Portugal Business structure
Translation agency 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: Translation agency.
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
- Translating commercial and technical content.
- Editing translations and maintaining terminology.
- Coordinating documentary translations with suitable certification when needed.
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 translation, review and any certification
IRN distinguishes translation from certification and describes exemptions. Check the document's use and the recipient's requirements before promising certified delivery. Forming a translation company does not make every translation automatically acceptable in official proceedings.
For a sample order, record languages, editable files, terminology and revision rounds. Identify translators, reviewers and any certification provider. Plan confidentiality and client approval of changes. The quote should explain what is included, from processing scans to final delivery. Keep fees charged to the customer separate from the subcontractors' costs and allow time to resolve terminology questions before release.
02 / Next steps for your project
Questions to prepare your application
- Who translates and who reviews each language pair?
- Are the documents for commercial or official use?
- What volumes and file formats do customers supply?
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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