Starting an SRL: real costs, timelines, and the decisions that matter.
Incorporating an SRL is quick; incorporating it well requires about ten decisions made in the right order. Here’s what to decide, what it really costs, and what happens in the first ninety days.
Decisions before the notary
Shareholders and equity stakes: who comes in, with what percentages, and with what exit rules (clauses are drafted when you’re friends, not when you’re arguing). Share capital: the legal minimum is symbolic, but capital consistent with the business gives credibility with banks and suppliers. Management: sole director or board, powers and remuneration. Corporate purpose: as broad as needed, not an endless list.
Realistic first-year costs
Item
Order of magnitude
Notary fees and incorporation taxes
from about €1,500 upwards
Chamber of Commerce fees, stamp duties and book authentication
a few hundred €
PEC, digital signature, e-invoicing
modest, recurring amounts
Ordinary accounting and financial statements
depends on volumes and complexity: this is the line item to budget carefully
SIMPLIFIED OR ORDINARY? The simplified Srl (SRL semplificata) removes notarial fees altogether but has articles of association drawn on the standard model, whose clauses cannot be derogated from, and share capital between €1 and less than €10,000, which must be contributed in cash and paid up in full on incorporation. It is fine to start small on your own; with more shareholders or specific needs, the ordinary one is better, with tailor-made articles of association.
The first ninety days
VAT number allocated at the same time as registration with the Companies Register (Registro Imprese), dedicated bank account, setup of e-invoicing, corporate books, and any INPS and INAIL positions if there are employees or working shareholders. This is the phase when mistakes cost the most: better to have a single coordinator.
THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE Signing at the notary and “we’ll see later”: VAT regime chosen in a hurry, copy-paste articles of association, no shareholders’ agreement. Incorporation is a tax and corporate project, not a mere compliance task.
Information guide updated as of July 2026. The costs shown are orders of magnitude: the exact quote depends on the specific case.
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STUDIO PONCHIO — PRACTICAL GUIDE
Opening an SRL: costs, timelines and decisions
What to decide before the notary, realistic first-year costs and the first ninety days
Before the notary: the decisions that matter
Incorporating an S.r.l. is signed before the notary in a few hours, but the choices that make it solid must be made beforehand. Arriving prepared means saving time, money, and later corrections.
Company name and corporate purpose (oggetto sociale)
The name must be available and not confusingly similar; the corporate purpose (oggetto sociale) describes what the company will be allowed to do. Better a purpose consistent with the actual activity but not too narrow: expanding it later requires a bylaw amendment before the notary.
Share capital
An ordinary S.r.l. can be incorporated with share capital of even 1 euro, but a symbolic capital sends a signal of weakness to banks and suppliers. A capital appropriate to the business, often from 10,000 euro upwards, strengthens credibility and the financial structure. It must be paid in according to the rules of law.
Shareholders, quotas and governance
Who joins, with what quotas, who manages: these are decisions to put in writing. Sole director or board? Joint or several powers? With multiple shareholders, a shareholders’ agreement (patto parasociale) or well-drafted bylaw clauses prevent future conflicts.
S.r.l. or simplified S.r.l. (SRLS)?
The simplified S.r.l. (SRLS) has reduced incorporation costs and a standard, non-amendable bylaw; the ordinary S.r.l. costs a bit more but allows a tailor-made bylaw. The choice depends on how standard or structured the business is.
Realistic first-year costs
In addition to the notarial deed, the first year involves some recurring items. The following amounts are indicative and vary by area, notary and complexity.
Item
Cost indication
Notarial deed of incorporation
freely agreed for the ordinary SRL; for the SRLS no notarial fees are due, nor stamp duty or registry fees (Article 2463-bis(3) of the Italian Civil Code): only the €200 registration tax remains
Registration tax
200 euro fixed
Chamber of Commerce fees and stamp duties
about 200-250 euros
Annual CCIAA fee
indicatively from about 120 euros
Certified email (PEC) and digital signature
about 60-120 euros per year
Certification of corporate books (vidimazione libri sociali)
variable
Accounting and financial statements
depending on volume and tax scheme
Share capital
to be paid in, it is not a cost
In addition, there are the operating costs of the business: dedicated current account, any licenses, consultancy services. A tailored quote avoids surprises: we prepare it in the firm before signing.
The steps for incorporation
Deed of incorporation and by-laws before a notary, with payment-in of the share capital.
Registration with the Register of Enterprises within the statutory deadlines, handled by the notary.
VAT registration (partita IVA) and assignment of the ATECO code.
Registration with INPS and INAIL depending on the activity and the presence of employees or working members/partners.
Any SCIA (Certified Notice of Commencement of Activity), authorizations or licenses required by the sector.
Opening the company’s bank account and activating PEC (certified email) and digital signature.
Setting up the corporate and accounting books.
The first ninety days
Once the company is incorporated, day-to-day operations begin. The first few months are used to get compliance obligations in order before they become urgent.
Electronic invoicing: configuration of the channel, recipient code, delegations for the Agenzia delle Entrate services.
Accounting and VAT: setting up ordinary accounting, periodic VAT settlements, reporting of cross-border transactions to the Sistema di Interscambio in electronic invoice format (the esterometro as a separate periodic return no longer exists as from 1 July 2022).
Withholding agent obligations (sostituti d’imposta) if there are fees paid or employees; opening the position with the labor consultant.
Privacy and security: minimum compliance for managing customer and supplier data.
Tax planning for the first financial year: advance payments, director’s fee, cash management.
Mistakes to avoid
Token share capital when credibility with banks and suppliers would be needed.
Overly narrow corporate purpose (oggetto sociale), forcing costly amendments to the articles of association.
Postponing activation of PEC, digital signature and delegations, blocking the first compliance steps.
Mixing the company’s cash with your personal account: in an SRL (Italian limited liability company) separation is substance, not form.
Forgetting the first-year advance tax payments and finding your liquidity tied up.
How we support you
We guide you from the preliminary decisions through to the first financial statements: choice of legal form and bylaws, coordination with the notary, start-up compliance and planning for the first months. The goal is to help you get started smoothly and keep your finances under control.
Studio Ponchio STP — Chartered Accountants — studioponchio.eu — information guide updated to July 2026. It does not replace tailored advice.
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