Why a Corporation is Necessary for a Foreigner in Antigua Guatemala
In the dynamic world of business, choosing the right legal structure is essential to ensuring security and growth. This is why the creation of corporations (Sociedades Anónimas SA, LLC in the United States) is recommended as a key strategy for those looking to invest in Guatemala, particularly in Antigua Guatemala’s real estate and tourism sectors.
Creating a corporation is like giving life to a person—a legal entity, an abstract person that allows you to open bank accounts as if you were a Guatemalan citizen.
When purchasing property under the name of a corporation, non-residents can facilitate asset acquisition while avoiding lengthy notarial processes for property transfers.
Many business licenses, municipal permits, and authorizations for tourism activities require the business to be legally incorporated, a process that is more efficient through a corporation.
Unlike a business registered under a personal name, a corporation continues to exist even if its shareholders change or if the original owner decides to step away.
If you are not a Guatemalan resident, I strongly recommend considering a corporation (Sociedad Anónima) for both your business activities and non-commercial purposes, such as acquiring personal assets, as a form of protection. It is a necessary legal structure for your activities in Guatemala.
You simply cannot operate economically in Guatemala without a corporation.
One of the many foreign clients residing in Antigua explains it this way:
“I decided to work with an SA because it was easier to navigate licenses, open bank accounts and pay wages this way. It always gave me a level of personal protection creating a distance between me personally and my business life. Not just for practical reasons but my family, spiritual, personal and social life become separate from the economic world which is the SA.”
My team can establish a corporation in just 20 days, allowing for a quick entry into Antigua Guatemala’s economic and real estate market.
Turn your vision into a business reality!
Dr. Modesto José Armando Salazar-Dieguez is a lawyer and notary from Antigua Guatemala with over a decade of experience in corporate law and the founder of the Legal Consult law firm. He has distinguished himself as a legal consultant in sectors such as tourism and real estate development, providing modern solutions in a city with a rich cultural heritage.
Tel: +502 7832-0819
Email: [email protected]
