Cost of Opening a Company in Ecuador
Dollarized economy · 3–5 weeks · RUC · Local director required
Est. Formation Cost
$1,200–$3,000 (One-time formation costs only)
Cost of Opening a Company in Ecuador
Ecuador operates a dollarized economy, eliminating FX risk. The SAS (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada) is the fastest formation path; a Cía. Ltda. or S.A. goes through the Superintendencia de Compañías (SUPERCIAS), adding 2–4 weeks. Minimum capital requirements apply to most entity types. All costs below are third-party fees, separate from NavviPal's service fees.
Estimated Cost Breakdown
| Component | Description | Estimated Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registro Mercantil Filing | Registration of the company in the Registro Mercantil (commercial registry). A SAS registers via notary directly; a Cía. Ltda. or S.A. also requires prior approval from SUPERCIAS. | $50–$100 USD | One-time government fee. |
| Notary Fees | A Ecuadorian public notary executes the deed of incorporation (escritura pública de constitución) required for all entity types. | $300–$500 USD | One-time. Notary fees in Ecuador are regulated but vary by notary office and document length. |
| Legal Drafting (Abogado) | A local attorney prepares the formation documents, drafts corporate bylaws, and manages the SUPERCIAS approval process for Cía. Ltda. and S.A. entities. | $500–$1,200 USD | One-time. Market rate — varies by firm and entity complexity. |
| RUC Registration (SRI) | The RUC (Registro Único de Contribuyentes) is Ecuador's tax ID, issued by the Servicio de Rentas Internas (SRI) at no government fee. | $0 government fee | One-time. |
| Minimum Capital | Minimum paid-in capital at incorporation: SAS — nominal (technically $1, though higher is advised); Cía. Ltda. — $400 USD; S.A. — $800 USD (25% paid at incorporation per Art. 100 Ley de Compañías). | SAS: nominal; Cía. Ltda.: $400 USD; S.A.: $800 USD (25% at incorporation) | Not a fee — this is contributed capital retained by the company. |
| Apostille & Sworn Translation of Foreign Documents | Foreign shareholder IDs and corporate documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish. | Apostille costs vary by issuing jurisdiction and document origin. | One-time. Scales with number of foreign shareholders. |
| Registered Address (Annual) | A registered Ecuadorian address is required for SRI and SUPERCIAS registration. | $600–$1,800 USD per year (market rate) | Market rate — not NavviPal's fee. Annual, recurring. |
| Monthly Accounting & Bookkeeping (First Year) | Local contador fees for monthly bookkeeping, SRI filings, IVA declarations, and SUPERCIAS annual reporting. | $300–$1,500 USD per month | Market rate — not NavviPal's fee. Recurring monthly. |
Est. Formation Cost
$1,200–$3,000 USD
$1,200–$3,000 USD in one-time formation costs (Registro Mercantil, notary, legal drafting, RUC assistance, apostille, and translation). Registered address and accounting are additional recurring costs listed above.
Ecuador is fully dollarized — all fees are in USD. No FX risk.
What Affects the Cost
Several variables can push your total formation cost toward the lower or upper end of these ranges:
Entity type — A SAS is the fastest and cheapest path; a Cía. Ltda. or S.A. involves the SUPERCIAS approval process, adding time and legal cost.
Minimum capital requirement — A Cía. Ltda. requires $400 and an S.A. requires $800 in paid-in capital; this is retained by the company but must be available at incorporation.
Number of foreign shareholders — More shareholders increase apostille, translation, and notary costs.
These are estimated third-party costs and do not include NavviPal's service fees. Actual costs may vary by notary and provider. Figures are for reference only and subject to change.
Get an Exact Quote for Your Ecuador Entity
These are estimated third-party costs. NavviPal can give you a precise, itemized quote for your specific structure, shareholder composition, and timeline.