Setting up in Russia costs less than most foreign businesses expect — but the honest answer is the total picture, not just the registration duty. The translation, banking, address and ongoing compliance are what make up your real spend.
The registration itself is cheap — a modest state duty and minimal capital. That's the number that reassures, and it's real.
Translation, apostille, address, banking and ongoing compliance make up the rest — the all-in cost is what you actually budget for.
"How much does it cost to set up a company in Russia?" is one of the first questions foreign businesses ask, and the honest answer is: less than most expect to incorporate, but budget for the surrounding setup and the first year of compliance. This guide breaks the costs into the pieces you can actually plan around. All figures are indicative — your adviser confirms them for your case.
The direct cost of forming an LLC is modest. The state registration duty is ₽4,000 (and nil for electronic filing with a qualified e-signature). The statutory minimum charter capital is ₽10,000, which is deposited into the company account — it is your money, not a fee. Notarisation, translation and apostille/legalisation of foreign documents add a variable amount depending on the country and volume.
State duty: ₽4,000 (nil for e-filing)
Minimum charter capital: ₽10,000 (deposited, not spent)
Document notarisation / translation / legalisation: varies
Beyond the statutory items, most foreign companies budget for professional setup: preparing the documents, handling remote incorporation, a legal address, tax registration and initial accounting setup. Bundled, this is where the bulk of the up-front spend sits, and it is what turns "registered" into "operational".
The larger number is ongoing, not one-off. Budget for monthly accounting and reporting, payroll if you hire, and any HQS work permits for foreign staff. These recur, and under-budgeting them is the common mistake — the company is cheap to create and more meaningful to run compliantly.
Pick your situation — we'll tell you where you stand:
Monthly accounting & statutory reporting
Payroll and social contributions (if hiring)
HQS work permits for foreign directors/specialists
Legal address renewal
For a realistic plan, separate three buckets: the small fixed cost to incorporate, the one-off setup services to become operational, and the recurring first-year compliance cost. Modelling all three up front — which our calculators can help estimate — avoids the surprise of a cheap incorporation followed by unbudgeted running costs.
The direct incorporation cost is low — ₽4,000 state duty (nil for e-filing) plus ₽10,000 minimum charter capital, which is deposited rather than spent. The larger costs are professional setup services and first-year compliance.
No. The ₽10,000 minimum charter capital is deposited into the company’s own account on formation — it remains the company’s money, not a payment to the state.
Budget for monthly accounting and reporting, payroll and social contributions if you hire, HQS permits for foreign staff, and legal-address renewal. These recurring costs usually exceed the one-off setup.
This gives the honest answer to the first question every foreign business asks — setup costs less than most expect. Your real question is the total picture: not just the ₽4,000 duty, but the translation, banking, address and ongoing compliance that make up what you'll actually spend.
Budgeting a Russian setup? A quick scoping conversation turns a guess into a firm number.
Practical support for international business in Russia.