Ready-Made Company or New Company: Which Should You Choose?
A ready-made company is an existing Irish company, incorporated earlier and kept compliant but never traded, that's transferred to you. It gives you an earlier incorporation date and avoids waiting for a new incorporation. A new company costs less and is set up exactly as you want from day one.
When a ready-made company makes sense
- A tender, supplier or partner asks for a company that has existed for a minimum period.
- You want to be able to sign a contract this week rather than wait for a new incorporation.
- The name and constitution don't matter much, or you're happy to change them.
When a new company makes sense
- You want your chosen name and constitution from day one.
- The incorporation date doesn't matter to anyone you deal with.
- You want the lowest set-up cost.
Prices set by year of incorporation, with the transfer and first year of registered office and company secretary included.
What's the same either way
Either company needs a company secretary, a registered office in Ireland, at least one director resident in the EEA (or a Section 137 bond or Section 140 certificate), its beneficial owners filed with the RBO, and an annual return every year.
Sources
Last checked 14 November 2026 against the Companies Act 2014, CRO and RBO guidance. This is general information, not legal or tax advice for your company.