The Best Countries to Start a Business in 2025

30.09.2025
Launching a company across borders can unlock faster growth, smoother access to capital, and better operating conditions. This article helps you compare locations with a practical, decision-ready lens you can use before committing time and money.

Why location matters for entrepreneurs
  • It shapes setup speed, compliance burden, and ongoing admin costs.
  • It affects investor appetite, hiring, and market access.
  • It determines the legal protections you operate under and how predictable your tax bill will be.

Key factors that influence business success abroad
  • Company formation complexity and timelines
  • Corporate and personal tax burden
  • Access to investors, grants, and banking/payments
  • Talent availability and cost
  • Regulatory predictability and rule of law
Infrastructure, connectivity, and quality of life

What Makes a Country Attractive for Entrepreneurs?

An attractive jurisdiction reduces friction at every stage: incorporation, banking, hiring, selling, and reporting. It balances pro-business rules with stable institutions, offers clear paths to visas/residency for founders, and provides reliable financial rails (banking, payments, capital markets). The best environments aren’t always the cheapest; they are the most predictable relative to your industry, growth plan, and risk profile.

  • Legal form, activity, and trade name


    • Clarity of legal forms: Clear options (e.g., LLC vs. corporation) and straightforward ownership rules.
    • Digital government services: Online incorporation, e-signatures, and unified portals for licenses and filings.
    • Banking access: Realistic pathways to open operating accounts and accept payments.
    • Licensing & permits: Transparent requirements, limited discretionary approvals, and published timelines.
    • Ongoing compliance: Simple annual returns, bookkeeping standards, and affordable local support.
    • Founder mobility: Visas or permits aligned with company ownership and genuine economic activity.

  • Taxation and Regulatory Environment

    • Headline vs. effective rates: Combine corporate tax, VAT/GST, payroll taxes, and social contributions to gauge the true burden.
    • Incentives and reliefs: R&D credits, patent boxes, or sector-specific benefits that materially reduce costs.
    • Withholding and treaties: Double-taxation agreements, withholding rates on dividends/interest/royalties, and ease of repatriation.
    • Regulatory certainty: Stable rules, independent courts, and clear guidance from regulators (especially in finance, biotech, and digital).
    • Substance requirements: Minimum local presence (offices, employees, directors) needed to access incentives or avoid penalties.
    • Compliance cadence: Frequency and complexity of filings (tax, payroll, audit), and penalties for delays or errors.

  • Access to Capital and Investors

    Assess how quickly you can raise—and at what cost.
    • Funding depth: Size and activity of local VC/PE/angel networks; presence of crossover funds and corporate venture.
    • Stage fit: Pre-seed/seed density vs. growth/late-stage appetite; typical check sizes and speed to term sheet.
    • Public/alt. markets: Viability of listings, secondary markets, venture debt, revenue-based financing.
    • Non-dilutive: Grants, R&D rebates, export credits—clarify eligibility and payout timelines.
    • Investor familiarity: Local investors' comfort with your sector and business model (e.g., regulated fintech, hardware, biotech).
    Signal effects: Global hubs amplify hiring, partnerships, and media coverage, which lowers your cost of capital.

  • Market Size and Growth Potential

    Maximize the upside you can actually capture.
    • Domestic TAM vs. regional reach: Is the local market big enough, or is the country a springboard to a larger bloc (EU, GCC, ASEAN)?
    • Purchasing power & demand curves: Will customers pay your price point today—not just “eventually”?
    • Go-to-market frictions: Language, logistics, payment preferences, and procurement rules that affect sales velocity.
    • Competition & saturation: Incumbent strength, switching costs, and regulatory moats that can slow entry—or protect you once in.
    • Digital rails: E-commerce penetration, B2B SaaS adoption, open banking, and cloud readiness that shorten sales cycles.

  • Talent Pool and Innovation Ecosystem

     Secure the people and partners who compound your advantage.
    • Depth & cost of skills: Availability of senior engineers, product managers, sales leaders; salary benchmarks and hiring lead times.
    • Universities & research: Quality of STEM/biomed programs, tech transfer, and access to labs/testing.
    • Founder services: Density of reliable legal, accounting, and regulatory advisors with startup experience.
    • Ecosystem density: Active accelerators, meetups, and co-working spaces; proximity to customers and suppliers.
    • Immigration pathways: Work/residence visas for founders and key hires; family relocation and dependents.
    • Remote leverage: Ability to combine a lean local core with nearshore/offshore teams without compliance risk.

  • Stability, Legal Framework, and Quality of Life

    Reduce downside risk while supporting sustained execution.
    • Rule of law & contract enforcement: Independent courts, predictable outcomes, enforceability of IP and shareholder rights.
    • Regulatory predictability: Transparent consultation processes, clear guidance, limited retroactive changes.
    • Macroeconomic stability: Inflation, currency volatility, and access to hard-currency banking.
    • Infrastructure & safety: Reliable power, internet, transport, and personal security for teams and families.
    • Living conditions: Housing, healthcare, schooling, and taxation on individuals—direct impacts on retention.
    • Compliance culture: Practicality of audits, inspections, and penalties; norms around corporate governance.
Get a free consultation

Global Leaders for Starting a Business

  • United States — Innovation and Capital Access

    The US pairs deep capital markets with a culture of rapid experimentation. Delaware and Wyoming offer founder-friendly corporate frameworks, while major hubs (Bay Area, New York, Boston, Austin) provide dense investor and talent networks.
    • Best for: Venture-backed tech, biotech, fintech, enterprise SaaS, hardware with complex supply chains.
    • Strengths: Largest pool of growth capital, mature M&A/IPO paths, sophisticated customers, strong IP protection.
    • Setup highlights: Well-trodden C-Corp/LLC playbooks, standardized fundraising terms, broad payment rails.
    • Watch-outs: Higher legal and labor costs, stringent compliance in regulated sectors, federal/state tax layering.
    • When to choose: You need proximity to top-tier investors and early enterprise buyers—and can absorb higher operating costs to scale faster.

  • United Kingdom — International Finance Hub

    The UK blends common-law predictability with global finance access centered in London. It’s attractive for fintech, B2B services, and companies selling into Europe and North America.

    • Best for: Fintech, professional services, B2B platforms, creative and data-driven businesses.
    • Strengths: Deep financial services ecosystem, experienced advisors, clear corporate procedures, strong talent inflow.
    • Setup highlights: Quick incorporation, recognizable company forms, supportive innovation incentives (e.g., R&D reliefs).
    • Watch-outs: Evolving regulatory requirements post-Brexit, premium salaries in London, need for early VAT planning.
    • When to choose: You want a globally connected HQ with investor and enterprise access, plus a credible springboard to EU clients.

  • Singapore — Business-Friendly Regulations

    Singapore is synonymous with efficiency and regional reach into ASEAN. Its rule-of-law orientation and predictable tax regime attract founders seeking operational clarity.
    • Best for: Fintech, logistics, cross-border e-commerce, enterprise software expanding across Asia.
    • Strengths: Fast company setup, strong banking/payment infrastructure, pro-business policy, gateway to high-growth markets.
    • Setup highlights: Streamlined licensing in many sectors, robust IP protection, straightforward corporate governance.
    • Watch-outs: Competitive hiring market with higher salary benchmarks, regulated verticals require precise compliance.
    • When to choose: You need a stable, low-friction base to scale across Asia, with reliable institutions and capital accessibility.

  • United Arab Emirates — Gateway to Middle East & Beyond

    The UAE gives founders a quick, predictable path to operate across the GCC, Africa, South Asia, and Europe. Incorporation is streamlined, infrastructure is first-class, and residency options make it realistic to relocate key people and hire internationally.

    Why UAE Stands Out (tax regime, global connectivity, talent)
    A competitive tax environment (no personal income tax and a clear VAT framework) keeps total burden predictable. Global connectivity through Dubai and Abu Dhabi shortens sales and logistics cycles, while overlapping time zones with Europe and Asia support real-time operations. The talent pool is international, and immigration processes are oriented around real business activity rather than box-ticking.

    Practical Steps for Business Setup in UAE
    Start by matching your revenue model to the correct activity codes and selecting a free-zone or mainland structure. Reserve the company name, secure initial approvals, and finalize your MoA/AoA. After license issuance, obtain the establishment card, process visas, and set up banking. Register for VAT where required and implement payroll/WPS if you employ staff. For founders new to the market, a specialized provider such as ACC Eagle Eye can coordinate setup, banking, visas, and accounting end-to-end.

    Free zone vs mainland structures
    Free zones work best for export-oriented or digital models and provide sector-specific ecosystems; mainland entities suit companies selling directly to UAE customers or bidding on government work. Substance requirements, office expectations, and sales channels differ, so align the structure with your go-to-market rather than defaulting to what’s easiest on day one.

    Licensing and permits
    Choose precise activity codes and confirm any regulator approvals early (finance, healthcare, education, media). Some licenses require a physical office; others allow flexi-desk options. Keep renewals on a calendar to avoid penalties, especially when expanding your activities.

    Banking and compliance
    Expect risk-based reviews: prepare a complete KYC pack (license, MoA, UBO chart, contracts, proof of funds). Align payment rails to customer preferences and issue compliant invoices. Maintain timely bookkeeping, VAT returns, and—if applicable—corporate tax filings. Use WPS for salaried employees and keep HR documentation current.

  • Estonia — Digital Nation and e-Residency

    Estonia’s digital state minimizes administrative overhead. e-Residency allows remote incorporation and management, with unified portals for filings and signatures.
    • Best for: lean, software-first companies that value online administration and EU market access.
    • Keep in mind: you still need real economic substance for tax residency and banking; e-Residency is not a tax residency shortcut.

  • New Zealand — Transparent and Entrepreneur-Friendly

    New Zealand offers clear rules, reliable institutions, and straightforward company forms. It’s attractive for founders prioritizing predictability and quality of life over proximity to mega-markets.
    • Best for: B2B services, niche SaaS, and companies serving APAC from an English-speaking base.
    • Keep in mind: distance from major hubs can lengthen sales cycles; plan for distributed teams and travel.

  • Switzerland — Finance and Biotech Strength

    Switzerland combines legal certainty with world-class research and financing in life sciences and deep tech.
    • Best for: biotech, medtech, and high-compliance sectors that benefit from strong IP enforcement and specialized capital.
    • Keep in mind: operating costs and salaries are high; ensure pricing power or premium margins before committing.

  • Hong Kong — International Trade and Finance

    Hong Kong remains a gateway to Asian trade and capital with efficient company setup and familiar common-law elements in commercial practice.
    • Best for: trading, logistics, and finance-adjacent B2B models serving Greater Bay Area and broader Asia.
    • Keep in mind: account opening can be more stringent than incorporation; prepare robust documentation and local substance to support banking.
Local Support for Entrepreneurs
Local execution partners can compress timelines and de-risk critical steps like licensing, banking, visas, and first-year compliance. When choosing one, verify their accreditation, the exact scope (setup, banking liaison, tax/VAT, payroll/WPS), and how they handle regulator interactions and timelines. Align on a written work plan, required documents, and total cost before you start.

Example: ACC Eagle Eye provides company registration, banking assistance, visas, and accounting support for founders entering the UAE market.

Best Countries for Startups and Scale-Ups

Ecosystem Rankings (based on StartupBlink)

Ecosystem strength reflects the density and performance of startups, investors, accelerators, and exits. Countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Singapore, and increasingly the United Arab Emirates rank well thanks to active funding pipelines, experienced operators, and strong customer bases. Treat rankings as a scale-up signal: they correlate with faster hiring, richer mentorship, and more predictable follow-on capital, which matter most after product-market fit.

Strong City Hubs for Growth (New York, London, Singapore, Dubai, Berlin)

New York blends deep enterprise demand with late-stage capital and a broad talent pool across finance, media, and healthcare.

London offers global finance access, a multilingual workforce, and rapid connections into Europe and North America.

Singapore provides operational clarity and a pan-ASEAN springboard, with strong corporate relationships and regional funds.

Dubai has become a high-velocity go-to-market base for GCC, Africa, and South Asia, with founder-friendly residency and fast enterprise access.

Berlin mixes affordable creative/engineering talent with an established B2C and deep-tech scene, plus EU distribution advantages.

Sectors that Thrive in Specific Markets

Biotech in the US/Switzerland. The US delivers FDA-aligned development pathways, deep venture syndicates, and access to world-class hospitals; Switzerland adds pharmaceutical majors, clinical research infrastructure, and strong IP enforcement. Early-stage firms benefit from academic partnerships and non-dilutive grants, while scale-ups find specialized growth investors.

Fintech in Singapore/UK. Singapore combines proactive regulation with regional banking links and a sophisticated payments stack; the UK provides a mature financial services market, open-banking adoption, and experienced compliance talent. Both markets reward teams that can integrate with incumbents and meet regulatory milestones early.

Web3 & AI in UAE/Estonia. The UAE offers clear licensing paths for digital-asset and AI-enabled services, plus rapid customer access across the GCC. Estonia’s digital-first administration and engineering culture suit lean AI teams and compliant Web3 infrastructure. In both, founders gain speed from streamlined company ops and practical regulator engagement.

Best Options for Foreign Entrepreneurs

Countries with Streamlined Processes for Non-Residents

Several jurisdictions make it practical for founders to incorporate and operate without prior local roots. Estonia’s e-Residency enables remote company management inside the EU single market. Singapore offers clear procedures and fast approvals with widely recognized corporate forms. The UAE provides founder-friendly incorporation, residency pathways tied to real business activity, and sector-focused free zones. The UK remains straightforward for company formation with familiar governance standards and advisor depth. These locations reduce friction on day one and keep ongoing administration predictable.

Visa and Residency Programs for Entrepreneurs

Look for routes that connect ownership and genuine economic activity to residency. Startup and innovator visas (e.g., in the UK), founder-linked residence permits (e.g., in the UAE), and digital-administration models (e.g., Estonia’s e-Residency combined with EU mobility solutions) help you relocate key people legally and quickly. Strong programs share three traits: transparent eligibility, realistic processing times, and a path to renewals based on measurable business progress (revenue, hiring, or investment).

Banking & Payments Accessibility

Account opening is often harder than incorporation, so plan it early. Banks and payment providers want a clear story: who owns the company, what the business does, where funds originate, and how compliance risks are managed. Prepare a tight KYC pack, show real customers or contracts, and align your setup with payment flows your buyers prefer (cards, bank transfers, invoicing, or marketplace rails). Jurisdictions with robust financial infrastructure—such as the US, UK, Singapore, the UAE, and Hong Kong—shorten the path from incorporation to first revenue by combining reliable banking with modern payment gateways.
Ask your question to an expert
Write to WhatsApp

Key Considerations Before Choosing a Country

Legal & Compliance Risks

Prioritize jurisdictions where rules are transparent and enforcement is predictable. Review corporate, employment, data protection, and sector-specific regulations before you incorporate. Confirm whether you’ll need audited financials, local directors, or physical premises, and check double-tax treaties if you expect cross-border cash flows. For regulated verticals—fintech, health, education—map the approvals you need, expected timelines, and the cost of staying compliant over time.

Cost of Living vs. Business Benefits

High-cost hubs can still be optimal if they accelerate sales and fundraising. Balance salary benchmarks, office costs, and personal taxes against access to customers, capital, and talent. Where possible, design a hybrid model: keep a lean leadership presence in the hub while distributing product and back-office roles to lower-cost locations. Track total cost of ownership (TCO) rather than headline taxes alone.

Long-Term Scalability

Choose a base that won’t constrain you after product-market fit. Assess investor depth at later stages, availability of senior operators, and the ease of expanding to neighboring markets. Ensure your corporate form, IP ownership, and contract law support future financing, M&A, and international hiring. Prefer ecosystems with proven scale-up pathways—repeatable fundraising, enterprise procurement channels, and exit routes—so today’s convenient setup doesn’t become tomorrow’s bottleneck.

From Shortlist to Decision

Summary of top choices
  • United States: unmatched capital depth and enterprise demand for venture-scale tech.
  • United Kingdom: global finance access and credible springboard into Europe and North America.
  • Singapore: efficient operations and a stable base to scale across Asia.
  • United Arab Emirates: fast setup, regional reach (GCC/Africa/South Asia), founder-friendly residency.
  • Estonia: digital administration and EU credibility for lean, software-first teams.
  • New Zealand: transparent rules and quality of life for steady, services-led growth.
  • Switzerland: legal certainty and specialized capital for biotech and deep tech.
  • Hong Kong: high-efficiency hub for trade, logistics, and finance-adjacent B2B.

How to align country selection with your startup’s goals
Map your go-to-market to the region you must win first; don’t optimize for taxes if it lengthens sales cycles. Choose a corporate form and jurisdiction that investors in your sector already understand. Secure banking and payments early—without rails, incorporation is just paperwork. Design a talent plan that balances a small local core with distributed teams where it’s legal and efficient. Finally, test regulatory fit with a pilot: one customer, one contract, one invoice, end to end.

Final thought
There is no universal "best" country. The right choice is the one that reduces friction for your next 12−24 months while preserving options for scale—aligning your market entry, capital needs, and team design with a jurisdiction that won’t become tomorrow’s constraint.
Fill out the form to sign up
for a consultation with an expert

Get a free consultation on business support in the UAE

By submitting your application, you agree to the privacy policy and consent to the processing of your personal data

Contact Us

Dubai
info@acceagleeye.com
Oh My Desk, Al Fattan Downtown, 32d St Al Satwa
Dubai, UAE
+971 52 552 9700
Privacy Policy
Services
Company