Where2 — tools by AI Founders Madrid

Where2Start · English edition

How to start a company in Madrid

The administrative path explained step by step: legal form, incorporation, tax registrations, social security, visas and residency. Browse and filter them all here; full guides are published in Spanish.

View all guides in Spanish
8

Guides published

Incorporation, taxes, visas and permits

49

Checklist steps

Concrete actions with official links

What will you find in Where2Start?

Where2Start brings together the practical guides to setting up and running a company in Madrid: legal form, incorporation, taxes, social security, hiring and immigration paperwork.

  • Step-by-step guides with checklists, indicative cost and realistic timelines.
  • We separate city and regional procedures from national ones.
  • Every guide links to the electronic office or official body that processes it.
  • Routes by situation: I have an idea, I am moving here, I already invoice, I am about to hire.
  • Mentor and support networks for what no guide can cover.

Where2Start

Where are you starting from?

Three common scenarios in Madrid. Tap a card to see what to check first, then open the full route when you want the detail.

Mentors and support networks

Mentoring, coaching and advisory networks in Madrid and Spain where you can find someone who has done this before.

actúaupm — Mentoría de la Universidad PolitécnicaADPListAECOP — Asociación Española Coaching EjecutivoAJE Madrid — Asociación de Jóvenes EmpresariosAPD — Asociación para el Progreso de la DirecciónAshoka Fellows EspañaBig Ban Angels — Red de inversores mentoresCámara de Comercio de Madrid — Mentoring y asesoramientoCEDE — Confederación Española de Directivos y EjecutivosCompluemprende — Mentoría UCMEndeavor España — Mentoría de scaleupsEO MadridEOI — Programas de mentoring y aceleraciónFounder Institute MadridFundación INCYDE — Tutorización de empresasGoEmpresaGoogle for Startups Campus Madrid — MentoríaGrowthMentorHarvard Club of SpainICF Spain (Coach Federation)IE Venture Lab — Red de mentoresIESE Alumni — WeStart MentoringSECOT — Seniors Españoles para la Cooperación TécnicaRed de Mentores — Madrid EmprendeBusiness Mentor madri+dESADE Alumni — Mentoring ProgramAMCES — Asociación Española de MentoringEMCC Spain — Mentoring, Coaching y SupervisiónVistage EspañaWomenaliaLean In Madrid — Círculos de liderazgo femenino

Where are you now?

Pick the guide that matches your current situation.

Frequently asked questions

Should I be a sole trader (autónomo) or set up an SL?
Being autónomo is faster and cheaper to validate and invoice early. An SL limits your liability to the capital contributed and is what investors and many corporate clients expect: if you plan to raise capital or share equity, choose an SL.
How much does it cost and how long does it take to set up an SL?
Typical costs (notary, Commercial Registry, name certificate) run around EUR 300–600, plus share capital — a minimum of EUR 1 under the Startups Act, although EUR 3,000 is still common. Online incorporation via CIRCE usually takes 5 to 10 working days.
What do I need as a foreign founder: NIE, visa and padrón?
You need a NIE for almost any economic procedure and, depending on your nationality, an entrepreneur, digital nomad or work visa. Registering on the padrón in Madrid unlocks healthcare and many local procedures.
What does the Spanish Startups Act give me?
Companies certified as emerging by ENISA get benefits such as a reduced corporate tax rate in the first profitable years, better stock option treatment and visa facilities for foreign talent. Current requirements are on each guide and its official source.
Where can I get help if I get stuck on a procedure?
Through the mentoring and support networks listed in the section, the municipal incubators, which include guidance, and the AI Founders community, where founders have already been through the same paperwork.
Questions about the project (in Spanish)