Company formation for a specific niche without licenses

[luxtravel]

I would appreciate help since I’ve been struggling with this for some time. I have a luxury concierge business that operates mostly in EU and im based out of Croatia. I always run into a problem of special licenses needed for tour operators ( which Im basically not ) and travel agencies.

I’m looking for a setup that is simple to operate and wont cause headaches. I dont mind paying some taxes. Also I dont have a few months to spare to setup. I dont think regular offshore will work due to invoicing European clients.

Feel free to reach out to help me find a sollution.

 

[alley]

I'd take a look at Estonia, Cyprus, and Malta, maybe even Bulgaria.
These countries make it fairly easy to run your business with minimal bureaucracy, and you won't be stuck paying excessive corporate taxes either.

 

[luxtravel]

Estonia was a number 1 choice but it needs special licenses as I understand. Will i retain the license if i buy an existing company or it will be revoked once the ownership changes?

 

[Clearsky Network]

I would appreciate help since I’ve been struggling with this for some time. I have a luxury concierge business that operates mostly in EU and im based out of Croatia. I always run into a problem of special licenses needed for tour operators ( which Im basically not ) and travel agencies.

I’m looking for a setup that is simple to operate and wont cause headaches. I dont mind paying some taxes. Also I dont have a few months to spare to setup. I dont think regular offshore will work due to invoicing European clients.

Feel free to reach out to help me find a sollution.

Can you give more details about your business?
Did you consider obtaining a legal opinion that explains that you dont need a license?

 

[luxtravel]

Concierge business is specific because you have to be able to provide which ever service a client requests and invoice it.. The problem comes when you do it in multiples countries because then the license looses its value.. I did speak to many lawyers but they only have the opinion for the jurisdiction they operate in. A lot of them consider travel consulting company but that is gray area operations because you cant book a specific property or flight as a consultant.

 

[SCHLOSSFINANZ]

Liechtenstein GmbH, can be incorporated online. 12,5% tax

 

[Clearsky Network]

Concierge business is specific because you have to be able to provide which ever service a client requests and invoice it.. The problem comes when you do it in multiples countries because then the license looses its value.. I did speak to many lawyers but they only have the opinion for the jurisdiction they operate in. A lot of them consider travel consulting company but that is gray area operations because you cant book a specific property or flight as a consultant.

Yes it makes sense.
If you are handling bookings and payments you do need a license.
Maybe an offshore company with EU account could work

 

[luxtravel]

Yes it makes sense.
If you are handling bookings and payments you do need a license.
Maybe an offshore company with EU account could work

But lets say i get a license in Greece and i handle 10 bookings in Ibiza im in violation to Spain then… And it goes on like that.

 

[SCHLOSSFINANZ]

no you have freedom of service in EU.
and for bookings you don't need a licence just a solution like
https://www.aerticket.de/en/

 

[luxtravel]

no you have freedom of service in EU.
and for bookings you don't need a licence just a solution like
https://www.aerticket.de/en/

This wouldnt work with private jet bookings, yacht bookings, villa bookings etc where you have to invoice the client based on invoice you get from the owner of the mentioned.

 

[SCHLOSSFINANZ]

this is totally fine. For that you don't need a licence, if you invoice original amount and clearly state your handling fee seperately...

 

[bubbledouble]

Liechtenstein GmbH, can be incorporated online. 12,5% tax

Do you know a service provider that can register a Lichtenstein company? by chance know the costs for basic setup ?

 

[Houdini]

I would appreciate help since I’ve been struggling with this for some time. I have a luxury concierge business that operates mostly in EU and im based out of Croatia. I always run into a problem of special licenses needed for tour operators ( which Im basically not ) and travel agencies.

I’m looking for a setup that is simple to operate and wont cause headaches. I dont mind paying some taxes. Also I dont have a few months to spare to setup. I dont think regular offshore will work due to invoicing European clients.

Feel free to reach out to help me find a sollution.

I’ve dealt with similar challenges when operating in niche sectors that fall into a regulatory grey area, not outright illegal, but also not clearly exempt from licensing.
One of the first things I learned: it’s not always about what you do, but how it’s presented on paper.

Jurisdictions like Georgia, UAE (RAK ICC), or even some Caribbean options tend to be more flexible when it comes to company activity descriptions.
You can often register with a broad scope something like "business consultancy" or "IT services" even if your actual operations are more specialized.

That said, the trick is not just formation, but also banking and payment processing. Many providers will ask for websites, invoices, or even customer acquisition methods during onboarding.
If your niche is borderline or sensitive (adult, gaming, quasi financial services), that’s where things get tricky not the company setup itself, but the support services around it.

If you’re not dealing with retail clients and don’t need traditional payment gateways, that opens a few more doors. But long term, it's worth thinking about how scalable the structure is without having to “explain” yourself to every provider down the line.

 

[DeepDrilling]

Do you know a service provider that can register a Lichtenstein company? by chance know the costs for basic setup ?

Check out the resources in Mentor Group Gold, there are plenty of recommended providers listed there. Definitely worth a look if you’re serious about finding trusted options.
https://www.offshorecorptalk.com/resources/categories/liechtenstein-company-formation.33/