Offshore Company Formation Service
An offshore company formation service handles the registration of your company in a foreign jurisdiction — filing the incorporation documents, acting as your registered agent, managing compliance requirements, and usually helping arrange a corporate bank account afterward. Done through an established agent, the whole process typically runs from 5 days to 4 weeks depending on jurisdiction, and costs anywhere from 950 USD to 5,490 USD for the first year depending on where you register and what’s included.
GWS Offshore has formed companies in 15+ jurisdictions since 2012, for founders, consultants, holding companies, and family offices who need a legitimate structure outside their home country — whether that’s for tax efficiency, asset protection, easier international banking, or simply operating in a market where a local entity isn’t practical.
Why work with a formation agent rather than doing it yourself
You can register a company directly with many foreign registries. But in practice, this brings three problems.First, most places require a local registered agent and address. You usually will not have those on your own.Second, KYC and compliance paperwork varies a lot by jurisdiction. Mistakes can cause real delays. Third, banks are more willing to open accounts for companies formed through an established agent. They are less willing to work with a first-time filer they do not know. A good agent isn’t selling you paperwork. They’re selling relationships and the know-how from doing this hundreds of times.
What's typically included
- Company name search and registration
- Registered agent and registered office for the required period
- Preparation of incorporation documents (memorandum, articles, share certificates)
- KYC/AML compliance handling for directors and beneficial owners
- Ongoing statutory compliance (annual returns, register maintenance)
- Bank account introduction (often optional, sometimes bundled)
- Nominee director/shareholder services, where needed for privacy
Where we operate
| Jurisdiction | Starting from |
|---|---|
| British Virgin Islands | 2,890 USD |
| Belize | 1,200 USD |
| Hong Kong | 1,990 USD |
| Gibraltar | 2,690 USD |
| UAE / RAK | 3,290 USD |
| Seychelles | 950 USD |
| Marshall Islands | 1,390 USD |
| Panama | 3,500 USD |
Please see our fee schedule page for more jurisdiction.
How to choose a jurisdiction
There’s no single “best” offshore jurisdiction — it depends on what you’re optimizing for. BVI and Belize are popular for straightforward holding structures with minimal reporting. Hong Kong suits companies that want a jurisdiction with real substance and a strong banking reputation, particularly for trade with Asia. UAE and RAK work well if you want the option of eventually operating with physical presence in the Gulf. Gibraltar and Seychelles sit somewhere in between on cost and reputation.
If you’re not sure, this is genuinely worth a short consultation rather than guessing — the wrong jurisdiction for your specific banking or tax situation can cost more to unwind later than it saved upfront.
Pricing
Full pricing by jurisdiction and service tier is on our fee schedule page. As a rough guide, expect first-year costs (incorporation plus registered agent) starting around 950 USD for the simplest jurisdictions, rising toward 5,490 USD for jurisdictions with more substance requirements or where nominee services are included.
About GWS Offshore
GWS Group has been forming and administering offshore companies since 2012, we’ve handled formations for clients across the world wide, and our registered agent relationships mean most standard filings move faster through us than through a first-time direct application.