OCTIS vs the CRO vs formation agents: which route to register an Irish LTD

What the Companies Registration Office charges, the director rule for non-EEA founders, and what three agents publish.

Last checked 9 November 2026 · 8 sources

Otty's short answer

Registering yourself on the CRO's CORE system costs €50, but you must supply an Irish registered office, a secretary and an EEA-resident director, or pay for a €25,000 section 137 bond. Agents bundle those from about €99 to €495 before VAT. Non-EEA founders with no Irish director usually need an agent for the bond and the address.

Side by side

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What matters	OCTISHong Kong company + OCTIS global plan	CRO (register yourself)	Open Forest	Incorpro	Irish Formations
Government fee (form A1)	At least 10% below any qualifying quote (Lowest Price Guarantee)	€50 online	€50, included in €99	Included in €99 + VAT	Included, amount not shown
Formation price	At least 10% below any qualifying quote (Lowest Price Guarantee)	€50 (fee only)	€99 + VAT, formation only	€99 + VAT	From €219 + VAT (resident director)
Non-resident director package	100% foreign ownership; director and shareholder can live anywhere	No, you supply the director	Yes, bond and PPS help	Yes, cost shown at order	From €495 + VAT
Section 137 bond (2 years)	Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there	You arrange it with an insurer	€1,600 per two-year term	Not published	Not published
Registered office	Hong Kong registered office address needed	You supply an Irish address	€199 per year	Offered, price not shown	Free for 6 months, then not shown
Company secretary	Hong Kong company secretary via OCTIS's TCSP-licensed partner, first year included	You appoint one	In €199 per year EveryCo plan	Nominee offered, price not shown	Nominee offered, price not shown
Director ID check, no PPS number	Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there	Done by you at CRO	€75 per director	Not published	PPS registration offered
Revenue tax registration	Hong Kong business registration, first year included	You do it on ROS	Quoted separately	Included if signed in 30 days	Included in non-resident package
Annual return (B1) fee	Annual return to the Companies Registry, prepared by OCTIS	€20 online	Filed in EveryCo plan	Not published	Not published
Beneficial owner filing (RBO)	Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there	You file it	Included in EveryCo	Included in formation	Not published
Accounting add-on	Bookkeeping by OCTIS; audit by an independent HK CPA firm	No	€79 to €249 per month	From €129 + VAT per month	Bookkeeping software included
Late annual return penalty	Not needed for the Hong Kong company; local rules apply if you trade there	€100 plus €3 per day, max €1,200	Same CRO penalty applies	Same CRO penalty applies	Same CRO penalty applies

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 live outside Ireland and want a company with accounts, banking and CRM in one place instead of an Irish LTD.
CRO (register yourself)
Register yourself at the CRO if you already have an EEA-resident director, an Irish registered office and a secretary, and you are comfortable filing your own registers.
Open Forest
Choose Open Forest if you want a published price list for the bond, registered office and annual plan, and you have no EEA-resident director.
Incorpro
Choose Incorpro if you want a low published formation price with Revenue tax registration included and plan to add a nominee secretary or accountant.
Irish Formations
Choose Irish Formations if you are a non-resident founder and want tax registration, bookkeeping software and a free registered office period in one package.

What the table does not show

What the CRO charges and requires

The Companies Registration Office lists €50 for form A1 filed electronically, and €20 for the annual return (B1) filed online. A late annual return costs €100 plus €3 per day, up to €1,200. You file through the CORE system. A private limited company (LTD) needs at least one director who is an individual, a company secretary, a registered office in Ireland (a PO box does not count) and a constitution. A sole director cannot also be the secretary.

The director rule for non-EEA founders

Ireland has no rule that a director must live in Ireland. The rule is that at least one director must be resident in the EEA, and a UK resident does not count since Brexit. Without one, the company must hold a section 137 bond of €25,000 in cover. The bond is insurance, not a cash deposit, and it runs for at least two years. Open Forest lists €1,600 per two-year term. A company with a real and continuous link to Irish economic activity can ask the CRO for a section 140 certificate instead.

What an agent adds beyond the €50

Agents file the A1 for you and supply the constitution, share certificates and registers. They also sell the things a non-resident cannot easily produce: an Irish address, a nominee secretary, the bond, and PPS numbers for directors. Open Forest says the CRO aims to approve a standard online A1 in about ten working days. Incorporation is not tax registration, so Revenue registration is a separate step that some agents include.

Where OCTIS fits

OCTIS does not incorporate companies in Ireland, so we will not tell you which route to pick. If your Malaysian or Hong Kong company is setting up an Irish subsidiary to sell or hire there, the home books still need doing. OCTIS bookkeeping keeps the home company's accounts and can sit alongside the subsidiary's statements. Ask about 10–30% off your current bill.

See OCTIS pricing

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a company in Ireland?

The CRO charges €50 to register a new company online. Agents list formation from €99 + VAT, and non-resident packages from €495 + VAT. Add a registered office, a secretary and, if you have no EEA-resident director, a section 137 bond of about €1,600 for two years.

Can a non-EEA resident own and run an Irish company?

Yes, ownership is not restricted. At least one director must live in the EEA, or the company must hold a €25,000 section 137 bond. You can appoint an EEA-resident nominee director or buy the bond. UK residents do not count as EEA residents.

Do I need to live in Ireland to be a director?

No. The rule is EEA residence for at least one director, not Irish residence. A director living anywhere in the EEA satisfies it. Directors must be individuals, and a director without an Irish PPS number goes through an identity check.

Do I need a company secretary in Ireland?

Yes. An Irish company must have a secretary. A sole director cannot also be the secretary. With two or more directors, one can act as secretary. Agents offer a nominee secretary, and Open Forest bundles secretary support into its €199 per year plan.

Do I need a registered office in Ireland?

Yes. The company needs a physical address in Ireland, and a PO box is not enough. Open Forest lists €199 per year. Irish Formations offers six free months. Incorpro and Irish Formations do not show the ongoing price on the pages we read.

How long does Irish company registration take?

Open Forest estimates five to seven working days after signed documents and identity checks. It cites the CRO targeting ten working days for ordinary online A1 filings and five for its fast route. A first annual return is due within six months of incorporation.

Sources

Checked on the date above. Links open the provider's or regulator's own page.