How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate a Company in Argentina?

One of the first questions foreign founders ask is how much it really costs to set up a company in Argentina. The honest answer has three parts: what you pay once to incorporate, what you pay every month to keep the company running, and what you add depending on your business. This guide breaks down each part using SAXIA’s published prices for a Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada (SAS), the vehicle most foreign founders choose.

The one-time incorporation cost

A turnkey SAS incorporation with SAXIA costs USD 1,950 per company. That price already includes government fees, taxes and certifications, so it is the full figure rather than a starting point. It covers:

• Drafting the articles of incorporation and registering the company.
• Tax registration with ARCA, including the CUIT tax ID.
• Opening the corporate bank account.
• Setting up the company as a seller on MercadoLibre.

Separate from the cost, the SAS needs a minimum share capital equal to two minimum monthly wages (SMVM), with at least 25% paid in at incorporation. That money belongs to the company and stays available to it; it is not a fee.

The monthly maintenance cost

Once the company exists, it has to be kept compliant every month. SAXIA’s maintenance plan costs USD 300 per month per company, o bien USD 2,880 per year if paid upfront, which is a 20% discount. It includes:

• A legal and tax address for the company.
• A local administrator.
• Monthly accounting and tax filings.

Your first-year total

From the second year onwards, only maintenance applies.

Optional services

Not every business needs extras, but these are the most common ones and their prices:

What changes for an SRL or an SA

The SAS is usually the fastest and most economical option, which is why it is the default for most founders. An SRL works for small groups of partners, while a Sociedad Anónima (SA) carries more formalities, a board structure and a higher minimum capital, set at ARS 30 million since Decree 209/2024. Both are quoted case by case. Our comparison of SAS, SRL and SA explains when each makes sense, and our guide on why founders choose an SAS covers its advantages and limits.

Costs people forget

• Foreign documents. If a shareholder or administrator lives abroad, apostilles, powers of attorney and translations add time and cost.
• Provincial taxes. Turnover tax (Ingresos Brutos) is due from the first sale and varies by province.
• Bank requirements. Some banks ask for additional documentation that takes time to gather.
• Time. Incorporation itself is fast, but the operating account and invoicing setup set the real pace. See our SAS incorporation timeline for the full sequence.

Get your own number

Every company is slightly different, so the quickest way to know your total is to price it yourself. Our quote builder calculates incorporation, maintenance and extras instantly and emails you the quote. If your plan is to sell on MercadoLibre, start with our Servicio para vendedores de MercadoLibre, and if you only need a local address for an existing company, see our registered address service.

What the price does not include

To compare quotes fairly, it helps to know what sits outside the incorporation and maintenance prices:

• Share capital. The minimum capital is paid into the company and remains its property, so it is not a cost.
• Taxes on the company’s activity. VAT, income tax and turnover tax depend on what the company sells and how much it earns.
• Platform fees. MercadoLibre charges its own selling and shipping fees, which depend on the category and the listing type.
• Bank charges. Account maintenance and transfer fees depend on the bank and the products used.

These are costs of doing business rather than of having a company, and every seller in Argentina faces them regardless of who forms the company.

Preguntas frecuentes

Is the price the same if I live outside Argentina?

The incorporation and maintenance prices are the same. If a shareholder or administrator lives abroad, the foreign shareholder service covers apostilles, powers of attorney and translations for USD 480 per person.

Is there a discount for several companies?

Yes. Clients that need ten or more SAS, such as agencies forming companies for their own clients, qualify for volume pricing on both incorporation and maintenance.

How long does incorporation take?

The incorporation itself is fast, but the full process includes tax registration, the bank account and the MercadoLibre setup. Our timeline guide explains each step and what speeds it up.

Prices are in US dollars and reflect SAXIA’s published rates at the time of writing. This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.