Thinking of setting up shop in Latin America? You’re not alone. 2025 is already shaping up as a busy year for new businesses across the region.
Did you know?
- Uruguay started the year with 198,116 active companies—up 4% year-on-year.
- Argentina’s company density sits around 12.1 per 1,000 inhabitants, with the popular SAS structure back on track after new controls tightened the rules.
That means more entrepreneurs—and more global companies—are planting flags in LATAM. But how do you choose the right entity?
The Structures at a Glance
- SAS / SpA → Fast, flexible, great for solo founders or startups (Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Colombia).
- SRL / LTDA → Solid SME option with tighter transfer rules.
- S.A. → Classic corporation, heavier governance, better for scaling or fundraising.
- Special solo regimes → Mexico’s SAS (with a revenue cap), Brazil’s MEI, Peru’s EIRL.
Country Quirks to Know
- Argentina 🇦🇷: SAS relaunched with stricter controls; banking & FX realities still drive timelines.
- Uruguay 🇺🇾: Digital-friendly, fast “Empresa en el Día” setup, SAS is the star.
- Mexico 🇲🇽: SAS is quick and online but capped (~MXN 7.39M turnover in 2025); beyond that, go S.A. de C.V. or S. de R.L.
- Chile 🇨🇱: SpA dominates—investor-friendly and solo-founder compatible.
- Colombia 🇨🇴: SAS again wins—low friction, modern framework.
- Brazil 🇧🇷: LTDA for most SMEs, S.A. for big players; MEI and Simples Nacional remain attractive for small ventures.
Timelines (ballpark, clean files)
- Uruguay / Chile / Colombia → 3–10 business days.
- Mexico SAS → almost instant online; other forms 2–4 weeks.
- Argentina / Brazil → often 2–6+ weeks, banking can be the bottleneck.
Quadlux Takeaway
Choosing your LATAM entity isn’t just a paperwork exercise—it’s about matching your growth stage, investor plans, and hiring needs with the right structure.
And remember: you don’t always need to start with an entity. Many global companies first test the waters using an Employer of Record (EOR) model—hiring talent quickly while preparing the right structure for scale.
At Quadlux, we help companies hire fast, stay compliant, and scale smart—whether that’s through an agile EOR solution or guiding you through incorporation across LATAM.
Let’s talk if 2025 is the year you bring your business to Latin America.
#GlobalHR #LATAM #BusinessIncorporation #EOR #Quadlux
