Skip to content 
Offshore Company
If you are considering starting your own business, then you might want to consider the possibility of establishing an offshore company. One thing that makes an offshore company attractive is its ability to offer benefits that regular companies cannot provide.
Before deciding on the type of organization you want to establish, you should get familiar with an offshore company and know about its benefits.
What is an Offshore Company?
An offshore company refers to a company or a business entity formed outside one’s national boundaries. The location might be either water or land-based, and the term offshore might be used to describe foreign corporations, banks, deposits, and investments.
The phrase offshore means the business entity acts as a non-resident where it is registered or incorporated. That said, a business might legally move offshore to avoid taxation or to enjoy relaxed regulations. Despite the advantages of offshore companies, some are being used for illicit purposes such as tax evasion and money laundering.
If you live in the United States and open an LLC in Germany to do business there, that is an offshore company. Large businesses with complex structures and more intricacies register offshore companies all the time. Think about Google, Starbucks, KFC, Apple, Amazon, among many other companies.
These companies do this to grow their operations and save themselves a lot of money on their own terms without giving government officials or politicians any kickback.
Read my detailed post on What is an offshore company and where to start your offshore business.
History of Offshore Companies
In developed countries such as the United States, the moving of well-established businesses out of the nation-state dates back to at least the 1960s, while exporting knowledge service jobs offshore dates to the 1980s.
Since then, these practices have continued, characterized primarily by exporting manufacturing businesses from the advanced to developing world. At present, the closing of manufacturing companies and offshoring has resulted in a structural change in the developed nation from an industrial society to a service-oriented economy.
During the 20th century, the search for cheap labour and production costs saw many companies from wealthy nations moving to less affluent countries to maximize profits. Additionally, the internet’s growth, specifically the fibre optic cable, has contributed to reducing transportation costs for many kinds of information to a minimum.
Why People Do Offshore Business
Most people form an offshore business in a foreign country to make the most from local regulations that offer reduced to no tax incentives to non-resident companies.
In conjunction with increased privacy and minimized taxes, there are many other reasons why forming an offshore company is beneficial.
Comparison of the Top 5 Offshore jurisdictions
Reasons why people start offshore businesses
Some of the reasons why people start offshore businesses include:
Reduced Taxes
When you incorporate an offshore business, you are liable to pay lower taxes, and this is somehow one of the main reasons people shift towards the trend of offshore companies.
In some countries, non-resident businesses enjoy tax exemptions or low taxation compared to other companies. However, issues relating to corporate tax can be very stringent and might require an expert’s assistance. Consulting financial experts can help you and your business become free from tax obligations and help you set up your company.
Less Administration
In an offshore company, the company’s directors’ duties and roles tend to be less than those of a regular company.
Activities such as accounts and others tend to be also cost-effective. This assists businesses in saving time and money.
Confidentiality
In some countries, non-resident businesses do not have to publish their directors’ and shareholders’ financial details. This is helpful to the company’s management as they do not have to reveal any information regarding their financial status to outsiders as done with other businesses.
Offshore businesses are only mandated to reveal such information when some criminal activities are being investigated, or there is a need for it.
Diversification
An offshore company might be the ideal entity to mitigate the risks of currency volatility, economic turmoil, or political instability.
For instance, UK companies have already started incorporating European subsidiaries to cushion themselves from the effects of Brexit.
Compliance
Most counties in the world have regulations that prove to be a stumbling block for certain business activities. For instance, protectionist policies and capital restrictions in some jurisdictions could discourage foreign companies from setting up factories, investing in local companies, or buying property.
In such cases, setting up an offshore business to hold local assets and complete transactions might be the best option.
Access to Better Resources and Cheap Labor
An offshore company might avail your business of the much-needed access to cheap labour, better legal frameworks, infrastructure, and natural resources it needs to stay ahead of the competition.
At a time when the global economy is getting entangled, expanding your business operations to other jurisdictions might be the most pragmatic long-term economic strategy you can adopt.
Advantages of Offshore Companies
Offshore companies have various benefits and use for individuals wishing to engage in global investment activities and financial trade.
Depending on the specific foreign country, businesses formed internationally may have the following advantages and features.
- No foreign exchange controls: Most countries do not have any restriction on foreign exchange.
- Minimal costs and fees: The costs and expenses associated with offshore companies tend to be low after paying the start-up fees. Most counties have tariffs between 200 and 300 US dollars per year.
- Ease of Incorporation: Offshore companies’ registration procedures are pretty straightforward, taking only about 24 to 48 hours to set up. This, of course, requires the business to prepare and avail all the required documentation before submitting registration paperwork to the concerned authorities.
- Flexible management and minimal reporting requirements: Offshore companies can operate with minimal shareholders and directors. Annual returns account information, and financial reporting are also often not required or remain minimal.
- Tax benefits: Most countries offer zero to low corporate taxation to offshore companies, with an exemption on other taxes such as capital gains, stamp, gift, income, sales, value-added, succession, and estate taxes.
- Relocation opportunities: Most countries offer smooth transition opportunities between countries without complicated documentation or restructuring.
- High confidentiality: Financial, account, and personal information of the owners remain confidential, though to a certain degree, depending on the country. Some countries, such as New Zealand and Hong Kong, have minimal publicly available information. In contrast, in Panama, Nevis, and Seychelles, there is absolutely no public information available.
- Favorable local corporate policies and regulations: Many countries have fair legal frameworks that promote offshore companies’ growth and foreign investments.
- Asset protection: Placing properties and assets into offshore companies can provide a solid layer of protection from impending liabilities. Having bank accounts, trusts, investments, and other assets possessed by your offshore company makes tracking them down through an asset search very cumbersome.
The Pitfalls of Offshore Companies
Along with advantages, offshore companies also come with their fair share of pitfalls.
Language and Communication Challenges
When working with a business entity from a different country, the general thinking tends to assume the people working for the company speak English. When working with team members who natively speak another language, communication can become an uphill task.
Time Difference
One of the significant pitfalls of offshoring is the time difference. Most offshore business entities operate within a 6 to 12-hour difference from their clientele, meaning work schedules might need to be adjusted to accommodate your overseas partner.
Geopolitical Unrest
Unstable political environments in prominent offshore destinations can cause geopolitical risks for business entities. For instance, Iran is a popular offshore destination but is frequently a political disturbance victim that flares up without warning.
Although it is possible to minimize language barrier, offshore employees might have social and cultural practices that might force you to accommodate them. For instance, if you open an offshore company in India, you should be prepared to have more than 16 public holidays a year.
Why Offshore is Not a Bad Thing
Whether you seek asset protection, tax savings, confidentiality, privacy, or you want to expand your business operations, offshore company formation proves to be beneficial.
With countries increasing their trade activities among friendly nations, an offshore company is the best way to take advantage of these emerging opportunities.
Apart from trading in a foreign country, an offshore business entity allows you to own property in a foreign land without going through complex documentation and legal paperwork.
The Future of Offshore
Doing offshore business can appear a long stretch from doing business in your home country. Still, countless entrepreneurs take the risk each year. Although expanding overseas might not be the best way to grow your business, entering the international market cushions your business from the risks of decline in domestic markets.
As different countries continue to forge better economic relations with other nations, offshore companies appear to be the future of economic trade. Many jurisdictions are aligning themselves as favourable destinations for foreign businesses, creating business-friendly environments for entrepreneurs.
With comprehensive options of banking facilities, lower tax tariffs, quick registration processes, liberal ownership, and conducive political environments available for offshore companies, the future of these business entities look bright.
Here I have also described how to set up an offshore company in these countries and also the advantages and disadvantages of the individual countries.
Here is the list of my personal experience:
- (BVI) British Virgin Islands Offshore Company – How to
- Belize Offshore Company 2021
- How to Open an Offshore Company in Cyprus
- Offshore Mauritius
- The Benefits of Opening an Offshore Company in Seychelles
- Everything you need to know about Nevis offshore company
- Why incorporate an offshore company in Singapore 2021
1) Reduced Taxes
2) Less Administration
3) Confidentiality
4) Diversification
5) Compliance
6) Access to Better Resources and Cheap Labor
