How much does it cost to set up a company in Lithuania in 2026?

In short: you can register a company in Lithuania in 2026 for as little as a few dozen euros. If you choose a small partnership (MB) or a private limited company (UAB) and register online, the mandatory state fees fit into roughly an EUR 30 Register of Legal Entities registration and an optional ~EUR 16 name reservation. The biggest add-ons are usually the UAB share capital (EUR 1,000) and a notary (~EUR 85–338) — but, as you will see, the capital is not a tax (it stays with your company) and the notary can often be avoided.

In this article we break down each part of the setup cost — the Register of Legal Entities fee, the name reservation, the notary and the share capital — and compare what it costs to form an MB versus a UAB. If you want the wider launch plan first, start with our guide on how to start a business in Lithuania in 2026. All amounts here are illustrative (2026); always verify the current fees and rates on the Register of Legal Entities, VMI (tax authority) and Sodra websites, as they are reviewed every year.

Registering the company costs a few dozen euros — the expensive part is usually not the registration itself but what you do afterwards.

What the cost of setting up a company is made of

Many first-time founders overestimate the setup cost because they mix two completely different sums: fees paid to the state and the company's own capital. Fees are small and non-refundable, while capital is your own money that simply sits inside the company. So it helps to split setup costs into two groups: money you actually spend (fees, notary) and money that stays with the company (UAB share capital). The main parts:

• Register of Legal Entities fee for registering the company — online, about EUR 30.
• Name reservation (form JAR-5) — about EUR 16, if you want to lock in the name in advance (optional).
• Notary — EUR 85–338 depending on the share capital, and not always required.
• UAB share capital — EUR 1,000 (an MB needs none); this is not a tax, it is company funds.

When you register online with standard documents, the actual outlay is often no more than a few dozen euros. A notary, extra legal advice or the UAB capital push the figure up — yet even then, incorporating in Lithuania remains one of the simpler and cheaper processes in the EU.

Register and name fees: ~EUR 30 and ~EUR 16

The main mandatory fee is for registering the company with the Register of Legal Entities. Online self-service registration costs about EUR 30 and is cheaper and faster than going through a notary. The formal registration term is about 3 working days, but in practice, when documents or data need correcting, the process often takes 5–10 working days. We describe the steps one by one in a separate guide on how to set up a UAB in 2026, step by step.

The second fee — the name reservation (form JAR-5) — costs about EUR 16 and reserves your chosen name for up to 6 months. It is optional: you can approve the name together with registration. Still, if you are already building a brand, registering a domain or waiting on an investor's decision, this small amount protects you from the unpleasant situation where someone else takes the name you wanted.

The notary: when it is needed and what it costs

Notary services are the biggest variable setup cost, running EUR 85–338 depending on the size of the share capital. The good news: in most simple cases the notary can be avoided. When you register online, use standard (template) incorporation documents and all founders have a qualified electronic signature, notarising the transaction is often unnecessary — the whole procedure runs through the Register's self-service portal.

A notary is usually required when the incorporation documents are non-standard, the capital is paid in with a non-cash (in-kind) contribution, or the ownership structure is more complex. Because the specific need depends on your situation, check whether a notary is required with the Register of Legal Entities or a notary before you start.

UAB share capital: EUR 1,000, but it is not a tax

The most common misunderstanding is to think that the EUR 1,000 share capital is a "fee for a UAB". In reality it is your own company's money: you pay it into the company and can later use it for the business — goods, equipment, salaries or marketing. Before registration you must pay in at least 25% of the capital, i.e. EUR 250, with the remainder due within 12 months of incorporation. So at the start you really "lock up" EUR 250, which does not disappear anywhere.

It is also worth noting the number of owners: UAB shareholders can be both natural and legal persons, up to 249, so this form suits you when you plan to bring in an investor, a partner or another company. We explain how much capital you need and how to pay it in more detail in the article on how much share capital a UAB needs.

MB or UAB: where setup costs are lower

Purely on setup price, an MB is usually cheaper — for two reasons:

• No share capital required. An MB is set up without the mandatory EUR 1,000, so you need less start-up cash and do not have to "lock up" EUR 250.
• A notary is less often needed. An MB is frequently formed online with template documents, so for many founders the notary cost never arises.

In exchange, an MB has limits: its members can only be natural persons, no more than 10. A UAB, by contrast, requires capital but allows up to 249 shareholders, including legal persons — easier for growing and raising investment. Both forms give limited liability, so personal assets are separated from the company.

It is important to understand: the setup price should not be the main argument when choosing a form. The difference between an MB and a UAB at the start is only a few dozen euros plus the possible share capital, while the form itself will be decided by your plans — the number of owners, the need for investment and how you want to take out profit. We give a detailed cost comparison in the article on MB vs UAB: a setup cost comparison.

Example: what it really costs to set up a UAB online

Let us add up a typical scenario — setting up a UAB via self-service, with standard documents, no notary:

• Name reservation (JAR-5): ~EUR 16 (optional)
• Register of Legal Entities online registration: ~EUR 30
• Notary: EUR 0 (template documents and an e-signature are used)
• Total actual fees: ~EUR 46

On top of that, before registration you must pay at least EUR 250 of share capital (out of EUR 1,000) into the company account. This is not an expense — the money stays in the company and becomes its working capital. So you irreversibly spend about EUR 46 "out of pocket", and simply move another EUR 250 into your own company's account.

If a notary does turn out to be required in your case, add EUR 85–338. Under the same scenario an MB would be even cheaper: ~EUR 30 for registration (plus the optional ~EUR 16 for the name) and no share capital at all.

What else to budget: the real costs begin after registration

Registration is only the beginning. Your real first-year budget is shaped by the decisions and obligations that follow:

• Accounting. A UAB and an MB must keep accounts and file reports: the annual financial statement to the Register of Legal Entities is due by 30 June, and the corporate income tax (CIT) return to VMI by 15 June.
• Corporate income tax (CIT). In 2026 the standard rate is 17%, for small companies 7%, and for new small companies in their first 1–2 years it can even be 0% (if fewer than 10 employees, income up to EUR 300,000 and the company is not part of a group). Taking profit out as dividends is taxed at 15% personal income tax (GPM).
• VAT. You must register as a VAT (value added tax) payer once your turnover over the last 12 months exceeds EUR 45,000; the standard VAT rate is 21%, while from 2026 some activities carry reduced rates of 12% (e.g. accommodation, passenger transport, catering, culture) and 5% (books, medicines).
• Website and image. For customers to find and trust you, you need a website and a tidy image. How much a professional website costs and what the price depends on we cover in the article on how much a website costs in Lithuania.

It is these items, not the registration fee, that usually determine what starting the business really costs.

Check the prices: the configurator and official sources

Before you decide, run your own concrete numbers:

1. Choose the form (MB or UAB) based on the number of owners, the need for capital and your plans to grow.
2. Add up the setup fees — the Register fee (~EUR 30), the name (~EUR 16) and, if needed, a notary (EUR 85–338).
3. Estimate the further costs — you can quickly work out a website and image budget in our pricing configurator.
4. Verify the official fees and rates on the Register of Legal Entities, VMI and Sodra websites — they are updated, so older articles go stale fast.

Disclaimer: all rates, fees and amounts in this article are illustrative (2026) and intended for general understanding only — this is not tax or legal advice. Always verify the current rules at the official VMI and Sodra sources, or consult an accountant.

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