Starting a Business in Ireland Checklist: 29 Items
Organise Irish business structure, CRO filings, Revenue registrations, licences and launch requirements for a sole trader or company.
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๐งญ Plan the business
Notes: Check demand, the area you will serve and costs before paying for a structure or premises.
Check demand, the area you will serve and costs before paying for a structure or premises.
Notes: Include insurance, accounting, taxes, rent, equipment and a cash buffer.
Include insurance, accounting, taxes, rent, equipment and a cash buffer.
Notes: Liability, annual filings and tax treatment differ; decide with qualified advice if needed.
Liability, annual filings and tax treatment differ; decide with qualified advice if needed.
Notes: Document who owns assets, controls decisions and is responsible for debts.
Document who owns assets, controls decisions and is responsible for debts.
Notes: Immigration or professional status can affect the ability to run a business.
Immigration or professional status can affect the ability to run a business.
Notes: Track expected seasonal sales, payment delays and tax liabilities.
Track expected seasonal sales, payment delays and tax liabilities.
๐ Name and registration
Notes: Avoid confusingly similar company or business names before investing in signage.
Avoid confusingly similar company or business names before investing in signage.
Notes: Registering a trading name does not give trade mark exclusivity.
Registering a trading name does not give trade mark exclusivity.
Notes: Different trading names may require an RBN filing with CRO.
Different trading names may require an RBN filing with CRO.
Notes: Confirm constitution, addresses, shareholders, directors and CRO Form A1 requirements.
Confirm constitution, addresses, shareholders, directors and CRO Form A1 requirements.
Notes: Company structures may require an EEA-resident director or other permitted solution.
Company structures may require an EEA-resident director or other permitted solution.
Notes: Record the company or business-name registration reference privately.
Record the company or business-name registration reference privately.
๐งพ Revenue and finance
Notes: Sole traders, partnerships and companies use different registrations and services.
Sole traders, partnerships and companies use different registrations and services.
Notes: A sole trader uses their PPSN when correctly tax-registered; a company has its own reference.
A sole trader uses their PPSN when correctly tax-registered; a company has its own reference.
Notes: Determine whether registration is mandatory or optional based on your actual supplies.
Determine whether registration is mandatory or optional based on your actual supplies.
Notes: Register for payroll tax if employment triggers the requirement.
Register for payroll tax if employment triggers the requirement.
Notes: These taxes depend on legal structure and activity, not merely having a CRO number.
These taxes depend on legal structure and activity, not merely having a CRO number.
Notes: Separate business transactions and preserve receipts and invoices securely.
Separate business transactions and preserve receipts and invoices securely.
๐ก๏ธ Licences and operating safeguards
Notes: Premises, signs, food or home activities may need permissions.
Premises, signs, food or home activities may need permissions.
Notes: Food, childcare, transport, finance and other sectors have specialist regulators.
Food, childcare, transport, finance and other sectors have specialist regulators.
Notes: Handle customer and staff personal data under applicable GDPR rules.
Handle customer and staff personal data under applicable GDPR rules.
Notes: Consider employer and public liability, workplace risks and professional cover.
Consider employer and public liability, workplace risks and professional cover.
Notes: Clearly explain pricing, cancellations, refunds and contact routes.
Clearly explain pricing, cancellations, refunds and contact routes.
Notes: Use unique strong passwords, MFA and verified payment providers.
Use unique strong passwords, MFA and verified payment providers.
๐ Launch and ongoing compliance
Notes: Confirm what happens when an order is cancelled, refunded or unpaid.
Confirm what happens when an order is cancelled, refunded or unpaid.
Notes: Company annual returns and Revenue obligations have different calendars.
Company annual returns and Revenue obligations have different calendars.
Notes: Keep lawful tax and company records using access-controlled storage.
Keep lawful tax and company records using access-controlled storage.
Notes: Explain how a customer can obtain help or exercise their rights.
Explain how a customer can obtain help or exercise their rights.
Notes: Update filings when owners, premises or business activities change.
Update filings when owners, premises or business activities change.
Complete Guide
Choose the right business structure
A sole trader is not the same legal entity as an Irish limited company. Consider liability, ongoing company filings, personal taxation and whether partners or investors will be involved.
Check names before spending
A business name may need registration with CRO even when a company is not formed. A name on the business-name register does not by itself prevent trade mark disputes.
CRO and Revenue are separate steps
Where incorporating, confirm CRO registration requirements including company officers and constitutional documents. Next establish the appropriate tax registrations with Revenue; not every business has the same obligations.
Licences depend on the activity
National business registration is not blanket approval to trade in every sector. Local authority requirements and professional or sector-specific licences should be checked for the actual premises and service.
Build financial and privacy controls
Track working capital, invoice records, staff payroll and business expenses from day one. Protect customer information and use secure payment channels rather than sharing confidential records in a checklist.
Keep the business compliant after launch
Record upcoming Revenue returns, CRO annual returns where applicable, licence renewals and changes in company particulars. The checklist helps organise work but is not legal or tax advice.
Frequently asked questions
Must a sole trader incorporate a company?
No. A sole trader operates differently from an incorporated company, but must meet relevant tax, naming, licensing and trading obligations.
Does a CRO business name protect the brand?
No. Business-name registration is distinct from company incorporation and trade mark protection; search the relevant registers.
Does getting a company number register every tax?
No. The CRO incorporation reference and registration with Revenue serve different purposes, and other permits may still be required.
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