Estonia has emerged as a leading hub for entrepreneurs who want to start and run businesses remotely. Thanks to its progressive digital infrastructure and the innovative e-Residency program, Estonia enables individuals from all over the world to establish and manage businesses entirely online. With over 117,400 e-residents and more than 32,200 companies established by e-residents, Estonia is a growing digital nation ideal for location-independent entrepreneurs. If you’re ready to launch your remote business, here’s how to get started.
Step 1: Apply for e-Residency Card
The first step in starting your remote business in Estonia is applying for an e-Residency card. This government-issued digital ID allows non-Estonians to access Estonia’s e-services and manage their business online. Here’s how to apply:
Online Application: Visit the official e-Residency website and complete the application form. You’ll need to provide personal details, a business rationale, and a scanned passport photo.
Background Check: After submitting your application, Estonian authorities will conduct a background check to verify your information.
Pay the Fee: The application fee is either 100 EUR or 120 EUR, depending on your chosen pick-up location.
Pick Up Your Card: Once approved, you can collect your card from an Estonian embassy or designated pick-up point. The process typically takes 2-8 weeks.
With over 117,400 individuals already holding e-Residency, this program opens doors for entrepreneurs and freelancers around the globe. Now, you’re ready to register your company in Estonia!
Step 2: Register a Company by e-Residency Card
Once you’ve secured your e-Residency card, the next step is to register your company in Estonia. The process is efficient and can be done entirely online. Estonia’s digital-first approach makes it one of the most attractive countries for entrepreneurs. As of August 2024, over 32,200 companies have been established by e-residents, with 344 new companies registered just in that month alone. Here’s how you can do it:
Use the e-Residency Marketplace: The e-Residency marketplace is a platform that offers various service providers to assist with critical aspects of business registration.
Choosing a Legal Address: All Estonian companies need a legal address in Estonia. You can choose from multiple providers offering virtual office services through the marketplace.
Appointing a Contact Person: Non-residents are required to appoint a local contact person for legal matters. Many service providers listed on the marketplace can fulfill this role for you.
Launch Accounting Services: To stay compliant with Estonian tax regulations, you’ll need accounting services. You can find professional accounting firms through the e-Residency marketplace, which will help you with tax filings, bookkeeping, and financial reporting.
Once your company is registered, you’ll be part of Estonia’s thriving digital economy, ready to scale your business globally.
Step 3: Build a Website
Your website or online store will be the face of your business. In today’s digital age, a strong online presence is crucial for attracting clients and growing your brand. Luckily, there are various ways to set up a website without having to learn how to code.
No-Code Apps
No-code platforms are a great solution if you want to build a website or an e-commerce store on your own. Here are some of the most popular no-code options:
Wix: This platform allows you to create visually stunning websites with an easy drag-and-drop interface, making it perfect for small businesses and personal brands.
Shopify: Ideal for launching e-commerce stores, Shopify allows you to manage products, payments, and shipping all from one place, with no technical knowledge required.
Webflow: Known for offering design flexibility while keeping it code-free, Webflow is great for those looking for customization options.
If you prefer to have someone build your website or e-commerce store for you, hiring freelancers from platforms like PeoplePerHour.com can be an excellent solution. Established in 2007, PeoplePerHour has over 1 million problems solved and has paid out more than £100 million to its freelancer community. The platform connects you with a global network of professionals who can design, develop, and optimize your website, leaving you to focus on growing your business. You can also explore and compare IT companies working in the web development sector.
Promote Your Business
Once your website is up and running, the next critical step is to promote your business and attract customers. Two of the most effective methods for driving traffic to your site are SEO and link building.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
SEO helps your website rank higher in search engine results, driving organic traffic. Some essential SEO strategies include:
On-Page SEO: This involves optimizing your website’s content with relevant keywords, ensuring that your titles, meta descriptions, and headings are properly structured.
Technical SEO: Improving your site’s speed, mobile-friendliness, and proper indexing will also improve your ranking.
Content Creation: Publishing regular blog posts or guides on topics relevant to your industry will help boost your site’s authority and attract more visitors.
Link Building
Link building involves acquiring backlinks (links from other websites pointing to your site), which helps build authority and improves your ranking on search engines. You can:
Guest Blogging: Write guest posts for other websites in exchange for backlinks.
Directory Listings: Register your business in reputable online directories or explore link opportunities from app.seobuilding.link.
Outreach: Reach out to industry publications and offer them valuable content in exchange for links to your site.
Working with international SEO consultants, such as non.agency, can help grow your website’s traffic through strategic link-building and content optimization, positioning your business for long-term success.
Cold Mailing
Link building involves acquiring backlinks (links from other websites pointing to your site), which helps build authority and improves your ranking on search engines. In my previous experience, I started by using Google Sheets and Google App Scripts for simple cold email campaigns. However, when the campaigns grew larger, I switched to using SalesForge.ai, a tool created by Frank Sondors (CEO). SalesForge.ai helped me warm up my mailbox, set up automatic follow-ups, automate workflows, and connect 5-10 email accounts, making the entire process much more efficient and scalable.
Get a voucher from SME FUND 2024 Program
As your business grows, protecting your brand becomes crucial. Estonia provides a great opportunity for registering your trademark through the SME FUND 2024 Grant Opportunity. This initiative helps cover the costs of trademark registration, but since it operates on a first-come, first-served basis, it’s important to apply early.
The SME FUND 2024 is a grant initiative by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in protecting their intellectual property, such as trademarks and designs. The fund helps companies cover the costs of these registrations by reimbursing a significant portion of the fees.
Key Rules of the SME FUND 2024:
75% Reimbursement: The fund offers 75% repayment of the state fees related to trademark or design applications.
Example: If the cost of a trademark application is 850 EUR, the SME FUND will reimburse 75% of this fee, meaning 637.50 EUR will be returned to the company.
First-Come, First-Served: The grant is provided on a first-come, first-served basis, so early application is encouraged to secure the funding.
This initiative helps SMEs secure their intellectual property at a reduced cost, encouraging innovation and growth across Europe.
Types of Trademark
Word Trademark: Protects the name or word itself, without any design or logo. For example, just the name “Houst” – Airbnb management London – they are using only the word name.
Figurative Trademark: Protects a combination of words and a design or logo. For example, the “VertexCad” logo with symbols
Conclusion
In conclusion, Estonia offers several advantages for starting a remote business. With 0% corporation tax on undistributed profits, you can reinvest in your company without immediate tax obligations. The e-Residency program provides a smooth and fast application process, giving you access to grants, loans, and a network of entrepreneurs worldwide. Estonia’s digital-first infrastructure and support make it a top choice for location-independent businesses looking to grow globally.
Author Bio
Paweł Krok
Board Member at Eesti Consulting OÜ
Pawel Krok (PR: [email protected]) is a board member at Eesti Consulting OÜ, a consulting company that focuses specifically on company registration in Estonia. He helps entrepreneurs with first steps on the Estonian Market. He was an expert in World Bank’s Business Ready 2023 Project.
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