Investors who want to own a business in Georgia, but who do not want to go through the entire incorporation process can purchase a shelf company in Georgia. Our Georgian company formation agents can make all the necessary arrangements for the purchase of a shelf company.
| Quick Facts | |
|---|---|
| Legal entities available for shelf company | – private limited liability company, -public company |
Time required for purchasing the company | 1 – 2 days |
Types of features it includes (corporate bank account, VAT number, etc) | – trading name, – statutory documents, – tax identification number, – legal address |
| The advantages of a shelf company | – simply to purchase, – various uses, – access to private-public partnerships and bids, – access to loans |
| Appointing new directors | Yes |
| Capital increase allowed | Yes |
| Certificate of no commercial activities | No |
| Modify the objects of activity | Yes |
| Participants in the purchase procedure | Buyer or representative and seller |
| The cost of buying a shelf company | EUR1,000 – 3,000 |
| Changes to statutory documents | – name of the new shareholders, – new name of the business, – name of the new manager, – change of the legal address, etc. |
Documents for buying shelf company in Georgia | – Articles of Association, – sale-purchase agreement, – proof of address, – transfer of shares, – passports or ID, etc. |
Change of name – required (YES/NO) | YES |
| Aged shelf companies | Aged companies have been registered some time ago and have a more extensive history, which can be advantageous in certain situations. |
| New certificate of registration (YES/NO) | YES |
| Process of purchasing a shelf company | – choose a service provider, – select a shelf company, – sign an agreement, – make amendments to the company’s statutory documents, – notify the relevant government authorities |
| Virtual office available (YES/NO) | YES |
| Remote transfer procedure | You can use a power of attorney (POA) to facilitate the purchase of a company remotely. |
| VAT rates in Georgia | – 18% (standard), – 0% (export) |
| Corporate income rate | 15% |
| VAT registration | Some shelf companies might require VAT registration. Our specialists in company formation in Georgia can help you with registration. |
| Shelf companies with specific licenses | Some companies might need specific permits and licenses depending on their activity (healthcare, hospitality, transport, construction, etc.) |
| Shelf company vs. newly opened company | – Buying a shelf company in Georgia is cheaper than creating a new one; – The process of purchasing a shelf company is faster and easier; – Shelf companies facilitate the incorporation of a foreign business’ history into a Georgian company when relocating. |
| Additional services provided by our agents | – tax services, – payroll, – accounting in Georgia, etc. |
| Assistance | Our team can assist you if are interested in opening a business in Georgia through a shelf company. |
Table of Contents
What are the main features of a shelf company in Georgia?
Ready-made companies are a great alternative to business forms that need to go through the registration phase, as they already have all the documents in place. However, there are still procedures that need to be completed even in their case.
People who buy shelf companies in Georgia will receive the following:
- the statutory documents (Memorandum and Articles of Association);
- the trading name which is a mandatory requirement when registering a business;
- the legal address and the tax identification number.
How can investors buy a Georgian shelf company in 2026?
The purchase of a ready-made company is not complicated, and the first step is to choose a service provider. Usually, such providers have various options for those interested in acquiring shelf companies, most of them registered as private limited liability companies.
Once you have chosen the company you are interested in, a sale-purchase agreement will be drafted for the transfer of shares to be completed. This step takes between one and two days.
What influences the price of a shelf company in Georgia?
Investors who opt to open a company in Georgiaby buying a shelf company must adequately plan their initial investment budget. The price of the available shelf companies for sale can be influenced by a set of factors, such as the ones mentioned in the list below:
- the company type;
- the elements it provides (outside the basics, which are the bylaws, trade name, objects of activity, etc.);
- the year of incorporation (companies recently incorporated are cheaper than the ones that have been incorporated several years ago), etc.
Please mind that the prices include a registered address valid for a period of 12 months, which, upon expiry, needs to be renewed. The price also includes an active corporate bank account, available in the local currency (GEL) and reputable international currencies (EUR, USD).
We invite businessmen to watch a short presentation on the shelf companies in Georgia:
What are the services clients will obtain after the purchase of a shelf company in Georgia?
Once the sale procedure has been completed, the new company owners will have access to a variety of services. We invite you to observe some of them in the list below:
- access to the company’s digital registration certificate (available in English and Georgian);
- registration with the Georgian Revenue Service (the tax authority);
- the activation of the client account on the website of the Georgian Revenue Service;
- official legal translations;
- Know Your Customer (KYC) assistance.
What are the advantages of a shelf company?
One of the main reasons why investors choose to purchase a shelf company is because all the company registration and incorporation procedures have already been completed. This saves time and business activities can be commenced right away.
The most important advantages provided by a shelf company are presented below:
- the company never had any previous business operations and it has all the necessary incorporation documents;
- it is a suitable option for investors who want to start their business operations in Georgia as soon as possible;
- the change of ownership can be completed in a matter of days (usually 1-2 days);
- after the change of ownership is completed, the new investor can start his or her business activities;
- saving time that otherwise would be spent with the standard incorporation procedure, which takes longer compared to purchasing a Georgian ready-made company.
What amendments can be made to a shelf company?
There are two steps to consider right after the purchase of a ready-made company in Georgia:
- the amendments to be made to the company’s statutory documents;
- notifying and filing the amended papers with the Trade Register.
All the changes made in a company must appear in the Articles of Association. This will automatically imply the name of the new shareholder or the name of the new manager. Investors can change the trade name or the legal address.
Is it required to travel to Georgia to buy a shelf company in 2026?
No, just like in the case of the standard procedure on company registration in Georgia, investors can delegate the responsibility to a third party, who can complete the purchase procedure. For this, the third party, such as our team of consultants, needs to be granted with the power of attorney by the investor.
What is the most suitable business form for a Georgian shelf company?
A Georgian shelf company is usually incorporated as a limited liability company (LLC). This business form represents the most common way to begin a business activity in this country and this is why most of the shelf companies available for sale are registered under this business form. The infographic below presents the main steps of purchasing a Georgian shelf company in 2026:
Why purchase a Georgian shelf company registered as an LLC?
There are numerous advantages offered by the Georgian LLC, one of them being the fact that the investors benefit from a limited liability against the company’s debts. It represents a flexible structure with minimum registration requirements. Some of the main characteristics of the LLC are presented below, but investors can request for additional information from our specialists:
- it can be registered by a single shareholder, who can be a natural person or a legal entity;
- it can have a single director, who does not have to comply with any residency requirements;
- since the shelf company is registered in Georgia, the LLC will be considered a tax resident of the country and taxed accordingly;
- the company will be liable to the corporate tax, imposed at the rate of 15%;
- the LLC will also be charged with the value added tax (VAT), applicable at the standard rate of 18%;
- this type of company can be used when registering in the Tbilisi Free Zone.
Is there any special type of shelf company in Georgia?
Yes. While most of the shelf companies available for sale are incorporated as limited liability companies, there is also the possibility of acquiring a shelf company incorporated as an LLC but which offers the option of activating the Virtual Zone Person (VSZ) status – this provides specific tax benefits to companies operating in the IT industry.
We invite you to contact our specialists in company formation in Georgia, who can offer the necessary legal support during the purchase procedure.