Startups, Franchising & Market Entry in Chile
Test the Chilean market before you commit to a permanent establishment — and get the IP and equity right while it is still cheap to fix.
What this involves
Not every market entry needs a Chilean subsidiary on day one. Distribution, agency, franchising and cross-border sales each carry a different footprint, a different tax exposure and a different level of commitment — and picking the heaviest structure first is a common and expensive default.
For startups the priorities are different again: making sure the IP the founders built is actually owned by the company, that the equity structure can absorb an investor, and that Chilean tax and labor treatment of founders and early staff does not create a problem that surfaces during due diligence two years later.
What we handle
Market entry structuring
Choosing between distribution, agency, franchise, branch and subsidiary, with the tax and permanent-establishment consequences of each set out plainly.
Franchise agreements
Drafting or localizing franchise documentation for Chile: territory, fees, standards, IP licensing, termination and post-term restrictions.
IP assignment and protection
Ensuring code, brands and content created by founders or contractors belong to the company, and registering trademarks in Chile before someone else does.
Equity and investment readiness
Cap table structures, vesting, and the bylaw provisions Chilean and foreign investors expect to see.
Founder and early-team arrangements
Founder agreements and the contractor-versus-employee question, which Chilean labor law answers on substance rather than on the label used.
How we run this for a client abroad
Assessment first
You send the documents you have. We tell you what applies, what it costs and how long it takes — before you commit to anything.
Power of attorney
Granted at a Chilean consulate or apostilled where you live. It lets us act for you in Chile without you travelling.
We file, you get updates
Our attorneys handle the filings and appearances in Chile. You get plain-English updates at every stage.
Startups, Franchising & Market Entry — common questions
What English-speaking clients ask us most about this specific service.
Do I need a Chilean entity to sell into Chile?
Is franchising regulated in Chile?
Can foreign investors hold equity in a Chilean startup?
Our founders are contractors, not employees. Is that a problem?
Talk to a Chilean lawyer about entering the Chilean market
Get an initial assessment in English — confidential, with no obligation.
Book your consultation now →