carefully
SEMPLIFICATA OR ORDINARY? The SRL semplificata (simplified form of the Italian limited liability company) cuts incorporation costs but comes with a standard, non-amendable set of articles and a maximum capital of 9.999 €. It is fine for starting small on your own; with more shareholders or particular needs, the ordinary SRL with tailor-made articles is the better choice.
The first ninety days
Opening the partita IVA (Italian VAT number) and choosing the tax regime, registration with the Registro Imprese (Italian Companies Register), a dedicated bank account, setting up e-invoicing, the corporate books, any INPS and INAIL positions if there are employees or working shareholders. This is the stage where mistakes cost the most: better to keep it all under one hand.
THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE Signing at the notary and “we’ll see later”: the VAT regime chosen in a hurry, photocopied articles, no shareholders’ agreement. Incorporation is a tax and corporate project, not a formality.
Information guide updated to July 2026. The costs shown are orders of magnitude: a precise quote depends on the specific case.
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STUDIO Antolini — OPERATIONAL GUIDE
Setting up an SRL: costs, timing and decisions
What to decide before the notary, the realistic first-year costs and the first ninety days
Before the notary: the decisions that matter
The incorporation of an SRL is signed before the notary in a few hours, but the choices that make it solid have to be made beforehand. Arriving prepared means saving time, money and later corrections.
Company name and corporate purpose
The name must be available and not liable to confusion; the corporate purpose describes what the company will be allowed to do. Better a purpose consistent with the real business but not too narrow: widening it later requires an amendment to the articles before the notary.
Share capital
The ordinary SRL can be incorporated with capital of as little as 1 euro, but symbolic capital sends a signal of fragility to banks and suppliers. Capital appropriate to the business, often from 10.000 euro upwards, strengthens both credibility and financial structure. It must be paid in according to the rules of law.
Shareholders, shareholdings and governance
Who comes in, with what shareholdings, who manages: these are decisions to be put in writing. Sole director or board? Joint or several powers? With several shareholders, a shareholders’ agreement or well-drafted clauses in the articles prevent future conflicts.
SRL or SRL semplificata?
The SRL semplificata has lower incorporation costs and standard, non-amendable articles; the ordinary SRL costs a little more but allows tailor-made articles. The choice depends on how standard or how complex the business is.
Realistic first-year costs
Besides the notarial deed, the first year involves a number of recurring items. The amounts below are indicative and vary by area, by notary and by complexity.
Item
Cost indication
Notarial deed of incorporation
to be agreed with the notary (reduced for the SRLS)
Registration tax
200 euro, fixed
Chamber of Commerce fees and stamp duties
about 200-250 euro
CCIAA annual fee
indicatively from about 120 euro
PEC (certified email) and digital signature
about 60-120 euro a year
Stamping of the corporate books
variable
Bookkeeping and financial statements
according to volume and tax regime
Share capital
to be paid in, not a cost
To these you add the costs of the business itself: a dedicated bank account, any licences, advisory services. A tailor-made quote avoids surprises: at the firm we prepare it before you sign.
The steps of incorporation
Deed of incorporation and articles before the notary, with payment of the capital.
Registration with the Registro delle Imprese (Italian Companies Register) within the statutory deadlines, handled by the notary.
Opening of the partita IVA (Italian VAT number) and assignment of the ATECO business activity code.
Registration with INPS and INAIL according to the business and to the presence of employees or working shareholders.
Any SCIA (certified notice of business start), authorisations or licences required by the sector.
Opening of the bank account in the company’s name and activation of PEC (certified email) and digital signature.
Setting up the corporate and accounting books.
The first ninety days
Once the company is incorporated, day-to-day operations begin. The first months are there to put the compliance obligations in order before they become urgent.
E-invoicing: setting up the channel, the recipient code, the authorisations for the services of the Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency).
Bookkeeping and VAT: setting up ordinary-regime bookkeeping, periodic VAT settlements, the esterometro (cross-border transactions report) where required.
Withholding-agent obligations if there are fees or employees; opening the position with the payroll consultant.
Privacy and security: the minimum compliance needed to handle customer and supplier data.
Tax planning for the first financial year: advance payments, director’s remuneration, cash management.
The mistakes to avoid
Symbolic capital when what is needed is credibility with banks and suppliers.
A corporate purpose that is too narrow, forcing costly amendments to the articles.
Putting off the activation of PEC, digital signature and authorisations, which blocks the first compliance steps.
Mixing up the company’s cash with your personal account: in an SRL the separation is substance, not form.
Forgetting the first year’s advance tax payments and finding your cash already committed.
How we support you
We accompany you from the preliminary decisions through to the first set of financial statements: choice of the legal form and of the articles, coordination with the notary, starting up the compliance obligations and planning the first months. The aim is to get you started smoothly and with the accounts under control.
Studio Antolini — Dottori Commercialisti (Italian chartered accountants) — cpagroup.eu — information guide updated to July 2026. It does not replace personalised advice.
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