Set up a Peruvian subsidiary or branch with one local team that reviews your documents from abroad, coordinates the notary and the public registry, obtains the RUC and leaves the company ready to invoice and report to headquarters.
Most foreign groups start by asking how to create a legal entity. In practice, the project has three parts: choosing the right vehicle, getting documents issued abroad accepted in Peru, and making the new company operational with SUNAT, a bank and a monthly compliance routine. We coordinate all three, so your team deals with one counterpart instead of a notary, a registry agent, a translator and an accountant separately.
We review the shareholders (individuals or a foreign parent), the planned activity, the capital and who will manage and sign in Peru. You receive a recommendation on the vehicle and a list of the documents needed from abroad.
We draft the power of attorney and resolutions for signature at headquarters, then review the apostilles and official translations before anything is submitted.
We reserve the name, draft the bylaws, coordinate the capital contribution and the public deed, and follow the filing until the company is registered with SUNARP.
We confirm the RUC, SOL credentials, tax regime and electronic invoicing, and set up the books and the compliance calendar for the first month.
Most foreign investors incorporate an S.A.C. (sociedad anónima cerrada), a closely held corporation with 2 to 20 shareholders. Groups that prefer to operate without a separate legal entity register a branch (sucursal). The decision affects liability, governance, how profits reach the parent and the documentation required, so we review it with your tax and legal advisers before drafting.
| Vehicle | Shareholders | Management | When it usually fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.A.C. (subsidiary) | 2 to 20 shareholders, individuals or companies | General shareholders' meeting and general manager; board optional | The most common choice for foreign groups; limits the liability of the parent |
| S.A. | 2 or more shareholders | Board of directors required | Larger structures or a more formal governance model |
| S.R.L. | 2 to 20 partners | Partners' meeting and manager | Closely held ventures; transfers of participations require a public deed and registration |
| Branch (sucursal) | Belongs to the foreign company | Permanent legal representative in Peru | Operating without a separate legal entity; the parent remains liable for its obligations |
The exact list depends on whether each shareholder is an individual or a company, and on who will sign in Peru. Documents issued outside Peru must be apostilled (or legalized through a Peruvian consulate when the country is not part of the Hague Convention) and, if they are not in Spanish, officially translated. A notary will reject a power of attorney that does not meet these requirements, so we review every document before it is sent.
The local steps follow a known sequence. What usually takes longest is outside Peru: obtaining apostilles, official translations and the bank's due diligence on foreign shareholders. Starting the document checklist early is the most effective way to shorten the project.
For a step-by-step walkthrough, read our guide on how to incorporate a company in Peru in 7 steps.
Compliance starts the month the RUC is active, even before the first sale. We leave the company set up so that headquarters is not surprised by missed filings or penalties later.
RUC, SOL credentials, tax regime and electronic invoicing. Corporate income tax is 29.5% and IGV (VAT) is 18%; we explain what applies from the first month.
Accounting books under Peruvian rules (IFRS as approved in Peru), opening entries for the capital contribution and the monthly filing calendar.
A simple monthly package for HQ from the start, so the subsidiary appears correctly in group reporting even while it is pre-operational.
Early review of management fees, loans and services from the parent, which trigger withholding tax and transfer pricing rules.
Employer registration when you hire, plus corporate books, powers and capital increases through our corporate services.
Incorporation is a one-off project quoted per engagement, based on the vehicle, the number of shareholders and whether documents come from abroad. After registration, the company can move into a pre-operational accounting scope from USD 100 per month + 18% VAT (IGV) while it is not yet invoicing, and then into the recurring range as it starts operating. See our reference fee ranges.
Quoted separately:
Most clients keep Lynch as their local finance team: monthly accounting, tax compliance, payroll and reporting in English for headquarters.
Send us a short description of the project: who the shareholders will be, the planned activity in Peru, the expected capital and whether anyone in the group already lives in Peru. We reply with the recommended vehicle, the document checklist for your jurisdiction and a proposal. If you are still evaluating the market, start with our overview of doing business in Peru or our guide for foreign companies choosing an accounting firm in Peru.
In most sectors, yes. Because an S.A.C. needs at least two shareholders, groups usually add a second group entity or individual with a minority stake. Some regulated activities have specific restrictions, which we check at the outset.
Usually not. Foreign shareholders can grant a power of attorney abroad so that a local attorney-in-fact signs on their behalf. The power and the corporate documents must be apostilled (or legalized) and officially translated into Spanish before the notary will accept them.
A subsidiary is a separate Peruvian legal entity, so the parent's liability is limited to its investment. A branch is part of the foreign company, which remains liable for its obligations, and it requires a permanent legal representative in Peru. The tax treatment of profits and payments to the parent also differs, so the choice should be made before any documents are signed.
Shareholders do not need to live in Peru. A branch must appoint a permanent legal representative in Peru. For a subsidiary, the general manager or an attorney-in-fact registered with SUNARP signs tax returns, bank documents and replies to SUNAT; in practice this should be someone who lives in Peru.
The timeline is driven mainly by the documents from abroad: apostilles, official translations and the bank's due diligence on foreign shareholders. Once those are ready, the local steps follow a predictable sequence. We give you a realistic estimate after reviewing your documents rather than a generic promise.
Incorporation is quoted per project, depending on the vehicle, the number of shareholders and whether documents come from abroad. Notary fees, SUNARP registry fees, apostilles and official translations are third-party costs that we quote separately in the proposal.
Tell us about the shareholders and the activity. We will confirm the right vehicle and the documents to prepare abroad.