Business & Corporate

Business Lawyer in Chile for Foreign Founders

Incorporate, contract and operate in Chile with counsel who explains Chilean corporate law in the language your board actually reads.

Book your consultation → What we handle

Chilean-licensed attorneys Updates in English Handled remotely

Overview

Set the company up right, or spend years correcting it

Foreigners can own 100% of a Chilean company, and in most cases you do not need to live in Chile to incorporate one. What trips people up is everything around the incorporation: the tax ID, the legal representative, the bank account, the bylaws that either allow or block your next funding round, and the compliance calendar nobody mentioned.

We handle the whole sequence as one project — entity choice, incorporation, registrations, contracts and the governance documents your investors will ask to see — and we flag the decisions that are expensive to reverse before you make them.

What we handle

Business & Corporate Law services in Chile

Each matter below is handled by Chilean-licensed attorneys and reported to you in English. If your situation is not listed, ask — it usually still fits one of these.

Company Formation in Chile

SpA, limited liability company or branch of a foreign entity — the right vehicle depends on who is investing, how profits leave Chile and what you plan to do in three years. We incorporate, obtain the tax ID (RUT) and get you operational.

Empresa en un Día (Fast-Track Incorporation)

Chile's simplified electronic regime can create a company in a single day. It is excellent for straightforward structures and a poor fit for others; we tell you which you are before using it, and draft bylaws that will not need rewriting later.

Commercial & Shareholder Contracts

Supply, distribution, services, licensing and shareholder agreements drafted under Chilean law — with the dispute-resolution and governing-law clauses that actually hold up in a Chilean court.

M&A and Due Diligence

Buying into a Chilean company means inheriting its labor, tax and regulatory history. We run legal due diligence, quantify what we find, and translate it into price adjustments, warranties and indemnities.

Corporate Governance

Board structures, powers of attorney, shareholder registries and the delegation rules that decide who can legally bind your Chilean entity. Essential once you have local staff and a distant owner.

Startups, Franchising & Market Entry

Franchise agreements, IP assignment from founders, equity structures for foreign investors, and the practical route to selling into Chile before you commit to a permanent establishment.

From anywhere

How this works if you are not in Chile

Case assessment

You send us the documents you have. We tell you what applies, what it costs and what the realistic timeline is — before you commit to anything.

Power of attorney

Granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled where you live. That single document lets us act for you in Chile without you traveling.

We act, you get updates

Filings and hearings are handled by our attorneys in Chile. You receive plain-English updates at every stage, not legal Spanish you have to decode.

FAQ

Business & Corporate Law in Chile — common questions

The questions English-speaking clients ask us most about this area.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a Chilean company?

Yes. Chile does not require a Chilean partner or shareholder for most business activities, and foreign ownership can be total. You will need a Chilean tax ID for the company and a legal representative with authority to act locally — both of which can be arranged without you relocating.

Do I need to travel to Chile to incorporate?

Usually not. With a power of attorney granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled abroad, we can incorporate, register and open the company's tax file on your behalf. Bank account opening is the step most likely to require your presence or additional verification, and requirements vary between banks.

Which entity type should I use — SpA or Ltda.?

The SpA is the default choice for most foreign founders: one shareholder is enough, share transfers are simple, and investors are familiar with it. A limited liability company (Ltda.) suits closely held family businesses where restricting transfers is the point. A branch makes sense when the foreign parent must contract directly. We recommend based on your investor and exit plans, not on what is fastest to file.

What ongoing obligations does a Chilean company have?

Monthly and annual tax filings, accounting records, corporate registry updates when directors or capital change, and — depending on headcount and sector — labor and compliance obligations. We map your calendar at incorporation so nothing lapses, and coordinate with your accountant in Chile.

How are profits sent back to the United States?

Dividends and other remittances are permitted, subject to Chilean withholding tax and the applicable treaty position. The structure you choose at incorporation affects the effective rate, which is why we prefer to discuss distributions before the company exists rather than after.

Need a business lawyer in Chile you can actually talk to?

Get an initial assessment in English — confidential, with no obligation.

Book your consultation now →

WhatsApp+56 9 5217 5304

Emailhola@oklegal.cl

HoursMon–Sat 09:00–20:00