Buy a business in Italy in Sardinia

Italy is one of the most developed countries, with 3.8 million businesses on its territory, considering a population of about 60 million, including foreign nationals who have chosen to live permanently in this beautiful country.

So we want to share with you why many people dream of buying a ready-made business in Italy, more precisely in Sardinia

1. Italy, Small Business Country
2. Why buy a business in Italy?
3. What kind of business Russians are buying in Italy and Sardinia
4. Commercial real estate: buy ready-made business in Italy in Sardinia
5. Business ownership and residency
6. How to open a company in Italy in Sardinia
7. Taxes in Italy when owning a business
8. buy a company in Italy: the services we offer
9. conclusion

1 Italy, the country of small business

In what other country can you see such staggering figures: 1 firm for every 16 inhabitants?

Certainly not in Germany, which, although it carries the entire economy of Europe on its shoulders, still has fewer companies…

… Well then, why are there so many of them in Italy, still recovering from the crisis?

The answer is simple.

Italy is the kingdom of medium and small businesses

That is, companies where a large number of employees perform a huge mountain of cases .

Specifically, small businesses are firms with fewer than 15 employees, and medium-sized businesses with less than 250 employees and revenues of less than 50 million euros.

These medium- and small-sized companies, abbreviated SMBs, account for most of Italy’s GDP and represent the workplace of about 80% of the country’s working population.

Small entrepreneur: a successful business.

In general, as you have already understood, SMBs are the skeleton of the Italian economy, and it is small entrepreneurs and agricultural producers who enrich the country.

This may seem strange at first glance, but there’s nothing to be surprised about, because. Italians are creative and enterprising people with a rich imagination. There are thousands of small hotels, shoe shops, furniture stores, food shops, from salt-making to cheese-making, which produce products that are a huge success not only in the country, but also abroad.

The tourism sector, which pulls the entire economy of the country, consists almost entirely of small businesses: thousands of hotels, B&Bs, entertainment and resort facilities, etc.

What are the advantages of owning a small company?

The Italian bureaucracy is like this: confusion and incomprehension are its forte.

But being a small entrepreneur, meaning having less than 15 employees, is certainly easier than being in charge of a huge company with a thousand employees.

First of all, think about how readily and quickly a small firm will be able to adapt to market conditions and how long it will take for a large firm to achieve at least one of its goals.

In addition to this “flexibility,” the small entrepreneur enjoys another advantage: the freedom to select personnel according to their abilities.

Naturally, even large firms screen staff before they hire, but they can’t just fire an employee that easily.

Italian regulations provide workers with certain protections, so it is not always easy to fire a lazy or incapable worker.

Firms with fewer than 15 employees have more freedom in this regard, so if an employee does not faithfully perform the duties assigned to him, he can be fired without difficulty .

2 Why buy a business in Italy?

The crisis of 2007 affected the entire Western world, especially Italy, because of its large national debt, which could have even provoked the collapse of the entire state.

The collapse did not happen and the country slowly rose from its knees, but while the German economy is back to pre-crisis levels, France is on its way, Italy is still emerging from the crisis .

Improvement is evident, but it will take another year before Italy can recognize itself as a flourishing country.

Why then invest in Italy?

The answer is simple: Now the prices are low, very low, and not only for real estate, but also for ready-made business in Italy!

A thriving, highly profitable business is put up for sale either because the owner has reached retirement age, or because modernization is required, and getting a loan is very, very difficult.

Yes, in the wake of the crisis, banks began to carefully sort through loan requests, refusing both successful entrepreneurs and those who were just about to start a business.

In general, the Italians themselves, unless they have a tidy sum of money set aside, are not capable of acquiring, opening, or modernizing even a small company.

This is why sellers need to lower prices, in order to sell their business quickly.

This applies not only to small companies, but also to large companies. Yes, the Italians sold real “treasures” to foreigners, but we’ll talk about that later.

Here are 6 reasons to invest in Italy by opening or buying a ready-made business:

1. Italy is 3rd in economic power in the Eurozone and 8th in the world, that is, stronger than Russia or India, the fastest growing countries, but still far from the Italian performance.
2. Italy’s favorable location. Located in the Mediterranean, Italy is a bridge between Europe and the north of Africa, a gateway to the sea for countries such as Switzerland, Australia, Hungary, etc. Thanks to an efficient communications system (airports, highways, and railroads), goods can reach a wide variety of locations in continental Europe quickly.
4. Competitiveness in different sectors. Some sectors, such as fashion, food, design and automation, are leading the way on the world stage.
5. Qualified workforce. Italian salaries are lower than many European employees, accounting for about 82% of French salaries. At the same time, 20 of the 500 institutions of higher education are included in the list of the world’s best.
6. Huge cultural heritage. The largest number of UNESCO monuments are located in Italy, and joining the rich historical, artistic and architectural heritage, makes the country one of the most favorite tourist destinations.

3 What kind of business do Russians buy in Italy?

The fact that Russians are extremely fond of Italy is, of course, no secret.

They love the Italian sun, fashion, and all kinds of places, from tempting seaside resorts to secluded towns in northern Italy. But the peninsula is not only a place of rest, and this, of course, immediately noticed.

Italy is a source of ideas and entrepreneurship, which is why Russian tycoons began to invest in the peninsula .

So let’s see where this “Italian passion” comes from.

Why Italy?

Historically, the Russians have always conquered Europe .

They did it back in the days of the Tsar, their habits have not changed.

It is clear why: It was warned that their economic power might have become ephemeral because of the social unrest that was often seen in Russia, and it turned out to be true.

Those who bought property in Italy, France , Britain and other countries were able to find refuge there during the revolution of 1917 and build a more than secure life abroad .

Many years have passed since the revolution.

The people’s unrest is over, and the Russian economy is in a phase of active growth, but today the ruble is not such a valuable coin in the international market, and its fluctuations are not always a positive phenomenon

Add to this the strained relations with Ukraine and America, as well as Russia’s military involvement in Syria.

More precisely, to tell the truth, any European state is exactly Italy, for a number of reasons that we can call psychological, such as:

Russian culture is similar to Italian culture.

Think about it, and you’ll find that we’re talking about “hot people” who love fun, good food and a great Italian climate.

During the winter vacations Russians visit the wonderful Alpine villages, and during the summer – the amazing beauty of the beach, the harbor and the tranquility of the lakes.

Confirmation of this love of Russians for Italy is their musical passion, foreign favorite singers of Russians Al Bano and Romina, Adriano Celentano, Toto Cutugno.

And what can I say about Italian fashion?

There are flights that organize in Italy specifically during the sale, to give the Russian the opportunity to shop in the most fashionable neighborhoods of Milan!

It remains to be seen what Russians are buying in Italy.

Russian shoppers are attacking!

Apart from Mega – will in Sardinia, Forte dei Marmi, Portofino or another tourist VIP destination in Italy, the Russians invest in a variety of sectors.

Lukoil, Russia’s largest oil company, also operates in Italy after buying a majority stake in ERG and opening its own refinery in Sicily in Priolo Gargalo.

That’s how the Russian oil company Rosneft bought Saras from the Moratti family

Russian tycoon Rustam Tariko, owner of the Rust Group, a producer of vodka and spirits, became the owner of the historic wine company Fratelli Gancia.

In telecommunications, Wind became 50% Russian.

And that, of course, is not all, because luxury hotels also seduce Eastern European oligarchs, and so Victor Vekselberg bought the prestigious Grand Hotel Villa Feltrinelli on Lake Garda .

Would you like a few more examples? The paradise resort on the island of Sardinia Forte Village in Santa Margherita di Pula, and in Cortina d’Ampezzo the Russians have bought various structures, among which the famous Hotel Ampezzo, which will be completely renovated to become a five-star giant.

This list is a minimum of Russian investments in Italy, we are talking about investments of tens, hundreds of millions of euros, but to buy a business in Italy can now afford not only oligarchs.

“Italomania” Expanded horizons from just a vacation to finding a business to invest in, and many Russian businessmen, with a more limited budget, say, a maximum of 1.000.000 € have a great choice to buy a business, even for such a small price.

4 Commercial real estate: buy ready-made business in Italy

As we have said, Italians want to have their own ready-made business, but their problems are related to banking institutions, so often real estate, firms, hotels and restaurants are waiting for years before they fall into the hands of new owners.

If you have enough money and you want to buy commercial real estate in Italy, in front of you opens up a fan of opportunities.

Want some business ideas in Italy?

Look at how many hotels are for sale in both big cities and small tourist areas.

Often sell a business that used to be run by the same family, and since the owners are retiring and the children have received degrees and do not want to work behind the reception desk, the business has decided to sell.

The same goes for restaurants, bars, cafes, and small private businesses, especially agricultural businesses.

Many of them could be converted into hospitable agritourisms, which require a very modest investment .

And if you think about real estate with a large meterage, houses, firms, villas built in the early 20th century, then sell them, even more difficult.

They are for sale at “ridiculous prices,” But no one buys them because they seem enormous as a house to live in, but with the money to restore and repair them, they can be converted into charming B&Bs.

Let’s be honest: Italy often sells an entire treasure, and even at a low price!

Do you want to buy commercial real estate in Italy?

Here you’ll find everything you want, from a ready-made business in Italy to a place to start your own business.

If you are only interested in investing, you do not want to do it yourself, and perhaps hire someone to do it for you, you can buy a property for rent.

Think that this activity will not bring a lot of money, on the contrary, it can even be very profitable, provided that you know where and what to buy.

We buy and sell commercial real estate, especially in Sardinia .

You know, of course, that the amount of rent for residential and commercial real estate is very different, for commercial real estate always ask for round sums. But a lot depends on where the property is located.

If you are renting an office in the center of a settlement with a few thousand residents, the amount will certainly not be the same as in the center of one of the big Cities.

Do you know where the real estate we do? on the island of Sardinia.

Sardinia – Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean (the first is Sicily), there are beautiful bays and pristine nature, which is particularly attractive to tourists. The hotel chain here is huge – and, there are luxury resorts, and inexpensive campsites for those who like to travel light and cheap. The hotel business gave an impetus to the development of rural tourism as well. It is of interest to business circles and the possibility of investing in real estate. Another interesting line of business in Sardinia is gastronomy. Tourists enjoy traditional Italian dishes such as pasta, pizza, seafood, and, of course, do not miss the opportunity to taste Sardinian cuisine – the famous Sardinian bread, elite wines and more, and it also gives room for business imagination.

What do you say, you want to buy commercial real estate in Sardinia? There is every reason to think that this is an investment that will definitely bear fruit……

5 Business ownership and residence permit

The Italian law stipulates that Italian citizens (all those who are not citizens of Schengen countries), stay in Italy for more than 90 days, must make a request for a residence permit.

If you want to run a business yourself or live near the office of your company, you will need to spend a lot of time in Italy, and to be within the law, you have to ask for a residence permit. Immigration to Italy for business is gaining in popularity.

How to request a residence permit

Since the end of 2018, the conditions for obtaining a residence permit in Italy have become more difficult, but foreign nationals who open their own business, or who are already content with a decent income, have all the advantages to obtain it.

Now let’s see in which cases you can get a residence permit in Italy:

1. Residence permit For the chosen place of residence. If you have a good fortune or if you have a large monthly income from pensions, real estate or land, securities, profits from businesses, you can safely reside in Italy, provided that you do not work.
2. Residence permit For an investment in a company. You can get this type of residence permit provided that you invest at least 1.000.000 € in an already existing Italian company, or 500.000 € in an already existing innovative startup.
3. Residence permit to start a startup. This type of residence permit is issued if you create a startup in the form of a cooperative or limited liability company, or if you purchase a startup that was not opened more than five years ago. It is important that the firm has an office or a production facility in Italy, and that the firm is engaged in the production of high-tech goods. Among the various requirements there are also conditions of no distributed profits and vice versa not more than 5 million euros per year .
4. The residence permit for relocation of the company’s headquarters. You can get this type of residence permit, creating a new company in Italy, moving there the head office, branch or representative office of a foreign company.
5. EU Blue Card. If you create a new company in Italy and register as a highly qualified employee, you can get this special type of residence permit, which implies that you will work in Italy for at least one year. To get the Blue Card, you must have at least a bachelor’s degree and earn a salary of at least €30,000 per year, not including taxes.

6 How to open a company in Italy

Before starting a company or becoming part of an existing one, it is good to know what types of companies are recognized by Italian law and what their characteristics are.

To begin with, there is an association of persons (partnership) and there is a joint stock company.

The members of the partnership are not legal persons and each of them is responsible for the debts of the firm, sometimes paying them with their personal property. That is, these are companies that, however prosperous they may be, do not give all the assurance that a joint stock company does.

Members of the joint-stock company are legal entities and enjoy greater autonomy in the management of property. This means that very different associations should not be responsible for the debts of the company. There are exceptions, but we’ll talk about that a little later.

Note: All joint-stock companies must be opened with a notary, who registers them further in the company registry.

Okay, and now we give you a list of types of joint-stock companies :

• Joint Stock Company (S.p.A.)
• Limited Liability Company (S.r.l.)
• A commanding joint-stock company ( S.A.P.A.)
• Simplified Joint Stock Company (S.r.l.s.)
• Innovation Startup

Since the limited joint-stock company has two types of membership: Partners with limited property liability and partners with unlimited property liability, and the latter is liable for the debts of the joint-stock company even with his personal property, we do not recommend you choose this type and focus your attention on the other types of joint-stock companies.
Let’s take a closer look:

Joint Stock Company (S.p.A.)

The share capital, which cannot exceed 50,000 euros, consists of a share with a minimum value of one euro. This type is the only one possible when you want to be quoted on the stock exchange, and is ideal when there are a large number of partners in the community. In any case, nothing prevents it from having only one shareholder.

The law states that already in the constituent act should be named financial control bodies: the accounting board (auditors) – an internal body and the audit firm – an external body.

According to the notarial deed, the establishment of the company stipulates that at least 25% of the share capital will be contributed. If there is only one shareholder in the company, the full amount must be paid.

Limited Liability Company (S.r.l.)

When Italy was in the midst of an economic crisis, the government decided to create this new type of joint-stock company, which, thanks to simplification and lower costs, was to stimulate the growth of entrepreneurial activity.

Such a society does not provide for notary fees for opening its minimum share capital is 1 euro and the maximum is 9,999 €.

Contributions in kind are not allowed.

Partners are given freedom in management, they can choose one leader or they can all manage together.

Innovation Startup

This type of society enjoys different benefits, namely :

• Established online, and therefore there are no notary costs .
• Chamber of Commerce and Registry of Companies fees are not payable .
• It has a flexible system with the ability to provide different categories of partners with different obligations and the distribution of income depending on the activities performed and capital invested.
• Wages for employees are very flexible .
• There are tax incentives for partners .
• There is an opportunity to raise capital through crowdfunding .
• There is an opportunity to transform into innovative small or medium-sized businesses.

An innovative startup, to be recognized, must:

• Engage in the production or sale of innovative technological products .
• Have a head office or branch office in Italy .
• Being established less than five years ago .
• Its establishment should not be the result of a merger or split of other companies .
• At least one-third of its staff must have a doctorate or two-thirds must have a master’s degree.
• Have a patent or license and must use registered software .
• There should be no distributed profits .
• Have a turnover of less than 5,000,000 euros.

Documents required for registration of a joint stock company:

For S.p.A. and S.r.l. unnecessary tons of documentation and, in any case, we are ready to give you the support you need.

At the most you might need:

• Identity document and tax code
• Cash night receipt issued by a financial institution
• The act of assessment, in case the benefits are provided in kind
• A copy of the Articles of Incorporation.

7 Taxes in Italy when owning a business

It’s good to set up a campaign, it’s good to get income, but not everyone likes paying taxes.

Let us consider what taxes are provided by the Italian judicial system for the organization of their founders:

• IRES- Corporate Income Tax. Each year the firm must pay this tax from the calculation of income for the previous year. The rate is 24%.
• IRAP- Regional tax on productive activities. This tax is paid to the regional body at the location of the firm. The rate is fixed depending on the region and averages about 3.90%.
• IVA- Value Added Tax. It is a tax on consumption that is paid for by the financial consumer. It is called value-added tax because it is calculated on the surcharge that appears during the various stages of marketing from the producer to the consumer.

There are three types of rates, and some goods and services are not subject to this tax.

• 4% Basic goods (milk, bread, etc.)
• 10% Reduced rate, applies to goods such as books
• 22% Standard tax rate for most goods and services.

There is another tax, which does not apply to organizations but to individuals:

IRPEF- Individual Income Tax. The tax is calculated on the income you receive in Italy. The rate here ranges from 23% to 43% and takes into account the number of family members, other expenses (medical expenses, school expenses, veterinary expenses, etc.)

8 Buy a company in Italy: the services we offer

Despite all the information we’ve given you, buying a business is hardly something you can do faster on your own.

You need to know the laws, know which institutions to apply to and how to fill out documents, and – it would be good to be sure that your chosen business will bring income.