Key takeaways
- Budget in layers: MetaQuotes, company, licence, substance, banking and ongoing costs.
- The first MetaQuotes payment covers three months of licence fees.
- Regulated jurisdictions cost more because of capital, staff and office requirements.
- Ask for an itemised quote that separates government, regulator and third-party fees.
The cost layers
| Layer | What drives it |
|---|---|
| MetaQuotes licence | Tier (Entry, Standard, Enterprise), paid monthly, first payment covers three months |
| Company formation | Jurisdiction, number of shareholders and directors, nominee services |
| FX licence | Regulator application and annual fees, legal work, business plan and manuals |
| Capital | Minimum capital set by the regulator (none for a Saint Lucia IBC) |
| Substance | Office, resident directors, compliance officer and MLRO in regulated jurisdictions |
| Legal opinion | Needed when no FX licence confirms activities |
| Banking | Bank or PSP onboarding, reference letter |
| Ongoing | Annual renewals, audit, reporting, registered agent |
How the route changes the budget
A Saint Lucia IBC has the lowest set-up and ongoing costs. A Comoros licence adds licence and renewal fees but no substance. Mauritius and the Bahamas add capital, local staff, office, audit and reporting, and should be planned as a multi-year investment.
Costs people forget
- Certified translations and apostilles of personal documents.
- Re-issuing documents after a change of directors or shareholders.
- Website changes to match corporate documents.
- Time: delays caused by incomplete files cost more than any fee.
Frequently asked questions
Why do you not publish prices?
Every project differs by jurisdiction, structure and services. We send a fixed, itemised quote after a free consultation.