A ready-made company, also called a shelf company, is a private company limited by shares incorporated under the Companies Act 2014 that has never traded. The standard package transfers the complete statutory bundle to you:
The company arrives with its CRO compliance standing in order and a clean record: no trading, no Revenue liabilities and no judgment mortgages. Optional add-ons include VAT registration, an EORI application, a bank account introduction and a nominee director service for non-EEA owners.
A standard transfer completes in 24 to 72 hours from payment and KYC approval:
Incomplete KYC documents are the most common cause of delay. Non-EU buyers who need a nominee director to satisfy the Companies Act 2014 section 137 EEA-resident director requirement should allow an additional 24 to 48 hours for the appointment.
Both routes produce the same legal entity, a private company limited by shares under the Companies Act 2014, but a ready-made company transfers in 24 to 72 hours while a new incorporation takes 5 to 10 working days through the standard CRO route. A shelf company also carries an earlier incorporation date, which some counterparties value, while a new incorporation gives you full control of the name and constitution from day one. For a side-by-side view of cost, timeline and control, see the full ready-made vs new Irish company comparison.
A shelf company that has genuinely never traded shows no Revenue liabilities, no judgment mortgages and no PAYE or PRSI registrations. Its CRO compliance standing can be verified independently on the CRO Core search portal before completion.
Yes. There is no nationality restriction on company ownership under Irish law. However, at least one director must be ordinarily resident in an EEA state under section 137 of the Companies Act 2014, so non-EEA buyers typically appoint a nominee director or put a section 137 bond in place.
The standard ready-made company does not carry VAT registration. You can apply to Revenue after the transfer, which takes 4 to 12 weeks, or choose a ready-made Irish company with VAT that holds a live VAT number from day one. Either way, check the VAT position before you commit; our guide on verifying the VAT status of an Irish ready-made company explains how.
You inherit the company’s existing B1 annual return cycle from its original incorporation date. The next B1 due date is disclosed before purchase so you can plan the filing.
Before completing any purchase, run your own checks: CRO Core search, RBO extract and confirmation that the company has never traded. Our step-by-step guide to verifying the history of a ready-made Irish company walks through the full due diligence process.
In most cases, you can start operating under the company on the same day the transfer is completed. The director transfer is typically executed on the same working day that your AML/KYC documents are cleared. You will receive the full company document pack within 1-2 working days of the transfer filing. If your business requires VAT registration, you will need to apply separately - Revenue typically processes VAT registrations within 5-10 working days.
Yes. All ready-made companies sold by Chern and Co have never traded. They have no Revenue filing history, no VAT liabilities, no prior tax returns, and no outstanding debts or legal disputes. You can independently verify the company status and filing history on the CRO publicly accessible register at cro.ie before completing your purchase.
Yes. A company name change is included in the package. Our team files the name change application with the CRO on your behalf. The CRO processes standard name change applications within 2-3 working days. Lhe company original CRO registration number remains unchanged regardless of the name.
The company itself must have a registered office address in Ireland - this is a legal requirement under the Companies Act 2014. Our registered office service provides this Irish address and is included in the package. You, as the director, do not need to be resident in Ireland, but you must be EEA-resident (or arrange a nominee director if you are not).
This product does not include VAT registration. If you need a company with an active VAT number from day one - avoiding the 4-8 week Revenue processing wait - our Ready-Made Company with VAT Number is the right choice. If you are content to register for VAT after the transfer, our tax registration service can handle this for you at any time.
Yes. Non-EU and non-EEA founders can purchase a ready-made company. However, the Companies Act 2014 requires at least one EEA-resident director. If you are the sole founder and are not EEA-resident, you will need to appoint a nominee director at the time of transfer. Our team can advise on the most appropriate structure for your situation before you proceed.
No. A business bank account is not included with the company transfer. Banks in Ireland require a new account application regardless of whether the company is newly formed or transferred. After the transfer is complete, the new director applies directly to the bank of their choice. One practical advantage of a ready-made company is that its earlier incorporation date can support the bank's onboarding process, as some Irish banks view an established company as lower risk than a newly formed one.
Forming a new Irish private limited company through the CRO typically takes 3 to 5 working days. A ready-made company is already incorporated so no CRO registration wait is required. The key advantage is the earlier incorporation date, which can matter for contracts, tenders, or commercial relationships that reference company age.
The company holds a Revenue reference for Corporation Tax but has no active VAT registration, no PAYE or PRSI registration, and no other Revenue registrations. As the company has never traded there are no outstanding tax obligations. After the transfer you can register for VAT or PAYE/PRSI through Revenue ROS based on your planned business activities.
You will receive the Certificate of Incorporation, the company constitution, a share certificate in the new shareholder name, the company seal, and confirmation of the B10 director appointment filing with the CRO. Our team also completes the Revenue notification of change of director and shareholders. All documents are delivered digitally.
Visa, Mastercard, Crypto, American Express, PayPal, Apple Pay. Clear invoices and instant receipts for every order.
Chern & Co Ltd is a licensed Trust and Company Service Provider (TCSP) in Ireland, authorised and supervised by the Department of Justice.
Our official registration reference is TCSP APP/1211/2018, and we are listed in the public TCSP register maintained by the Irish Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit.
Compliance • AML • TCSP
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LTD Companies and Partnerships For Overseas Residents
Chern & Co team offers Registered Office Address, Business Address, Company Secretary, Nominee Director, Nominee Shareholder and other professional services to international customers who need to set up a branch or present in the European Union.
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