Market & Niche Analysis
We help assess the local environment, key players, market structure, potential barriers and entry points.
Market entry: Spain
Legal support for entering and growing your business in Spain
For business owners, international companies and investors who want to launch a project in Spain, move part of their business here or expand existing operations.
Book a consultationDE FACTO · Strategic Legal AdvisorySweden · Spain · EU Law
Why Spain
A market worth considering for more than lifestyle
Spain remains attractive to foreign business thanks to the size of its domestic market, its infrastructure, EU access, international connectivity and its role as a bridge between Europe, Latin America and North Africa. Foreign companies also rate its infrastructure and access to skilled talent highly.
At the same time, the market requires local knowledge. Foreign investors consistently point to bureaucratic load and complex administrative processes.
That's why entering the market is about much more than registering a company.
What we help with
We help you enter the market, not just set up a legal entity
Reach out if you:
- want to start a business in Spain;
- are moving part of an existing company here;
- are launching a new project;
- are looking for local partners;
- want to understand the competitive landscape and your niche;
- are targeting Spanish clients or suppliers;
- are planning an investment project;
- are relocating to Spain together with your business;
- have already started operating and want your legal structure reviewed.
What our support includes
From market analysis to legal implementation
Market Entry Strategy
We define the best way to enter Spain: through a separate company, a local partner, a project structure or another format.
Local Connections & Networking
We connect you with local companies, professional partners, contractors and other players who may be key to your launch.
Legal Structure
We design the right operating model, taking into account the owners, existing companies, business geography and growth plans.
Commercial Contracts
We draft and review contracts with clients, partners, suppliers and other project participants.
Business Immigration
If the owner or key staff are relocating to Spain, we build immigration status into the overall project structure.
Local Professional Team
Where needed, we bring in tax advisers, accountants, notaries, lawyers and other specialists.
Ongoing Legal Support
After launch, we can continue as your external legal partner.
Why the local environment matters
Opening a company is easy. Actually fitting into the market is not.
Having a Spanish company doesn't answer these questions:
- Who are your local clients and partners?
- How does business work in your specific niche?
- Which companies already operate in your segment?
- Which local requirements affect your project?
- Who should be on your professional team?
- How do you connect your Spanish structure with your existing business abroad?
De Facto brings these pieces together into a single market-entry project:
analysis → structure → local connections → legal implementation → ongoing support.
Where international interest is strongest
Spain isn't one market. It's several strong ecosystems.
Foreign investment and international business activity is visible in technology, energy, mobility, life sciences, industrial services, agri-food and other sectors. Spain's startup ecosystem is also growing fast: ICEX reports more than 5,000 startups, 400+ scaleups and strong hubs in Madrid and Barcelona.
De Facto is especially relevant for projects where legal work intersects with:
- international business;
- market entry;
- investment projects;
- commercial contracts;
- founder relocation;
- local partner coordination;
- cross-border operations.
How we work
From market-entry idea to a working structure
Consultation
We get to know your business, goals and current structure.
Market & Legal Review
We analyse the market, the legal model, existing documents and key risks.
Roadmap
We define the sequence of steps, the specialists you need and your entry points.
Implementation
We handle the legal side of the launch: contracts, immigration matters and local coordination.
Ongoing Support
We continue supporting you after market entry, if needed.
Why De Facto
Not just law, but a clear view of how international projects work
Spain · Sweden · EU Law
We consider not only the Spanish side, but how decisions affect your existing business in another jurisdiction.
Business Law · Contracts · Immigration
We connect business structure, contracts and the owner's status into one project.
Local Market Access
Beyond setting up the structure, we help you find the right professional contacts and build a local team.
19+ years of legal practice
We help you quickly see where the real risks are and what needs attention first.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
There is no one-size-fits-all model for entering the market. Below are general guidelines; the right structure depends on your business, owners, countries and project goals.
Do I have to set up a company in Spain?
Not always. It depends on how you'll operate, where your existing business is, who signs the contracts and what physical presence you plan to have in Spain.
Which is better: self-employed (autónomo) or a limited company (SL)?
It depends on the scale of the business, liability, income structure, partners and growth plans. The choice is best made after reviewing the whole model.
Can you help with local contacts, not just the legal side?
Yes. In market-entry projects, De Facto can help find and coordinate local companies and professional partners where the project requires it.
Do you analyse the market and niche?
Yes. As part of a market-entry project, we can analyse the local environment, competitors, potential partners and other factors that shape the decision to enter.
I already have a company in another country. Do I need a Spanish one?
Not necessarily. It depends on how you actually operate, where the business is managed, how contracts are structured and what presence you have in Spain.
Do you advise on tax?
We take tax implications into account when designing the structure, and bring in a specialist tax adviser where dedicated tax advice is needed.
Can I reach out if my business is already running?
Yes. In that case, we start with a Legal Review and identify what in your current structure needs adjusting.