How Much Does It Cost to Open an Offshore Company in 2026?

Without a trust, opening an offshore company in 2026 costs US$ 800 to US$ 8,000, depending on the jurisdiction, and maintaining it abroad costs US$ 200 to US$ 6,000 per year. In Brazil, an accountant, tax filings and the Central Bank report add up to BRL 20 thousand to BRL 60 thousand per year for a simple structure.

The figures below are market estimates, not a fixed price list. Official fees, such as those of the state of Delaware or Wyoming, come with the source. The rest varies with the provider and the scope. That is why the useful question is not "how much does it cost to open" but how much it costs to maintain the structure for five years, counting both sides.

How much does it cost to open an offshore company in each jurisdiction?

Opening runs from about US$ 800 for an LLC in Wyoming or Delaware to US$ 8,000 for a company in Cayman or Nevis. Structures with a trust start at US$ 20,000. Annual maintenance follows the same order: hundreds of dollars for the US LLC and thousands on the islands.

Market values in 2026 for a simple structure, without the Brazilian side. Comparing only the opening column is the most common mistake: over five years, maintenance weighs more.

LLC in Wyoming or Delaware

The US LLC is the cheapest structure because state fees are low. In Wyoming, the annual report costs US$ 60 or two tenths of one mill of the assets in the state, whichever is greater (official Wyoming fee schedule). In Delaware, the LLC pays an annual fee of US$ 400, due June 1, with a penalty of US$ 200 plus interest of 1.5% per month if late (official Delaware instructions). Both states require a registered agent, charged separately by the provider.

A single-member LLC with a foreign owner is disregarded by the IRS for income tax. Even so, it files Form 5472 every year with a pro forma Form 1120. The penalty for not filing is US$ 25,000 (Form 5472 instructions). This item is usually left out of cheap offers and is the most expensive one to forget. The difference between the two states is covered in Wyoming or Delaware LLC.

BVI, Cayman, Nevis and Uruguay

In the island jurisdictions, almost all of the cost comes from mandatory providers, not from tax. A local agent and a registered address are charged every year. In the BVI, if the company carries out an activity subject to the economic substance rules, a local office and staff are also required, which can cost more than the maintenance itself. In Nevis, the bank account is usually in another jurisdiction, with its own cost. Uruguay sits in the middle: opening is more expensive than for the LLC, but the local bank account has no significant recurring cost. The details are in the guide to offshore companies in Uruguay.

Trust

The trust is the most expensive structure because the trustee charges on the assets under management. The fee is usually between 0.5% and 1.5% per year, with minimums of US$ 20,000 to US$ 50,000. Adding compliance, audit and reporting, the annual bill is rarely below US$ 60,000. That is why a trust only makes sense for large estates with a clear succession goal.

How much does it cost to maintain the offshore company in Brazil?

The Brazilian side costs BRL 20 thousand to BRL 60 thousand per year for a simple structure and can exceed BRL 150 thousand for multi-layer structures. Almost nobody includes this side in the budget. The estimates below are market estimates:

The annual CBE is mandatory for those holding US$ 1 million or more in assets abroad on December 31. From US$ 100 million, the report is quarterly (Central Bank of Brazil - CBE).

The specialized accountant also needs to master Law No. 14,754/2023 (Lei 14.754/2023). Under the law, the profit of a controlled offshore company with mainly passive income is taxed at 15% every December 31, even without a distribution. Getting this calculation wrong costs more than the fee difference between a regular accountant and a specialized one.

How much does an offshore company cost over five years?

Over five years, a simple US LLC costs about US$ 4,000 abroad and BRL 125 thousand in Brazil. A structure with a trust exceeds US$ 150,000 abroad and BRL 400 thousand here. The calculation uses the midpoint of the ranges: opening, plus four years of maintenance abroad, plus five years of costs in Brazil.

The columns are kept separate in dollars and reais on purpose. The conversion depends on the exchange rate on the day each bill is paid. To budget your case, apply the current rate to the dollar column.

At what level of assets does the cost make sense?

The cost makes sense when the structure's annual benefit exceeds what it costs per year. Since Law 14,754, the benefit rarely comes from lower tax on passive income. It comes from succession, diversification and asset protection. A simple calculation helps: divide the annual cost by the assets.

With BRL 25 thousand per year on the Brazilian side alone, the cost is 2.5% per year on assets of BRL 1 million. On BRL 10 million, it falls to 0.25%. Below a few million, the structure consumes a good part of the return it is supposed to protect. The full calculation, with the break-even point, is in is an offshore company worth it, and from what level of assets.

What does a serious proposal need to show?

A serious proposal shows the five-year cost, split into abroad and Brazil, and lists what is left out. The "US$ 500 offshore company" almost always covers only the formation. Bank account, EIN, Form 5472, the second-year agent and the Brazilian side come later.

Before signing, ask in writing for:

1. •The four cost groups: formation, annual maintenance abroad, bank account and obligations in Brazil.
2. •The estimated cost of the next five years, not just the first.
3. •The list of what is not included, without vague terms such as "support".
4. •Who files the US and Brazilian returns, and by what deadline.
5. •The second-year renewal price, since the registered agent usually raises it after the first year.

The step-by-step setup is in the guide on how to open an offshore company. If you prefer to outsource everything, see the scope of corporate structuring.

Conclusion

The opening price is the smallest part of the bill. A US LLC costs a few thousand dollars over five years, but the Brazilian side of that same LLC costs more than BRL 100 thousand over the period. Compare proposals by their five-year cost, on both sides, and be wary of anyone who talks only about the first payment.

To budget the right structure for your assets, book a consultation.