◫ Reference — company structures
Which legal structure fits your entry?
Four structures cover almost every foreign entry: a limited-liability company, a branch, a regional headquarters, and a joint-stock company. They differ on ownership, liability, purpose, and what they cost to run — here is the honest comparison.
| LLC Limited-liability company | Branch Branch of a foreign company | RHQ Regional headquarters | JSC Joint-stock company | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreign ownership | Up to 100% (most activities) | 100% (it is the parent) | 100% | Up to 100% (most activities) |
| Separate legal entity | Yes | No — part of the parent | Yes | Yes |
| Liability | Limited to the company's capital | The parent is liable | Limited | Limited to shareholding |
| Generates local revenue | Yes | Yes (parent's activities) | Limited — regional management, not local trading | Yes |
| Typical capital | Activity-dependent; no universal minimum for most | Activity-dependent | Set for the regime | Higher, set by regulation |
| Governance | Partners & managers — flexible | Run by the parent; a GM | Regional leadership + real substance | Board & shareholders — formal |
How to choose, quickly
For most operating businesses, an LLC is the answer — it is the flexible default, and you can hold up to 100%.
If you only want to run your existing foreign business here, without a new entity, a branch is simpler — accepting that the parent carries the liability.
If your purpose is to manage a region rather than trade locally, and you can commit real substance, the RHQ is designed for you and carries the strongest incentives.
If you are raising capital, taking on many shareholders, or planning to list, a JSC is the structure that supports it.
The right choice turns on your activity, ownership, liability appetite, and horizon — the axes a consultation maps before anything is filed.
Not sure which fits?
A consultation maps your activity, ownership, and horizon to the right structure — before anything is filed. NDA on request.