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Buy a Shelf Company in Thailand

Buy a Shelf Company in Thailand

Foreign investors interested in expanding their business operations on the Thai market should know that they have several options under which they can do business here. A first method refers to the incorporation of a new company, a process which requires the completion of many legal aspects; the second option refers to the purchase of a shelf company, which can be an advantageous option for entrepreneurs who want to run the company as soon as possible. This is a company that is also called a dormant one; it was incorporated according to the law but it was left with no commercial activities whatsoever.

Businessmen who want to acquire a shelf company can receive assistance on this matter from our experts in company registration in Thailand

 Quick Facts  
  Legal entities available for shelf company

Private Company
Public Company

Time required for purchasing the company

At least 1 week

Types of features it includes (corporate bank account, VAT number, etc)

 Registered address
Capital
Bank account – optional
The advantages of a shelf company

Shorter time needed before commencing the business operations
Business credibility through company age
Time-saving options

Appointing new directors (yes/no) Yes
Capital increase allowed (yes/no)

Yes

Certificate of no commercial activities (yes/no)

Upon request

Modify the objects of activity (yes/no) Yes
Participants in the purchase procedure The buyer (natural or legal person) and the seller (usually a Thai corporation offering company formation services). Foreign investors should be mindful of the limitations that can apply in their case in terms of company ownership
The cost of buying a shelf company   Starting at 70,000 Baht, depending on features
Shelf company taxation in Thailand  Taxed on its worldwide income, as a resident company 

Corporate tax rate 

20%, can be reduced in some cases 

Surtax 

No surtax applicable 

 Shelf company tax year 12 months 
 Filing requirements

Self-assessment for the first six months of the tax year; annual income tax return within 150 days from the end of the tax year 

Tax payment requirements 

Corporate income tax paid with the half-year return; the total tax is payable for the whole tax year 

Employment requirements 

As per the Labour and Employment Law in Thailand (concerning work hours, leave, labour protection, etc.) 

 Minimum employees for the Thai shelf company

 No prescribed minimum

Social security contributions 

5% of the employee’s monthly compensation payable by the employer, subject to a cap 

 When to contact our team for the purchase As soon as you wish to choose an available company for purchase (we also offer counsel on selecting the suitable business form) 

What is a Thai shelf company?

shelf company in Thailand, or a ready-made company, is a business that is already incorporated as per the standard procedure and it is available for purchase. The principal benefit of this type of company is the fact that the investor can start his business immediately after the completion of the purchase. Thus, he no longer has to go through the company registration procedure in Thailand. Investors who do wish to know more about this procedure can contact the Department of Business Development for information about commercial registration.

The purchase of a shelf company is a rather simple process as it is the case in other jurisdictions, for example in Montenegro. This process consists of the transfer of ownership from the current owner to the buyer. The transfer of ownership is represented by the transfer of the company’s shares to the new owner. 

ready-made business in Thailand will have a registered business address and will have its directors already appointed; the new owner will have to appoint new directors for the company; our Thai company formation specialists can offer you more details on this subject. 

In general, the following company information should be made readily available to buyers:

  1. the age of the company: in general, companies will be at least one year old.
  2. the company name: a shelf company has a unique name that also contains the abbreviation of the business type.
  3. the company address: this is the registered address of the company in Thailand; it is mandatory for registration but it can be changed later on.
  4. the capital of the company: this states the fully paid-up capital, the number of shares and their value; it can be increased afterward.
  5. the tax status of the company: general information about the taxes the company is subject to as well as financial statements, if applicable.
  6. any other details: in some situations, the company may have previous approvals from Thai departments.

It is important to verify all of the available information on an existing company. By doing so, investors will make sure that the purchase is a legitimate one and that the company is indeed free of any debts and has not been involved in any business transactions. Some companies for sale in Thailand can be already destined for some types of business activities such as consulting and services businesses or trading and import. This can later be changed. Entrepreneurs who have more questions on how these changes can be accomplished can reach out to our Thai company formation agents. We can also help with relocating the company in another Thai city.  Businessmen who are interested in starting other types of companies in a different jurisdiction, for example offshore companies in Panama, can receive specialized help from our partners. 

Main advantages of a shelf company in Thailand

The main advantages of the Thai shelf company are listed below:

  • Credibility: a company that has been in existence for a longer period of time tends to have more credibility in front of clients, creditors, banks and business associates; moreover, it can also make it easier for accessing investment capital.
  • Easier processes: a company that has been on the market for some time can have better options and chances when submitting requests for obtaining work permits; in some cases, it can even be useful for individuals who wish to obtain a business visa; careful consideration is needed for these types of companies as there may be some limitations on the ability to apply for a visa for a foreign director; one of our agents can give you more information.
  • Saved time: the time needed to transfer ownership when purchasing a ready-made company will be significantly reduced compared to the time needed to prepare the documentation and make the necessary submissions to open a new company.
  • Saved costs: in some cases, buying an existing legal entity can prove to be a more economic business decision because of the costs will be lower; of course, this depends on the prices of the shelf company provider and due diligence is needed when making the purchase in order to make sure that the price is right. 

The shelf company can be acquired by foreign investors and used for purposes like raising capital and opening a local bank account. The company can apply for the needed permits and licenses in advance and can enter into agreements – all actions that allow the foreign investor to maintain a presence on the Thai market from the earliest days after establishing their business presence. In case you would like to buy a ready made company in the Philippines and establish your business there, we can put you in contact with our partners – CompanyFormationPhilippines.com.

The shelf company can be purchased by entrepreneurs who wish to make a business investment in Thailand and use the company in the future. Maintaining a company, even if it remains dormant after the transfer is made, will make it possible for investors to start trading in a very short amount of time when they do decide to take this step. Another reason why investors can consider buying a shelf company and handle this process in advance has to do with intellectual property rights. Some investors might want to know that their company is incorporated and registered in advance so as to protect themselves from competitors. 

The shelf company can function from a virtual office in Thailand.

Shelf Company in Thailand

How can I purchase a shelf company in Thailand?

Foreign investors interested in setting up a company in Thailand should know that at the purchase of a ready-made business they will have to change the following aspects after the transfer of ownership:

•    director of the company;
•    company name;
•    company seal;
•    shareholders;
•    company address. 

As a general rule, the process of buying a shelf company can last one or two days until the transfer of ownership is completed. If the shelf company was registered for Value Added Tax (VAT) but it remained dormant and had no commercial activities, the company is still required to file VAT returns on a monthly basis, specifying that the business had no income. 

You can also find out how to buy a Thai ready-made company from the video below:

Some of the costs associated with buying a ready-made company will include the transfer costs, the government fees and costs for making the new changes as well as the actual costs for buying the legal entity (the most substantial of the overall costs). The purchase costs will be higher in the case of companies that have been incorporated for a number of years. For example, in some situations, the purchase price can be double for a four-year-old company compared to a one-year-old one. Some companies that offer shelf companies for sale will allow buyers to continue using the initially registered address of the company, for a certain annual cost. An alternative would be to relocate the company to a different address or use a virtual office service in a Thai city. 

In some cases, the buyer may also be charged for additional services such as providing a local Thai address and providing the needed Thai shareholder. This is an important issue to take into consideration as Thai law requires companies to have both foreign and Thai shareholders. In most situations, the presence of at least one Thai national is required. One of our agents who specialize in company formation in Thailand can give investors more information about the laws for foreign investments.

Buying a shelf company in Thailand is a suitable option for many investors. There is no need to engage in immediate business transactions once the legal entity ownership is transferred and some investors may choose to only use the shelf company for the purpose of intellectual property protection. For example, entrepreneurs who wish to register a trademark in Thailand can buy a shelf company and use it for this purpose. This ensures their ownership of the unique trademark irrespective of the fact that it may not be put to use right away.

The shelf company offers many advantages and the overall costs for purchase and transfers are comparable to those encountered when opening a new legal entity. The overall costs will naturally depend on whether or not the investor wishes to own an aged company. In this case, the additional costs for purchasing a company that has been incorporated for a number of years can justify the extra expenses. In turn, a company with seniority may provide unique benefits, such as for the investor to be able to secure business contracts in Thailand that he wouldn’t have had the ability to conclude if he would have worked with a start-up or a company incorporated in the last year.

Once the transfer of ownership is complete, the new owners can consider trademark registration in Thailand.

Our Thai accountants can answer any questions about the annual taxation and reporting requirements for your shelf company. All legal entities are required to follow the local Accounting Standards and have their financial statements audited by a certified public accountant. You can find out more about these requirements, as well as the services we provide, by reaching out to our team.

Purchasing a shelf company is a suitable option as long as entrepreneurs perform a sound due diligence and purchase a legal entity from a trusted source. The transfer process is not a complicated one, however, the legal requirements must be duly observed. Once the shelf company is transferred to the new director, foreign business owners can start trading in Thailand.

If you need further information on the shelf company, please contact our consultants who can also help you open a new company in Thailand. Businessmen interested in investing in another country, for example in a European jurisdiction can be put in touch with our partners – fiduciaire-luxembourg.com.