OCTIS vs Autónomo vs SL for a business owner in Spain
Sole trader or limited company. The choice turns on liability, tax at your profit level and what you will spend on admin.
Last checked · 6 sources
Otty's short answer
An autónomo is simpler and cheaper to start, but you answer for business debts with your own assets. An SL limits your liability to the capital you put in and taxes profit at 25% (15% in its first profitable years), but costs more to set up and run. Sources put the tax break-even between roughly €40,000 and €60,000 of annual net profit. Treat that as a guide, not a rule.
Side by side
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| What matters | OCTISHong Kong company + OCTIS global plan | Autónomo (sole trader) | Sociedad Limitada (SL) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liability | Limited to the company's assets (Hong Kong limited company) | Unlimited, personal assets | Limited to capital |
| Minimum capital | No minimum capital | None | €1 |
| Tax on profit | Profits tax 8.25% on first HK$2m, 16.5% above; only Hong Kong-sourced profits, IRD source rules apply | Progressive IRPF | 25% IS (15% first years) |
| Social security basis | Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there | By net income, 12 brackets | Legal minimum base for administrators |
| Minimum monthly fee, 2026 | Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there | About €205.88 (net income up to €670) | Higher minimum base, amount not confirmed |
| Flat-rate start fee | Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there | Reported: €80 per month, year one | Reported: €80 per month, year one |
| Set-up cost | At least 10% below any qualifying quote (Lowest Price Guarantee), government fees and first-year secretary included | Reported: almost nothing | Reported: about €100 to €150 |
| Bookkeeping | Bookkeeping by OCTIS accountants | Income and expense books | Full commercial accounts |
| Annual filing | Audited accounts, profits tax return and annual return; OCTIS prepares the filings | Tax returns only | Accounts at the registry |
| Typical gestoría fee | 10–30% below your current bill | Reported: €30 to €60 per month | Reported: €80 to €150 per month |
| Verifactu deadline | Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there | 1 July 2027 | 1 January 2027 |
If you have staff, premises or local sales in this country, its own registration and tax rules still apply. OCTIS can help you arrange them.
Data sources & disclaimer: Comparison data was compiled from publicly available sources — including the competitors' own published pricing and feature pages — captured on 9 November 2026. Figures reflect the typical or advertised pricing at that time and may have changed since; plans, inclusions and prices vary by provider, region and promotion. OCTIS is independent and not affiliated with the named companies; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. This comparison is provided in good faith for general information only and is not professional, legal or financial advice — please verify current details with each provider before deciding.
Which one fits you
OCTIS · Hong Kong company + OCTIS global plan
Choose OCTIS if you sell to customers in several countries and want a Hong Kong company run with accounts and banking in one place.
Autónomo (sole trader)
Choose autónomo if you are starting out, profit is below roughly €40,000 a year, and risk of debts is low.
Sociedad Limitada (SL)
Choose an SL if profit is higher, you want liability limited, you carry large costs or bad-debt risk, or you want to leave profit inside the company.
What the table does not show
Liability and capital
An autónomo answers for business debts with all present and future assets. An SL limits that to the capital contributed, unless there is fraud or a personal guarantee. The Ley de Sociedades de Capital sets minimum SL capital at €1. While capital is under €3,000, the partners are jointly liable for any shortfall on liquidation, and at least 20% of profit goes to a legal reserve until capital plus reserve reach €3,000.
Tax and social security
The 2026 autónomo scheme ranks net income in 12 brackets, from a minimum base of €950.98 per month in the first standard bracket up to €1,928.10 or more, with a reduced table starting at €653.59, which gives about €205.88 a month at 31.5% including the equity levy. Listed rates are 28.30% common contingencies, 1.30% professional, 0.90% cessation, 0.10% training and a 0.9% equity levy. Company administrators have a higher minimum base. Holded reports a figure, but the Seguridad Social page does not list it, so check the current amount. The SL pays 25% corporate tax, and 15% on its first profitable periods.
Running costs and break-even
Holded reports a gestoría at €30 to €60 per month for an autónomo and €80 to €150 for an SL, plus €100 to €150 to form the SL. One Billin example compares €60,000 profit: about €21,000 of IRPF against €15,000 of corporate tax. Billin says an SL tends to pay off above €40,000 to €50,000, and other providers' guides cite about €60,000. Dividends are taxed again when you take them out.
Where OCTIS fits
OCTIS does not set up Spanish companies or file Spanish tax. If you are a Malaysian or Hong Kong founder weighing a Spanish SL against a sole-trader registration, compare it with simply selling from your home company. OCTIS bookkeeping can keep the home company's books and consolidate a Spanish subsidiary's statements, and you may get 10–30% off your current bill.
Frequently asked questions
When does an SL become worth it?
Providers' guides put it between about €40,000 and €60,000 of annual net profit, once the extra admin cost and the higher administrator fee are counted. It also pays off earlier if you want limited liability, high deductible costs or to keep profit in the company.
How much capital does an SL need?
The legal minimum is €1. While capital stays under €3,000, partners are jointly liable for any shortfall on liquidation, and 20% of profit goes to a legal reserve. Banks and clients often prefer a higher figure, so check what you need.
Is there a flat rate for new autónomos?
Holded reports that a €80 per month flat rate applies for the first 12 months, extendable by another 12 if income stays low, and that from 2026 partners and administrators can use it too. Confirm the conditions with Seguridad Social before you rely on it.
What is the corporate tax rate for a new SL?
The general rate is 25%. Newly created entities pay 15% for their first tax period with positive taxable income and the next one, according to the 2014 corporate tax law. Other reduced rates for small firms exist, so ask your gestoría which applies.
When must I use Verifactu?
Billing software must meet Verifactu rules from 1 January 2027 for corporate tax payers and from 1 July 2027 for everyone else, including self-employed people, according to the Tax Agency. Choose invoicing software that already says it is adapted.
Sources
Checked on the date above. Links open the provider's or regulator's own page.