How Much Does It Cost to Open a Branch in Italy?
A transparent breakdown of all costs involved in opening and maintaining an Italian branch — from initial setup fees to ongoing annual expenses.
One-Time Setup Costs
The initial costs of opening a branch in Italy include several mandatory expenses:
- Our set-up fee: from €2,500
- Notary fees and registration charges: quoted by the notary once the documents are known
- Sworn translations of the parent's documents (including the full articles of association): quoted on receipt, depending on the number of pages and the language
- Apostille or legalisation: paid in the home country
For the full list of required paperwork, see our documents required to open a branch guide.
Government Fees and Taxes
Registration tax, stamp duties and Companies Register fees are set by law. For reference, for a recent S.r.l. incorporation they amounted to approx. €750, including the first-year Chamber of Commerce fee. A Chamber of Commerce fee is then due every year.
Professional Fees (Accountant, Lawyer)
Our fixed fee for a branch starts from €2,500. It covers the review of the parent company's documents, the drafting of the resolution and of any power of attorney, the representative's Italian tax code, liaison with the notary and the Companies Register, the VAT number and the initial compliance set-up.
Ongoing Annual Costs
Once the branch is established, recurring annual costs include:
- Accounting, VAT and tax compliance: from €350 per month
- Registered office in Bologna, if needed: €350 per year
- PEC mailboxes: approx. €35 per year each
- Chamber of Commerce annual fee
- Payroll, if applicable: quoted on your hiring plan
Hidden Costs to Consider
Companies often underestimate costs related to: delays in document legalisation (which may extend the timeline and incur additional professional fees), electronic invoicing system setup, transfer pricing documentation requirements, and the ongoing cost of maintaining compliance with Italian regulatory changes.
Cost Comparison: Branch vs SRL
| Cost item | Branch | SRL (Subsidiary) |
|---|---|---|
| Our set-up fee | from €2,500 | from €2,000 |
| Share capital | Not required | From €1 – not a cost (SRLS not available to corporate shareholders) |
| Notary fees and registration charges | Quoted case by case | approx. €2,550 in a recent quote |
| Accounting, VAT and tax compliance | from €350 per month | from €350 per month |
Indicative figures from our recent quotes, net of VAT.
Need help with branch opening costs in Italy?
Our team of Italian chartered accountants assists foreign companies with tax registration, accounting and compliance in Italy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a branch in Italy?
Our set-up fee for a branch starts from €2,500. The Italian notary, registration charges and the sworn translations of the parent company's documents are quoted once the documents are known. Costs abroad, such as the home-country notary and apostilles, are additional.
What are the ongoing annual costs of an Italian branch?
Accounting, VAT and tax compliance start from €350 per month; a registered office in Bologna, if needed, costs €350 per year; PEC mailboxes and Chamber of Commerce fees are additional. Payroll is quoted on your hiring plan.
Is opening a branch cheaper than setting up a subsidiary?
Not necessarily. Our set-up fee for an Italian S.r.l. starts from €2,000, against €2,500 for a branch, because fewer foreign documents are involved. An S.r.l. requires share capital, but this is not a cost and can be as low as €1.