There are two basic ways to start a business in Ecuador. You can do either without being a legal resident in the country.
First, you could start the Ecuadorian version of a corporation, called a “Sociedad Anonima”. In order to get started, you need to go to the governmental office called the “Superentendencia de Companias” where you will fill in the necessary paperwork and pay $800 which then turns into $800 stock in your new company. You can put the stock under whichever names you desire.
After that step you will need to get your “RUC” which is your business tax ID number in Ecuador. You get this from the government office called the SRI.
Then, in one of the many small stores outside the SRI, you can get “facturas” or official business receipts for your billing made for your business and from then on you will be liable for taxes in Ecuador.
The other way to form a business in Ecuador, and the way most prefer, is to simply work under your name as a sole proprietor.
In order to do this, just go to the SRI and get your “RUC” or tax ID number, get some business receipts made in the offices on either side and you can legally bill and receive payments in Ecuador (without needing to be a resident ).
I bet it is easier than you thought to start a business in Ecuador!
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