Portugal Business structure
Garden maintenance in Portugal: self-employed or a company?
Your job title alone does not determine the right structure. Consider how you work, ongoing costs and your plans to move before deciding. These are the points to prepare for your business: Garden maintenance.
Let’s discuss your project
A few details to understand your business and the next step.
Bertrand Jayol receives your enquiry for an initial assessment. Referral to the partner is considered with your agreement. Privacy
01 / Your business
How you earn shapes the questions to ask
- Mowing, pruning and mechanical plant maintenance.
- Routine border care and agreed planting.
- Irrigation checks and removal of cut vegetation under the contract.
Choosing a business structure
| Consideration | Self-employed activity | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Organisation | Business carried on in your name; identify the applicable registration steps. | A separate entity; define ownership and management. |
| Administration | Understand the regime applying to your work and the returns required. | Allow for incorporation and organised accounting with a certified accountant. |
| Decision | Consider simplicity and the way your business will operate. | Consider ownership, organisation and recurring costs. |
There is no universal answer based only on your profession or turnover. These points prepare a discussion, not a personalised tax calculation.
Plan routes and assess treatments separately
Cost a route including work on site, loading, travel and handling removed vegetation. Identify gardens needing specialist equipment and tasks affected by weather. The agreement should specify plants, consumables and work outside the recurring fee.
DGAV requires authorisation for businesses applying professional plant-protection products. Do not present that service as automatically included in ordinary gardening. Assess applicators, equipment and conditions separately if it is offered. Gather sample sites and a seasonal calendar to estimate investment and quieter periods. Plan access with owners so a locked garden does not disrupt the rest of the day's visits.
02 / Next steps for your project
Questions to prepare your application
- What access is available for machinery and green waste?
- Will you work all year or only in certain seasons?
- Will you offer plant-protection product treatments?
Portugal
Before you incorporate
Registering as self-employed and incorporating a company are different routes. The choice depends on how your business actually operates. A Portuguese company alone does not determine your tax residence or the treatment of every source of income.
Information to gather
- Your country of residence and where you actually work.
- A description of the services or products you sell.
- Whether your customers are businesses or individuals, and their countries.
- Any shareholders, existing business structure and your planned timing.
Sources and references
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