Cost of setting up a company in vietnam

The cost to set up a company in Vietnam includes registration charges, professional service fees, and document preparation expenses. You should also budget for premises and the operational services your business needs after registration.

Your total depends on the ownership structure, business activities, location, and scope of support required. A foreign investor should compare itemised quotations and keep investment capital separate from incorporation expenses.

LHD Firm helps you assess these costs and identify the services relevant to your proposed business. Send us your investor profile, planned activities, and preferred location to request a tailored company setup quotation.

Company setup cost breakdown

To budget for establishing a company in Vietnam, separate the expenses payable during incorporation from those arising before operations begin. The table below shows the main categories to include when requesting a quotation.

 For foreign-owned companies, ask the provider to identify which company registration and investment procedures the quotation covers. Confirm whether third-party expenses and applicable taxes are included before comparing the total.

Investment capital is a separate funding commitment, rather than a company formation service fee. Keep it outside your incorporation expense subtotal so you can see both the setup charges and the money available to fund the business.

Government registration fees

Official registration charges form one part of the cost to establish a company in Vietnam. The amount payable depends on the procedure, submission method, and any applicable exemption.

 

These charges follow the official registration procedure and the fee reduction under Circular 64/2025/TT-BTC. Check the applicable schedule again if your filing takes place after the reduction period ends.

A quotation for obtaining an Enterprise Registration Certificate may include professional fees alongside these government charges. Ask the provider to itemise each amount so you can compare the service scope accurately.

Investment registration and additional licensing charges

For a foreign investor, the quotation should identify whether the proposed investment project requires an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC). Any fee for preparing or handling that application should be distinguished from an official administrative charge.

Ask for additional permissions to be listed individually, including their pricing basis and payment stage. A sector-specific business license or premises approval should not be treated as included unless the service agreement expressly covers it.

LHD Firm can assess the procedures relevant to your proposed activities and identify the registration support included in its quotation. This helps you budget for the applicable work before authorising the applications.

Legal and company registration service fees

Professional fees depend on the work needed to prepare and manage your applications. A foreign investor with straightforward activities and complete documents may require a different scope from a corporate investor proposing several regulated activities.

When comparing providers, check what their company formation fee covers rather than judging the headline price alone. Request a written scope that identifies deliverables, exclusions, and responsibility for responding to application queries.

What a registration service package covers

Depending on the agreement, a service package may include:

• Initial assessment: Reviewing the investor profile, proposed activities, ownership structure, and registration route.
• Document review: Checking supporting records and identifying missing or inconsistent information.
• Application preparation: Drafting the prescribed forms and relevant company documents.
• Submission support: Coordinating filing and tracking the application’s progress.
• Application follow-up: Handling clarification requests within the agreed scope.
• Completion handover: Providing issued documents and explaining the next administrative tasks.

Ask whether investment registration and enterprise registration are both covered. Also confirm how many application revisions are included and whether changes requested by you attract additional charges.

Expenses that may be charged separately

Translation, certification, consular legalisation, courier delivery, and official charges may sit outside the professional fee. Additional permissions for a conditional business activity may also require a separate quotation.

Changes to the investor, business sector, project location, or ownership arrangement can alter the work involved. Before approving a change, request an explanation of its effect on fees and the expected schedule.

LHD Firm can prepare a proposal based on your intended activities and the support you require. Confirm the payment stages, applicable taxes, and treatment of additional work before instructing the team to proceed.

Document preparation costs for foreign investors

Document preparation costs depend on the number of records, their issuing country, and the formalities required for each application. A foreign investor should request a document checklist before ordering translations or certification services.

Ask how each charge is calculated: per page, per document, per certification, or per delivery. Confirm whether the quotation includes Vietnamese translation and any overseas preparation expenses.

Individual investor documents

For an individual investor, preparation may involve identity records and financial evidence relevant to the application. Costs can increase when documents need to be obtained overseas, certified, translated, or delivered internationally.

Before arranging these services, confirm the accepted document format and any applicable validity requirements. Check that names and identification details match across the records to reduce avoidable correction expenses.

Corporate investor documents

A corporate investor may need a larger document package covering its legal status, investment decision, authorised representatives, and financial capacity. The preparation cost therefore depends on both the number of documents and the work required for each.

Where a foreign company invests through several ownership layers, ask which entities must provide supporting records. Obtain that confirmation before commissioning translations for the entire corporate group.

Translation, certification, and legalisation charges

Request an itemised estimate that identifies the documents requiring each service. Check whether certification or legalisation exemptions apply before authorising the related expense.

If a document changes after translation, replacement work may create an additional charge. Finalise the underlying information first and ask how corrections are priced.

LHD Firm can review your available records and identify the preparation work relevant to the agreed applications. This helps you compare document costs against a defined checklist.

Registered office and premises costs

Your premises budget depends on the location, property type, and activities planned for the company. Separate the cost of securing a registered business address from the facilities needed to operate.

Before accepting an address package or signing a lease, check whether the arrangement suits your proposed business. A low monthly price offers limited value if the premises cannot support the relevant applications or operations.

Office rent and lease deposits

Ask the landlord or address provider for a written breakdown of upfront and recurring payments. Your budget may need to cover:

• Lease deposit: The amount payable before occupancy and the conditions for its return.
• Rent: The billing period, advance payment requirements, and scheduled increases.
• Service charges: Building management, utilities, internet, parking, or other separately billed services.
• Premises preparation: Furniture, equipment, signage, and agreed alterations.
• Exit costs: Notice periods, reinstatement obligations, and early termination charges.

Confirm whether applicable taxes are included in the quoted rent. Check when payments begin, particularly if you must pay while registration or other approvals remain pending.

Premises for regulated activities

A retail outlet, production site, or specialised service facility can involve more preparation than a standard office. Depending on the business type, your budget may also need to cover technical assessments, fit-out work, or activity-specific approvals.

Request the property records needed to assess suitability before committing to non-refundable payments. Where possible, agree in writing how the lease will be handled if the intended use cannot proceed.

For a foreign investor, coordinating premises selection with the investment project can help avoid paying for an unsuitable location. LHD Firm can review the proposed address within the agreed advisory scope and identify matters requiring further assessment.

Charter capital and investment funding

Charter capital is the owners’ committed contribution to the company. Total investment capital for a project can also include loans, so the two figures are not necessarily identical. Neither should be confused with the professional fee charged for incorporation.

For a foreign investor, the funding plan should identify the amount, source, and intended use of the money. Agree on these figures before preparing applications so your financial evidence supports the proposed investment project.

Minimum capital requirements

There is no single minimum capital amount that applies to every company in Vietnam. Certain business activities have specific capital conditions, so the appropriate figure depends on your sector and proposed operations.

Before choosing an amount, check the requirements for each intended business line. Avoid relying on a standard capital figure advertised within a low-cost registration package.

A business that permits full foreign ownership may still have other financial or operating conditions. Assess ownership eligibility and funding requirements separately rather than assuming one resolves the other.

Planning your initial operating budget

Build your funding plan around the expenses expected before customer receipts can reliably support the business. Include the timing of payments, rather than looking only at their annual totals.

 Keep a cash-flow schedule alongside the setup quotation. This helps you distinguish the cost of establishing the company from the funding needed to sustain its early operations.

LHD Firm can assess the capital-related requirements relevant to your proposed activities within the agreed advisory scope. Use that assessment alongside your commercial budget when deciding how to fund the company.

Costs after company registration

Once your company is established, you may need additional services before issuing invoices, paying employees, or receiving investment funds. Separate initial activation charges from recurring subscriptions and administration fees.

 Request a written service schedule showing the billing period, included usage, and charges for additional work. Confirm when billing begins, particularly if the company will remain inactive while preparing its operations.

Banking and capital transfer arrangements

Ask your bank which accounts and supporting documents apply to your ownership structure and investment arrangements. Confirm whether your company needs a direct investment capital account before arranging the transfer.

Compare the bank’s complete tariff rather than the account-opening charge alone. Check international transfer costs, intermediary bank deductions, currency conversion margins, and any minimum balance conditions.

For a foreign investor transferring funds from overseas, confirm the payment instructions and transaction purpose in advance. Incorrect details can create additional bank queries and avoidable handling expenses.

Accounting and tax compliance

Accounting fees depend on the work involved, including transaction volume, staffing, business activities, and reporting needs. A basic monthly package may exclude annual work, historical corrections, or advice on unusual transactions.

Ask the provider to list each deliverable and its deadline. Confirm whether the quotation covers tax registration support, routine filings, annual financial statements, and any separately priced services relevant to your company.

Digital signatures and electronic invoicing

Check the validity period and included functions before choosing a digital signature package. Compare renewal terms and support arrangements alongside the initial price.

For electronic invoicing, review invoice capacity, subscription duration, and compatibility with your accounting system. Ask whether configuration, training, and additional users are included.

Payroll and employment administration

Payroll service fees may depend on employee numbers, payment frequency, and the administration included. Confirm whether onboarding, payroll adjustments, employee exits, and insurance-related support attract separate charges.

If you plan to hire someone to work in Vietnam from overseas, request a separate assessment of immigration and work authorisation expenses. Keep these costs distinct from routine payroll processing.

LHD Firm can help identify the post-registration support relevant to your proposed operations. Agree on the ongoing service scope and billing terms before adding these expenses to your operating budget.

What increases the total setup cost?

The total cost can increase when your proposed business requires more applications, supporting documents, or specialist review. Ask your provider to identify these factors before agreeing on the service scope.

Regulated activities and multiple business lines

A company planning several activities may need a broader assessment than one offering a single service. Additional work can arise when a business line involves specific ownership conditions, operating permissions, or premises requirements.

Describe your intended activities clearly when requesting a quotation. Adding them later may require further document preparation or changes to applications already underway.

Complex ownership and company structures

A foreign investor applying through an overseas company may require more document coordination than an individual investor. Several corporate owners or ownership layers can increase the records requiring review, translation, and certification.

The company type also affects the documents and governance arrangements being prepared. For limited liability companies (LLCs) and joint-stock companies, ask which ownership and management documents the professional fee covers.

If you plan a joint venture with a Vietnamese partner, agree on the commercial terms before application drafting begins. Negotiating ownership rights, management responsibilities, or transfer arrangements may involve advisory work outside the incorporation package.

Changes during application preparation

Changes to the investor, registered address, funding plan, or proposed activities can create additional work. Documents already signed, translated, or certified may need to be replaced.

Before requesting a change, ask which completed tasks must be repeated and how the additional work will be charged. Obtain written approval of the revised scope before proceeding.

Compressed preparation schedules

A short target schedule can increase document delivery and coordination expenses. Urgent translation, overseas certification arrangements, or express courier services may carry additional charges.

Ask which tasks can realistically be accelerated and what the extra payment covers. Faster document preparation should not be treated as a guarantee that an authority will approve the application sooner.

Give LHD Firm a complete description of your proposed investment when requesting a quotation. Early disclosure helps the team identify additional work and explain the pricing basis before you commit.

How to compare company setup quotations

Compare quotations against the same investor profile, proposed activities, and required deliverables. A lower headline price may cover fewer procedures or leave more expenses payable separately.

Ask each provider to confirm the following points in writing before you appoint them.

 

Check which applications the quotation covers

A foreign investor should confirm whether the proposal covers an Enterprise Registration Certificate, an Investment Registration Certificate (IRC), or both where applicable. Do not assume that a general “company formation package” includes every procedure relevant to your investment.

If an application is excluded, ask whether you must appoint another provider or request a separate proposal. This helps you assess the full cost before starting the work.

Compare the total payable for the same scope

Use the same currency and service period when reviewing proposals. Add the separately quoted expenses needed for your project before comparing the final amounts.

Keep uncertain charges clearly marked as estimates. Ask what determines the final price and whether your approval is required before additional expenses are incurred.

LHD Firm can explain the scope, exclusions, and payment terms in its proposal. Request clarification on any unclear item before authorising the company formation work.

Request a company setup quotation from LHD Firm

LHD Firm can prepare a tailored proposal based on your investor profile, intended activities, and required support. Providing these details at the start helps the team assess the work involved and identify expenses requiring separate confirmation.

To request a quotation, send us:

• Investor details: Your nationality or the country where the investing company is incorporated.
• Proposed activities: The products or services you intend to provide and how the business will operate.
• Ownership plan: The proposed owners and their intended ownership percentages.
• Preferred location: Your chosen city and any premises already under consideration.
• Funding plan: The proposed capital and available supporting financial documents.
• Target schedule: Your intended registration and operating dates.
• Required support: Whether you need incorporation assistance alone or ongoing accounting, employment, and compliance services.

If some details remain undecided, identify the options you are considering. The initial assessment can help clarify which decisions affect the scope and pricing.

Contact LHD Firm to request an itemised company setup quotation. Review the included services, exclusions, payment stages, and expected milestones before instructing the team to proceed.

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Is charter capital included in the setup fee?

Answer: Charter capital is separate from the fee paid to establish your company. If a quotation shows both figures, ask the provider to identify the service charges and funding commitment separately before calculating your initial budget.

Q2: Does a foreign-owned company cost more to establish?

Answer: It can, depending on the applications and supporting work required. Overseas document preparation, investment procedures, and ownership assessments can add expenses. Compare quotations for the same investor profile and proposed activities rather than relying on a general domestic-versus-foreign price comparison.

Q3: Can I pay registration service fees in instalments?

Answer: Payment arrangements depend on your agreement with the provider. Ask whether payments can be linked to defined stages and confirm which deliverable triggers each payment. Review cancellation and refund terms before paying the deposit.

Q4: What expenses arise if my application needs amendments?

Answer: The cost depends on why the amendment is needed and what work must be repeated. Ask whether the original fee includes responses to application queries and how changes requested by you are priced. Obtain a revised quotation before authorising additional work.

Q5: Should I budget separately for visas and work permits?

Answer: Yes, keep a separate budget line unless the written proposal expressly includes the relevant services and charges. The work required depends on the person’s circumstances and intended role. Request an individual assessment before accepting a combined incorporation and immigration package.

The cost of setting up a company in Vietnam depends on the nature of the business, investment scale, and regulatory requirements. While government registration fees remain relatively modest, investors should carefully budget for legal services, office space, accounting, tax compliance, labor costs, and industry-specific licensing obligations.

By understanding the full cost structure and planning appropriately, foreign investors can establish a compliant and sustainable business presence in Vietnam while minimizing unexpected expenses.

For a complete roadmap, read our guide on Set Up Company in Vietnam and explore the requirements, licensing procedures, and compliance obligations that apply to foreign-owned companies.