When entrepreneurs think about expanding globally or reducing tax exposure, the first question is often: “Which country should I choose?”

At Become Global Citizen, we take a different approach. Instead of starting with a jurisdiction, we start with you — your business model, tax residency, and long-term goals.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution in offshore company formation. A structure that works for an e-commerce entrepreneur in Dubai may not suit a SaaS founder in California or a consultant living in London.

This guide will help you understand how to choose the best jurisdiction for your business, whether you are looking for lower taxes, asset protection, better banking access, or global credibility.

Key Factors When Choosing a Jurisdiction

When evaluating the best country to incorporate a business, we consider:

  • Business model – consulting, e-commerce, SaaS, agency, trading, funds, content/media, holding, or IP.

  • Personal tax residency – where you pay taxes today, and where you could relocate tomorrow.

  • Your goals – reduce tax burden, protect assets, access global banking, enhance reputation, plan for exit or second residency.

  • Operational needs – customers, payment flows, staffing, logistics, licenses, banking, and substance requirements.

  • Risk profile and timeline – how conservative or aggressive your strategy is, and how fast you need the structure live.

1. Start with You: Residency Determines Tax Reality

Your personal tax residency is the foundation of international tax planning. It often matters more than where your company is incorporated.

  • Australian, UK, or EU residents
    Taxed on worldwide income. Incorporating offshore does not eliminate personal tax.
    Best solution: OpCo + HoldCo structures, deferral strategies, treaty planning, and potential residency shifts.

  • US citizens and green card holders
    The US taxes global income no matter where you live.
    Best solution: Domestic planning (Delaware/Wyoming, S-Corp/C-Corp) plus strategic use of offshore funds/vehicles (Cayman, BVI) with full compliance.

  • Non-residents, nomads, and PTs (perpetual travelers)
    Able to separate value creation from profit recognition.
    Best solution: low-tax operating company with strong banking + treaty-friendly holding structure + efficient residency choice.

2. Best Jurisdictions by Business Model

Consulting / Agencies / Online Services

  • UAE (Dubai): 0% personal tax, 0–9% corporate tax, strong international banking.

  • Cyprus: 12.5% corporate tax, EU credibility, participation exemptions on dividends and capital gains.

  • Estonia: 0% until dividends are distributed, digital-first administration, trusted EU reputation.

SaaS / IP-Heavy / Media & Influencers

  • Cyprus, Ireland, Netherlands: Strong IP regimes, EU reputation, treaty networks.

  • UAE: Personal tax efficiency, paired with EU/UK entities for enterprise contracts.

  • US (Delaware/Wyoming): Credibility, Stripe and VC access, optimized through S/C-Corp elections and transfer pricing.

E-Commerce / Trading

  • UAE: Ideal for import/redistribution.

  • Hong Kong or Cyprus: Flexible banking, trade efficiency, tax advantages.

  • EU entities (Netherlands, Poland): Required for Amazon FBA, EU logistics, and VAT compliance.

Holding & Investment Vehicles

  • Cyprus / Luxembourg / Netherlands: Strong treaties, participation exemptions, credibility.

  • Cayman Islands: Preferred for funds, PE, and hedge vehicles.

  • Delaware: SPVs, investor familiarity, global reputation.

3. Aligning Goals with Jurisdictions

  • Minimising taxes legally
    Relocate residency to tax-efficient regimes (UAE, Malta, Portugal NHR, Caribbean programs). If relocation isn’t possible, use deferral, depreciation, and HoldCo planning.

  • Asset protection
    Separate operating entities from holding structures.
    Consider trusted jurisdictions like Singapore, Cook Islands (trusts), Cyprus, or Delaware LLCs.

  • Reputation & enterprise growth
    High-profile clients often prefer EU/UK/US companies.
    A common strategy is dual-stack structuring: a client-facing entity in a reputable market with a tax-efficient HoldCo elsewhere.

  • Banking & payments
    Choose jurisdictions aligned with your customer geography and KYC profile.
    Strong options include UAE, Tier-1 EU countries, and the US.
    Substance is key: staff, offices, contracts, and invoicing must be credible.

4. Example Business Structures

  • AU/UK/EU resident, services company
    Local entity for domestic payroll.
    Cyprus HoldCo for international income and treaty benefits.
    Optional UAE OpCo for personal efficiency if residency later shifts.

  • US founder, SaaS startup
    Delaware parent for VC fundraising and equity.
    EU/UAE OpCo for team and product, with IP licensing and transfer pricing optimization.

  • Nomadic founder, media/influencer
    UAE OpCo for contracts and 0% tax residency.
    EU/UK entity for brand collaborations.
    Diversified banking between GCC and EU fintechs.

5. Our Process: From Blueprint to Execution

  1. Strategic consultation (paid): Deep dive into residency, business model, tax profile, and goals.

  2. Blueprint design: Ownership charts, IP flows, banking strategy, and compliance roadmap.

  3. Implementation: Incorporation, bank accounts, PSP onboarding, registrations, accounting, compliance setup.

  4. Go-live support: From first invoice to payroll processing — ensuring your business runs smoothly.

  5. Long-term partnership: Continuous advice as laws change, structures evolve, and your business scales (M&A, second residency, trusts, fund vehicles).