Thinking about launching a company in Spain? These are the legal structures that owners choose most often.
Legal Forms in Spain
- Sociedad Limitada: Since Spain's 'Crea y Crece' law took effect, you can form one with as little as €1 in share capital deposited into a Spanish bank account (the former minimum was €3,000). Until accumulated reserves reach €3,000, some profit must go to a legal reserve and dividend payouts are limited. The owners are protected by limited liability.
- Sociedad Anónima: The required starting capital sits at a steep €60,000, and you can put that money to work as operating funds.
Once your legal form is settled, a few more tasks remain before your Spanish company can open its doors.
Steps to Start a Business in Spain
- Get your NIE: this foreigner identity number is issued to people who are not EU citizens.
- Set up an account at a bank in Spain.
- Sign up with the Spanish Chamber of Commerce.
- Apply for a CIF or NIF: this is the tax identification code assigned to legal entities.
- Enroll in the Social Security system and make your social security payments.
Your specific industry may add a few more requirements, such as obtaining particular permits or putting employment contracts in place.
Invoice Requirements for Exports to Spain
Shipping goods or services into an EU member state such as Spain means extra rules can apply on top of the invoicing standards back home. Most countries publish these details on the tax authority website, or you can reach the office directly to ask.
For invoices issued in Spain, the bare minimum you must show includes the following:
- The supplier's complete details
- The customer's complete details
- Date
- A reference number in sequence that runs in date order
- A description of the goods or services supplied
- The amount being charged for those goods or services
- A VAT breakdown where it applies
- The applicable tax rate and liability
Companies based outside the EU will nearly always need to sign up as a non-resident VAT trader in at least one member state. The Union scheme is another route that makes VAT payments easier to manage.
Multilingual Labels in Catalonia
Keep in mind that goods sold in Catalonia have to carry labels in Spanish and Catalan together. The same dual-language rule covers brochures, info leaflets, and similar materials. Staying within these regional language rules keeps you clear of trouble down the line.
Export Licenses for Goods to Spain
The EU permits goods to move freely, yet some items still call for an export license before they cross into Spain. The list can cover medicines, phytosanitary products, and strategic goods3. If any of these are part of your plan, reach out to the tax authorities in your country for direction and details on securing the right licenses.
Shipments usually call for paperwork like the commercial invoice, the bill of lading or airway bill, a packing list, insurance papers, and where they apply, special certificates covering origin, sanitation, and ownership. Tuck a copy of the commercial invoice in with the shipment so it clears customs without holdups.
Business Cultural Differences Between Spaniards and Americans
Working with Spanish partners means paying attention to how their business culture differs from the American one. A few points are worth keeping front of mind:
Language Matters
Spaniards place real value on their language, and a solid command of Spanish goes a long way toward closing deals. When you don't speak it, bring an interpreter along. Putting things in writing in Spanish tends to land best. Watch for regional variation too. Younger people usually handle English fairly well, and a few speak French.
Naming Conventions
A Spanish name pairs a given name with the father's surname and then the mother's surname. Official paperwork and formal letters carry both of those family names.
Business and Food
A lot of business in Spain happens across a lunch or dinner table. Remember that whoever issues the invitation to eat is the one who picks up the check.
Siesta Time
Spaniards keep the siesta, taking a long midday break that often runs from 2 p.m. until 4 or 5 p.m., then working on into the evening until 7 or 8.
Summer Work Hours
A summer trip to Spain may sound pleasant, but plan around early mornings and afternoons free of work. Friday afternoons are a poor bet for business as well, since plenty of offices shut down.
Formal Business Culture
Tourists may dress casually across Spain, but locals lean toward classic and often formal work attire and pay real attention to how they look. They look for the same from visiting partners, so put on a tie or suit when you meet a Spanish counterpart, even in the heat. Newer companies sometimes run on a looser dress code.
Gift-Giving Etiquette
A small business gift may be welcome, though it isn't expected. Costly presents can come across as bribes and tend to go over poorly.
Patience is a Virtue
Many Spaniards like to get to know you before any deal moves forward, so give relationships time to grow. Don't be thrown if a colleague shows up late or lets a deadline slip, since punctuality is held loosely. After a meal or a meeting, send a short email that recaps the points raised and anything you settled on.
Getting a business off the ground in Spain takes effort, but solid planning, an eye for detail, and respect for the culture put success within reach. Setting up a new venture, sending goods across the border, or partnering with Spanish firms all call for a grasp of the legal, cultural, and practical pieces involved. Use the guidance gathered here and you will handle the finer points with far more confidence. And when language or cultural gaps get in the way, a trusted partner like ABC Translations can keep your communication accurate and clear, with certified translation across 120+ languages.
