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British Virgin Islands or Cayman Islands: where to set up your company?
Two deliverable jurisdictions, side by side on the facts our profiles carry — company form, tax, capital, timeline, banking, substance and our price. Who each one fits, what really decides between them, and the traps of each.
| British Virgin Islands | Cayman Islands | |
|---|---|---|
| Usual company form | BC | Exempted Co |
| Corporate taxation | 0 % · economic substance rules apply | 0 % · economic substance rules apply |
| Share capital | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Incorporation time | 2–3 days | 4–5 days |
| Banking access | Difficult | Difficult |
| Substance requirement | Real presence required | Real presence required |
| Our services | from 3,090 € | from 2,990 € |
British Virgin Islands — who it's for
- The world's most used place of incorporation for asset holding.
- Statutory flexibility and relative register confidentiality.
Cayman Islands — who it's for
- Market standard for investment fund vehicles.
- Mature regulatory framework recognised by institutional investors.
- No direct taxation.
What really decides between them
- Corporate tax — British Virgin Islands : 0 % · economic substance rules apply · Cayman Islands : 0 % · economic substance rules apply
- Minimum capital — British Virgin Islands : $50,000 · Cayman Islands : $50,000
- Registration time — British Virgin Islands : 2–3 days · Cayman Islands : 4–5 days
- Banking access — British Virgin Islands : Difficult · Cayman Islands : Difficult
- Substance — British Virgin Islands : Real presence required · Cayman Islands : Real presence required
- Our price — British Virgin Islands : from 3,090 € · Cayman Islands : from 2,990 €
Figures from each profile; to be checked there. The right choice depends on where you will really operate and bank.
Traps — British Virgin Islands
- Economic substance rules apply to several activities, with an annual declaration.
- Very few banks still accept a BVI company without a strong operational link.
Traps — Cayman Islands
- Economic substance rules with an annual declaration of the level achieved.
- Banking all but impossible outside fund structures.
British Virgin Islands or Cayman Islands: frequently asked questions
British Virgin Islands or Cayman Islands: which is cheaper to set up?
British Virgin Islands: from 3,090 €; Cayman Islands: from 2,990 €. Starting prices, official fees included, excluding tax.
British Virgin Islands or Cayman Islands: how does corporate tax compare?
British Virgin Islands: 0 % · economic substance rules apply; Cayman Islands: 0 % · economic substance rules apply. To be checked on each profile.
British Virgin Islands or Cayman Islands: which is faster to register?
British Virgin Islands: 2–3 days; Cayman Islands: 4–5 days. Usual times.