Setting Up a Business in Ireland: The Complete Legal Checklist (2026)

Starting a business in Ireland is exciting — but getting the legal foundations right from the beginning is essential. This checklist covers every key legal step for new Irish businesses in 2025, so you can launch with confidence and protect what you’re building.

1. Choose the Right Business Structure

Before anything else, decide how to structure your business:

• Sole trader: Simple to set up, unlimited personal liability — your personal assets are at risk if the business has debts
• Partnership: Two or more people trading together, joint and several liability
• Limited company (LTD): Separate legal entity, limited liability, 12.5% corporation tax rate — the most common choice for growing businesses
• DAC (Designated Activity Company): For companies with a specific stated purpose

For most businesses beyond the very earliest stage, a limited company is the right choice. See our Small Business Incorporation Pack.

2. Register Your Company with the CRO

If incorporating as a limited company, register with the Companies Registration Office (CRO). You’ll need a company constitution, at least one director, a company secretary, and a registered address in Ireland.

3. Register with Revenue

Register your company with Revenue for Corporation Tax, VAT (if applicable), and PAYE/Employer taxes if you’re taking on employees or paying yourself a salary as director.

4. Open a Business Bank Account

A limited company must have a dedicated business bank account — company finances must be kept completely separate from personal finances.

5. Protect Your Brand — Register a Trademark

Registering your company name does not protect your brand. Registering a trademark with the IPOI (or EUIPO for EU-wide protection) gives you exclusive rights. Do this early — before someone else does. See our Trademark Filing & Legal Review service.

6. Draft a Shareholders’ Agreement

If your company has more than one shareholder, a shareholders’ agreement is essential. It documents what happens if a co-founder leaves, how decisions are made, and how disputes are resolved. See our Shareholder Agreement service.

7. Sort Your Client Contracts

Have proper terms of business in place before you take on your first client. See our Business Terms of Trade service.

8. Website Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

If you have a website, you need both Terms & Conditions and a GDPR-compliant Privacy Policy. See our Website T&Cs service and GDPR Privacy Policy service.

9. Employment Contracts for Your Team

Every employee must receive a written statement of their terms and conditions within 5 days of starting. See our Employment Contract service.

10. NDAs for Sensitive Information

Before sharing confidential information with partners, investors, or contractors, have a Non-Disclosure Agreement in place. See our NDA service.

11. GDPR Compliance

If you collect any personal data — customer emails, website analytics, employee records — GDPR applies. You need a privacy policy, a lawful basis for all data processing, and potentially a Data Processing Agreement with your service providers. See our GDPR guide for small businesses.

12. Get Legal Advice Before You Need It

The cheapest time to get legal advice is before a problem arises — not after. Our 30-minute consultation and Company Incorporation & Legal Compliance Pack give new businesses everything they need to launch legally.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.

Need help with this? Fixed-fee help from an independent Irish solicitor’s practice, regulated by the Law Society of Ireland: Fixed-Fee Conveyancing · Talk to a Property Solicitor.