GuideEuroregion Anglais

HOW TO SET UP BUSINESS
IN THE PYRENEES-MEDITERRANEE
EUROREGION
GUIDE
NOVEMBER 2006
Document designed with the nancial support of the European Community.
Contents
Business Investment Guide : Why choose
the Pyrnes-Mditerrane Euroregion ? 3
Developing business in Europe 4
Setting-up a company in France 6
l Languedoc-Roussillon 13
l Midi-Pyrnes 19
Setting-up a company in Spain 24
l Aragon 33
l Catalonia 38
l The Balearic Islands 44
Business Investment Guide : why choose
the Pyrnes-Mditerrane Euroregion ?
This guide-book has been designed by the
Euro Info Centres (EIC) from :
> Toulouse-Blagnac (The Regional Chamber
of Commerce and Industry of Midi-Pyrnes)
http://europe.midi-pyrenees.cci.fr
> Montpellier (The Regional Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Languedoc-
Roussillon)
www.eic-lr.org
> Barcelone (Cambra Ocial de Comer,
Industia i Navegacio de Barcelona)
www.cambrabcn.es/euroinfo
> Palma de Mallorca (Centre Balears Europa)
www.cbe.es
> and with the collaboration of EIC in Zaragoza
(CREA)
www.crea.es/eic
Euro Info Centres have been created by the
Enterprise and Industry Directorate General
of the European Commission.
This network is represented in more than
48 countries and counts more than 300
members. Its mission is to inform, advise en-
trepreneurs and to assist them in searching
for partners.
http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/networks/
eic/eic.html
www.eic.mine.gouv.fr/
www.eicspain.net/
The Pyrnes-Mditerrane Euroregion
was born from a joint initiative of the
governments of Aragon, Catalonia, the
Balearic Islands and of the Languedoc-
Roussillon and Midi-Pyrnes regions
who signed the Memorandum of the
Euroregion in october 2004.
> Population :
14 millions inhabitants (3% of the total
population of the European Union)
> Working population :
55.2 % of the total population
> Economy :
3 % of the EU GDP (12.7 % of the total
GDP of France and Spain in 2001)
> The Euroregion portal :
provides updated information on the Euro-
region projects and on the economic and
social situation of each region involved.
www.euroregion-epm.org
Its mission is to build a signicant eco-
nomic, scientic, social and cultural area
and to foster interregional and cross-bor-
der cooperation.

This guide-book Entreprendre dans
lEurorgion Pyrnes-Mditrrane has
been designed to assist entrepreneurs
intending to set up business in one of
the ve regions above- mentioned. It is
available in French and Spanish and sup-
plies valuable information on the forma-
lities and contacts necessary to set-up,
develop or take-over a company in this
Euroregion.
It is also available in French, Spanish and
English on the Internet
http://europe.midi-pyrenees.cci.fr
3
Any national of a EU Member State is free
to travel, live, work and study in any EU
member state.
> Free movement of citizens :
www.europa.eu/scadplus/leg/fr/s17000.
htm
Any self-employed worker is free to conduct
a stable and permanent economic activity
in any other host Member State and must
not be treated differently from national
workers.This is what is called freedom of
establishment.
In the same way, any self-employed person
from a member state is entitled to take up
and engage in temporary services in any
other Member State without having to be
established. This is what is called freedom
to provide cross-border services.
> General principles of freedom of esta-
blishment and cross-border services :
www.ec.europa.eu/internal_market/
services/
Salaried workers can look for a job in any
EU Member State and must not be trea-
ted differently from national workers. They
are not required to obtain prior authoriza-
tionin order to have access to available
employment in France or Spain provided
they are holders of an ID paper (identity
card or passport).
The right to mobility is often linked to
the professional or academic recognition
of qualications acquired in the home
country from any Member State. This re-
cognition makes it possible for people to
exercise an occupation (salaried job or as
self-employed) in any regulated or un-
regulated part of the labour market. In
the latter case, the employer of the host
country will be the one appraising the
qualication and level of the employee.
> ENIC-NARIC (European Network of In-
formation Centres - National Academic
Recognition Information Centres)
www.enic-naric.net
> European legislation on the recognition
of qualications
qualications/
4
Developing business in Europe
THE MAIN EUROPEAN LEGAL
FORMS OF COMPANIES
company/

European Society (SE)
It allows companies incorporated in dif-
ferent Member States to merge, create a
holding or a joint subsidiary while avoi-
ding the legal and practical constraints
arising from 25 different legal systems.
company/se/index_fr.htm
European Economic Interest Grouping
(EEIG)
It is a contract between individuals or/
and legal entities. An EEIG must have at
least two members from different Mem-
ber States.
5
More information :
on the site Entreprendre en Europe
- LEurope est vous ! .
This site is available to European entre-
preneurs who need information on their
rights, on the aids and opportunities
designed to help them carry out their
activities in any other EU state.
www.ec.europa.eu/youreurope
It facilitates joint actions between its
members with a view to develop and
expand their economic activity
www.europa.eu/scadplus/leg/fr/lvb/
l26015.htm
> Agency for the creation of companies :
www.apce.com
> Legal information :
www.inforeg.ccip.fr
CREATION OF A TEMPORARY
STRUCTURE
1. Liaison ofces
They are exible structures which may
conduct only non-commercial operations
such as prospection, advertising, providing
information or any other services prior to
setting-up business in France.
2. Sales agents
They can be self-employed individuals or
a company that acts on the behalf of a
foreign company on the French territory.
For the foreign company, it is an inexpen-
sive means of being present on the French
market.

CREATION OF A PERMANENT
STRUCTURE
1. Branches
Local ofces of a parent company loca-
ted abroad ; they operate like agencies ;
their mission is develop the headquarters
activities and business relationships with
the clientele.
2. Subsidiaries
They are separate legal entities under
French law. They are entitled to act inde-
pendently from the parent company and
own their patrimony.
THE MAIN LEGAL FORMS
OF COMPANIES
Web site dedicated to the creation of com-
panies of the Greffe du Tribunal de Com-
merce de Paris (Trade Registry) :
www.creeruneentreprise.fr/
One-man business
Sole trader
The proprietor has unlimited liability (in-
cluding its private assets)
No capital required
Individual income tax regime (IR)
Limited Liability Company (SARL)
Match the needs of medium-sized rms
2 to 100 partners
No requirement for a minimum capital
set by the Articles of incorporation
One or more directors who need to be
partners
Corporate income tax regime (IS)
Private Limited Company under sole
ownership (EURL)
Single shareholder.
Extent of liability limited to the amount
of the contribution
Operates quite like a limited liability
company
The shareholder may choose to pay
personal income tax or corporate income
tax
6
Setting-up a company in France
Public Limited Company (SA)
Structured for large-sized companies
At least seven shareholders no maxi-
mum number
Minimum paid-up capital : 37 000
of the contribution
Statutory auditor required
Corporate income tax regime
Common law partnership (SNC)
At least 2 trading partners
Joint and unlimited liability for the debts
(each partner has unlimited liability inclu-
ding its private assets)
Individual income tax regime
Simplied joint-stock company (SAS)
1 or several shareholders
Minimum stated capital : 37 000
of the contribution
Obligatory appointment of a managing
director who represents the company
when dealing with third parties
Statutory auditor required
Non-trading partnerships
At least two partners
Object : joint activity (farming sector
or professionals) or joint management of
property holdings (Civil property holding
entity SCI)
Joint unlimited liability for the debts
REGULATION ON FOREIGN
INVESTMENTS
In principle, there are no restrictions on
foreign invesments in France provided the
investor has led an administrative return
with the Ministry of Economy.
> Types of foreign investments in
France :
www. i nf or eg. cci p. f r / f i ches / pdf /
investissements_etrangers.pdf
> French Agency for foreign invest-
ments :
www.investinfrance.org/France/
ADMINISTRATIVE FORMALITIES
1. Requirements for setting-up a com-
pany in France
> Checking that the intended name is
not already used by another company
by contacting the :
National Industrial Property Institute :
www.inpi.fr
7
> Setting-up a company
Companies must necessarily have a re-
gistered ofce. It can be located at the
managers residence, in commercial pre-
mises, in nurseries, in rented or acquired
premises
1
.
> Drafting and signing the Articles of
incorporation or Deeds
2

The articles of incorporation must stipu-
late the object, name, headquarters, du-
ration, type of the company, the amount
and distribution of the authorized capital,
the name of the founding members.
> Depositing the capital
2

The funds must be deposited either in a
bank or in the Deposit and Consignment
Ofce or with a notary on the French ter-
ritory.
> Registering with tax authorities
2
The articles of Incorporation must be re-
gistered with the local tax authorities.
> Publishing the Business Creation
Certicate in a legal gazette
2
It must state the name, type, object, head-
quarters, duration and amount of autho-
rized capital of the company, the nature
of contributions, the name and address
of the managers and the reference of the
Trade Registry with which the company
will be registered.
> Applying for registration with
the Business Formalities Centre (Centre
de Formalits des Entreprises or CFE)
These Business Formalities Centres are
one-stop services where you can le in
all documents required to set up, change
or close down companies. They deliver all
the requested documents to the relevant
authorities : The French National Statis-
tics Institute (INSEE), the tax authorities,
the social security agencies, the Trade
Registry (Greffe du Tribunal de Commer-
ce) for trading companies and the Guild
Chamber for craftsmen (Rpertoire des
Mtiers).
> Business Formalities Centres
to contact
Chambers of Commerce and Industry
www.cci.fr
Commercial, industrial or service one-
man business
Companies (SARL, SA, EURL, SNC) with
more than 10 employees
Guild Chambers
www.apcm.com
Individuals and crafts rms
Trade Registry
www.greffes.com
Non-trading partnerships
Commercial agents
Industrial and commercial public bodies
Economic Interest Grouping (GIE ou
GEIE)
8
URSSAF (Union de Recouvrement des
Cotisations de Scurit Sociale et dAl-
locations Familiales)
www.urssaf.fr
Professionals
Employers who are not registered in the
Registry of Commerce and Trade
Tax collection ofces
www.impots.gouv.fr
Artists- authors
All tax payers not belonging to catego-
ries above-stated.
Chambers of Agriculture
http://paris.apca.chambagri.fr
Individuals or legal entities mainly engaged
in farming activities
Directory of CFEs (Business Formalities
Centres)
http://annuaire-cfe.insee.fr
2. Craftsmen, professionals, farmers
(no tradesmen)
> Craftsmen
Registration with the Registry of Com-
merce at the Business Formalities Centre
(CFE) of the local Guild Chamber
(Chambres de Mtiers et de lArtisanat) :
www.apcm.com
> Farming activities
Registration with the relevant Registry at
the Business Formalities Centre (CFE) of
the Chamber of Agriculture.
Assemble Permanente des Chambres
dAgriculture :
http://paris.apca.chambagri.fr
> Independent workers
Registration with URSSAF and with the
mutual insurance company for profes-
sionals corresponding to the relevant
activity.
National Bureau for the training and
information of professionals :
www.formapl.org
Caisse Nationale dassurance maladie
des professions librales :
www.canam.fr
Chambre Nationale des Professions
Librales :
www.cnpl.org
3. Regulated professions
They should submit the requested docu-
ments before registering with a Business
Formalities Centre (CFE)
List of regulated professions and infor-
mation :
www.apce.com
4. Recognition of academic qualica-
tions in France
> For people living abroad :
ENIC-NARIC France Centre interna-
tional dtudes pdagogiques
www.ciep.fr/enic-naricfr/
> For foreigners living in France :
The rectorats (academic authorities) of
the place of residence
www.education.gouv.fr/
9
1. All the material and immaterial properties that
a tradesman or an industrialist can gather in
order to look for potential customers.
2. These formalities do not apply to one-man
businesses.
SERVICE PROVIDERS
Due to the great diversity of cases (natu-
re, duration of services, qualications,..),
we recommend to turn to the Euro Info
Centre network (see page 2) for relevant
information and advice.
DIFFERENT TAX REGIMES
Portal :
www.impots.gouv.fr
1. Corporate tax
Prots derived from an activity conducted
by a foreign company on the French terri-
tory are taxed in France.
Normal rate : 33.33 %.
Reduced rate : 15 % in a limited number
of cases.
2. Income tax
Proportional to income : from 0 to
48.09 %.
+ 8 % Contribution Sociale Gnralise
(supplementary social contribution in aid
to the underprivileged)
+ 0.5 % Contribution au Rembourse-
ment de la Dette Sociale (contribu-
tion to the reimbursement of the social
debt)
3. Wealth tax
Payable annual on assets exceeding
750 000 euros (threshold as set on
January 2006).
4. 3. Other taxes
Local tax on businesses
paid on the rental value of professional
xed assets. It varies according to the pla-
ce but cannot exceed 3.5 %, 3.8 % or 4 %
of the company added value (function of
the turnover)
Property tax
(for property owners only)
tax on built or unbuilt property .The rate
varies according to the place.
Housing tax
payable by occupants (owners or tenants)
5. VAT
Normal rate : 19.6 %
Reduced rate : 5.5 %
Other rate : 2.1 %
Service des Impts des Entreprises (Tax
ofce) : for all scal matters (VAT, prots,
taxes on salaries, business tax...) for SMEs,
professionals, craftsmen, tradesmen and
farmers
www2.impots.gouv.fr/sie/accueil.htm
LABOUR LAW
1. Main types of employment contracts
Open-ended contract (CDI)
The contract must stipulate the date of
employment, the position occupied, the
place of work and the working time, the
amount of salary, the length of probatio-
nary period and of holiday with pay.
Fixed term contract (CDD)
The contract states in writing the dura-
10
tion : it is xed for a dened period of
time up to 18 months (24 months in ex-
ceptional cases). It can only be renewed
once without exceeding 24 months.
www.travail.gouv.fr
2. Administrative formalities for hiring
employees
They have been streamlined with the in-
troduction of a single reporting form for
new hires (Dclaration Unique dEmbau-
che or DUE) to be lled in by the employer
before the new employee starts working
and to be sent to the local URSSAF ofce.
The form can also be submitted on line.
www.urssaf.fr
> Organizations likely to help companies
with formalities for hiring employees
Agence Nationale Pour lEmploi
(job centres)
www.anpe.fr
Agence Pour lEmploi des Cadres
(job centres for executives)
www.apec.fr
3. Working time
35-hr workweek
With a maximum of 10 hours per day
www.travail.gouv.fr
4. Compensation
The statutory minimum wage (SMIC) is
stipulated in the employment contract
or by the employer in compliance with
some rules (SMIC 2006 : 8.27 e gross
per hour), with the applicable collective
bargaining agreements stating minimum
wages, equal opportunities and non-dis-
crimination rules.
www.travail.gouv.fr
5. Social charges
The employers and employeescharges
are collected by the URSSAF.
www.urssaf.fr
Employersshare of charges
40 to 50 % of gross wages (old age pen-
sion, accident at work, family allowances,
workerspensions)
Employeesshare of charges
up to 25 % of gross wages
6. Social contributions owed by the
self-employed.
They are collected at the national and re-
gional level. A xed amount is to be paid
on the rst two years of activity (year 1 :
2900 ; year 2 : 4300 ). For the fol-
lowing years, they are calculated in func-
tion of the earnings. Exemption and stag-
gering are possible in some cases.
www.canam.fr
SUPPORTING INVESTMENT
AND FOSTERING BUSINESS
Targeted nancial support can be gran-
ted to businesses setting-up in priority
areas such as rural developement areas,
urban redevelopment areas, urban free
zones, rural revitalization areas, urban
problem areas.
www.projetdeterritoire.com
11
Different types of aids are available to
create and develop a company in France :
> SEMAPHORE : lists all the aids available
to rms and identies those matching
your project.
www.aides.cci.fr
> Guide-book on the nancial aid to SMEs :
Created by the Observatory of aids to
small enterprises of the ISM, it indicates
the available funding schemes and provi-
des useful addresses.
http://observatoire.ism.asso.fr/
> Local initiatives platforms : these asso-
ciations promote the creation and take-
over of rms in a given local economic
environment. They assist promoters of
projects by offering customized counsel-
ling, nancial support and personalized
follow-up.
www.r.asso.fr/
> Social aid, an overview of the different
schemes designed to facilitate business
creation or take-over.
www.pme.gouv.fr/essentiel/vieentreprise/
aides-soc.htm
> Tax relief : available to newly-created
entreprises.
www.impots.gouv.fr
USEFUL LINKS
> Guide for business founders :
www.pme.gouv.fr/essentiel/vieentreprise/
guide_complet.pdf
> French Ministry of Economy, Finance
and Industry :
www.entreprises.mine.gouv.fr
> French Minsitry of SMEs, Commerce,
Craft and Professionals :
www.pme.gouv.fr/
> Council of the French Chambers of
Commerce and Industry :
www.acfci.cci.fr/
> Directory of business creation, take-
over and franchising :
www.actinbusiness.com
> National Portal of company transfer :
www.transmission.oseo.fr
12
KEY FIGURES
> The rst region in France in terms of
economic and productivity growth
Approximately 18 000 company crea-
tions and take-overs
Ranking third in France with 15 million
visitors a year
With 49 510 billion euros GDP in 2003,
it ranks 10th among French regions
220 kms coastline and 300 sunny days
a year !
Montpellier : a leading regional co-
nurbation with 31 municipalities and
400 000 inhabitants.
> Highest population growth in France
About 2 500 000 inhabitants
Highest population growth in France:
twice as high as the national average,
especially thanks to a large migratory
inow
Approximately 35 000 newcomers
every year
> Leading sectors of activities
Agrifood industries, biotechnologies, com-
puterware, nuclear power, transport and
logistics, chemistry, health and well-being
industries, ICTs , renewable energies
> Highly performing companies
Global companies : Dell, IBM, Sano,
Nestl (Perrier), COGEMA, AREVA, ME-
LOX, CAMERON, Salins du Midi, Cap Ge-
mini, Sagem, Lafarge,
Home to 176 companies with foreign
capital representing a total of 16 coun-
tries : APEX-BP Solar, La Compagnie du
Vent, Vestas, Lastminute.com,
European leaders : Altrad.
> Numerous and powerful infrastructures
Thanks to its numerous road, rail ( a high
13
LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
The Languedoc-Roussillon region boasts
a great variety of landscapes, a rich his-
torical and cultural heritage, universities
and a pleasant art of living. Its geostra-
tegic strength and its numerous modern
and adapted transport infrastructures
bring added values to the region. Its po-
sition at the crossroads between Nor-
thern and Southern Europe enhances
its role as an attractive and dynamic
region generating the creation and de-
velopment of companies.
speed train and a second one which will
cross the Pyrenees ) and air (5 airports)
infrastructures, thanks to its harbours
(Ste, Port-la-Nouvelle and Port-Ven-
dres), Languedoc-Roussillon is a privileged
link between the Iberic penisula, Italy and
Northern Europe on the one hand and
between Northern Africa and Europe on
the other hand.
The region is equipped with a network of
intermodular platforms among which the
european scale March Saint-Charles,
of combined transport facilities and of
multi-site logistic centres such as Mont-
pellier-Ste Mditerrane, Gard industrie,
Le Triangle dOc (Bziers) and Pyrnes
Mditerrane around Perpignan.
> Universities and research : one of the
major assets of Languedoc-Roussillon
Languedoc-Roussillon ranks rst in France
in terms of research activities and third in
terms of number of researchers (approx.
5000).
The region hosts
Around 90 000 students and 3000 re-
searchers lecturers in higher education
4 universities, 1 teaching hospital and
three Polytechnics (IUT)
170 research divisions, 7 schools of
engineers, 5 higher schools of business,
marketing, management and accounting
studies.
> An innovative and forward-looking
region
The high density of renowned private and
public research laboratories and organisms
generates industrial opportunities in high
added value sectors of activity such as
ICTs and biotechnologies. Four ples de
comptitivit have been awarded the
competitiveness cluster status : Q@limed
(agrifood), Trimatec (innovative techno-
logies derived from the nuclear industry),
Derbi (renewables in the building sector
and in industry) and Holobiosud (biology,
health and pharmaceuticals).
> Booming trade
Exports amounting to over 5 billion euros
in 2005
Spain is the rst economic partner of
Languedoc-Roussillon
Main customers and suppliers : Spain, The
United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, The Uni-
ted States and Morocco.

Conseil Rgional
www.cr-languedocroussillon.fr
STARTING A BUSINESS
IN LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON
The Languedoc-Roussillon region pro-
vides a wide network of experts who
can inform, assist and advise you at the
different stages of the start-up process:
search for partners, installation, take-
over,...
1. How to set up your French business
14
Advisers at the Chamber of Commerce
and Industry of Languedoc-Roussillon
The advisory network of the 9 Chambers
of Commerce and Industry provides ad-
vice and aid to promoters of projects by
giving information on the regional and
local industrial fabric, on the current tax
legislation and regulations, by proposing
training. They can help you in analysing
and implementing your project, in nding
the available nancial support and in ma-
king an overall diagnosis.
Chambre Rgionale
de Commerce et
dIndustrie Languedoc-Roussillon
www.languedoc-roussillon.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 13 68 00
Please note : that the delegation of the
Chambers of Commerce and Industry of
Languedoc-Roussillon in Barcelona sup-
plies additional services such as a busi-
ness centre for the companies planning
to set up business in Spain.
Email : delccilr@wol.es
> AUDE :
CCI de Carcassonne-Limoux-Castelnau-
dary : www.carcassonne.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 68 10 36 00
CCI de Narbonne, Lzignan-Corbires et
Port la Nouvelle : www.narbonne.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 68 42 71 11
> GARD :
CCI dAls Cvennes : www.ales.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 66 78 49 49
CCI de Nmes-Bagnols-Uzs-Le Vigan :
www.nimes.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 66 87 98 79
> HRAULT :
CCI de Bziers-Saint Pons :
www.beziers.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 80 98 09
CCI de Montpellier : www.montpellier.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 10 24 00
Please note : the annual Forum on the
creation and transmission of companies
is held every years in Montpellier
www.createur-entreprise.com
CCI de Ste-Frontignan-Mze :
www.sete.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 46 28 28
> LOZRE :
CCI de la Lozre : www.lozere.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 66 49 00 33
> PYRNES ORIENTALES :
CCI de Perpignan et des PO :
www.perpignan.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 68 35 66 33
Please note : To set-up business in Cata-
lonia, see also the following site : www.
crearcat.com/ created by the Perpignan
CCI and the Council of Catalonia Chambers.
Advisers at the Chambres de Mtiers et
de lArtisanat (Guild Chambers) in the
A network of partners can provide help
to craftsmen who want to set up their
craft rm in the region.
> Guild Chamber (Chambre Rgionale
de Mtiers et de lArtisanat)
www.cma-languedocroussillon.org
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 02 68 40
15
CMA de lAude : www.cm-aude.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 68 11 20 00
CMA du Gard : www.cma-gard.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 66 62 80 55
CMA de lHrault : www.cm-herault.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 72 72 00
CMA de la Lozre : www.cm-lozere.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 66 49 12 66
CMA des Pyrnes-Orientales :
www.cma66.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 4 68 35 88 00
> Invest Languedoc-Roussillon
Inward Investment
Agency -
for foreign investors
The mission of Invest Languedoc-Rous-
sillon is to attract industrial and tertiary
sector investors in the region and to help
them for free and in full condentiality
by :
Looking for premises or land adapted to
their needs
Giving them access to a network of hi-
ghly competent contacts
Searching for partners
Providing nancial engineering services
Invest LR : 417, rue Samuel Morse - Le
Millnaire II - 34000 Montpellier - France
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 22 94 80
www.invest-lr.com
2. Places for setting up companies
The Chambers of Commerce and Industry
and the Guild Chambers of Languedoc-
Roussillon have a network of correspon-
dents who can supply information on
the activity areas in their municipality.
The list of correspondents is available on
the web site of the Regional Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of Languedoc-
Roussillon or at the Guild Chambers.
www.languedoc-roussillon.cci.fr
In the Languedoc-Roussillon region, rms
can settle down in different zones of ac-
tivity :
Languedoc-Roussillon Incubation pro-
motes the creation of innovative com-
panies starting from the research work
conducted in higher education institu-
tions and in public research bodies in the
sector of booming technologies
www.lr-incubation.com/
Nurseries : these structures can tempo-
rarily host start-up businesses. Synersud
is a regional network made up of 17
structures (nurseries, business centres,
European Community Business and Inno-
vation Centres (EBICs), academic incuba-
tors. Their main goal is to offer custom-
made integrated support services to
promoters of innovative projects which
may bring added value to the region.
www.synersud.com
3. Transmitting and taking-over a com-
pany in Languedoc-Roussillon
An interregional scheme meant to pro-
vide support services in the transfer or
take-over of companies, thus helping the
16
assignor/seller or the acquirer to gain ac-
cess to an organized market around seve-
ral intitiatives :

PMI Contact
Offers of sale, transfer and take-overs of
SMEs-SMIs published in a regional bulle-
tin or on line :
www.pmicontact.net

ACT Contact
ACT Contact helps in dealing with the sale/
acquisition of rms in the area of trade, ser-
vices and crafts. Offers are available in a re-
gional bulletin or on the following web site :
www.actcontact.net
4. Financial incentives
There are many public aid devices for the
creation of rms thanks to initiatives in-
troduced by the EU, the French State and
the local and regional authorities.
They may be listed as follows :
nancial aid
tax relief
exemption from social charges
nancial support for consulting servi-
ces
access to premises,...
The Advisers of the Chambers of Com-
mece and Industry and of the Guild
Chambers can supply information on
the different types of nancial aid likely
to support a project. The PACTE scheme
Programme dAppui la Cration et
Transmission dEntreprises in the Lan-
guedoc-Roussillon is designed to help the
promoters of projects (creating or taking
over a company) at all stages of the pro-
cess ; it also certies the aided projects
in order to ensure their continuity. The
feasibility of the projects goes through a
validation process.
The regional nancial supports are
only accessible to the validated/certi-
ed projects and are granted function
of the maturity of the project, of the size
and type of the company ,of the volume
and nature of the necessary investments
and of the nancial planning. Financial
supports can be awarded in the form of
funds to be reimbursed or in the form of
a regional guarantee given on the money
levied with the bank(s).
Conseil Rgional Languedoc-Roussillon :
Smaphore
The database Smaphore is a national
scheme available in all the French regions.
Each promoter of a project can thus iden-
tify all the nancial and technical aid pac-
kages available in his/her area in order to
create, develop, expand, transfer or take-
over a company.
www.aides.cci.fr
Valuable information on the different
support systems in Languedoc-Roussillon
is also available on the following web
sites :
Prfecture de Rgion Languedoc-Rous-
sillon :
www.languedoc-roussillon.pref.gouv.fr
17
Conseil Rgional Languedoc-Roussillon :
Agence Pour la Cration dEntreprises
(APCE) :
www.apce.com
5. Hiring workers in Languedoc-Rous-
sillon
Job Centres (Agence Nationale Pour
lEmploi-ANPE) in Languedoc-Roussillon
www. anpe. f r /r egi on/l anguedoc_
roussillon/index.html
Job centre for executives ( APEC) in Lan-
guedoc-Roussillon :
Immeuble La Vigie 170 rue Lon Blum -
BP 1151 - 34009 Montpellier
Email : act.cour@apec.fr
Advisers of the European network EURES
(specialized in the cross-border mobility
of workers) en Languedoc-Roussillon :
www.pyremed.org/econsellers/index.php
6. Firms engaged in farming activities
and professionnals.
These professions are organized diffe-
rently :
Regional Chamber of Agriculture
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 20 88 63
Email : accueil@languedocroussillon.
chambagri.fr
National Union of Professionals in
Tl. +33 (0) 4 67 69 75 00
Email : unapl-lr@wanadoo.fr
18
KEY FIGURES
> An attractive way of life encouraging
population growth :
Largest region in France for its surface
area, more than 2 700 000 inhabitants
Over 26 000 newcomers every year
Toulouse : ranks second in France for its
art of living and job opportunities
> An appealing region
Home to 363 companies with foreign
capital and to leading international com-
panies : Airbus, EADS, Alcatel Alenia Space,
Pierre Fabre, Latcore, Ratier Figeac, 3A
Groupe, Bosch, Siemens, Alstom, Freescale
Semi conductors,
In the last ve years, Midi-Pyrnes has
been in the top ve in France for foreign
investments on its territory
> Booming trade exchanges
Main customers : Germany, The United
States, Spain, The United Kingdom, China
and Italy
Toulouse-Blagnac : 4th largest airport in
France
Ranks rst in terms of trade surplus
(+9.1 mds en 2005)
Ranks fth in terms of exports (31.36
mds ), i.e 6.1 % of French exports
> Ten sectors of excellence
Aeronautics (Toulouse world head-
quarters of Airbus), space, ICTs, bio-
technologies, agrifood, mechanics, tex-
tile, call centres, logistics, materials and
processes.
> A leading spirit of entrepreneurship
Third French region for job creations.
More than 14 000 creations or take-
overs in 2005 : company creation has in-
creased by 4% in the last term of 2005
and take-overs by 8%.
Fourth French region for the increase in
19
MIDI-PYRNES
Situated between the Atlantic Ocean
and the Mediterranean Sea, the Midi-
Pyrnes region is one of the largest
European regions with 8 dparte-
ments and 45 348 km
2
. With its large
surface area, great diversity, rich histo-
rical heritage, potent intellectual and
industrial wealth, Midi-Pyrnes oc-
cupies a leading position in France and
in Europe. It is a region of open spaces,
of well-rooted traditions and of a plea-
sant art of living with major assets to
take up the challenges of the future.
the number of business creations between
2002 and 2003.
> A young and skilled labourforce
More than 115 000 students
Toulouse is the rst university town in
France after Paris :
14 schools of engineers, 4 universities and
5 higher schools of education of interna-
tional repute offering highly diversied
training opportunities.
> R&D and innovation : a regional priority
First French region for public RD expen-
ses function of the regional GDP.
20 200 people working in research, among
them 12 790 research scientists.
Three Ples de comptitivit have
been awarded the cluster of competitive-
ness status : aeronautics, space and on-
board systems and Cancer-Biohealth.
Fourth pole agrofood industries ap-
plying for the cluster status
Toulouse : major site for the Galileo project.
Conseil Rgional Midi-Pyrnes
www.midipyrenees.fr/
STARTING A BUSINESS
IN MIDI-PYRENEES
The Midi-Pyrnes region provides a wide
network of experts who can inform, assist
and advise companies at the different
stages of the start-up process: search for
partners, installation, take-over,...
The Midi-Pyrnes business Portal lists
all the Internet sites dealing with business
life : creation, funding, human resources,
markets, economic environment, in the
Midi-Pyrnes region.
www.e-midipyrenees.net
1. Setting-up a company
> Le parcours cration
All the different steps necessary to set up
business and to assess all the aspects of
your project are available on the site :
www.leparcourscreation.com
> Espace Entreprendre en Midi-Pyrnes
A network of partners including the Re-
gional Chamber of Commerce and Indus-
try and the 10 Chambers and Commerce
of Midi-Pyrnes supplies promoters of
projects with valuable advice and aid on
the following points : information on the
regional and local economic fabric envi-
ronment, on current scal and economic
regulations. Adapted and specialized trai-
ning courses are organized by the Cham-
bers of Commerce and Industry such as
les rendez-vous des crateurs, 5 jours
pour entreprendre.
The counsellors of the Espace Entre-
prendre help to assess the feasibilitity
of the project, to identify the available
nancial aids and to take the project to
maturity. A passport Entreprendre en
France facilitates preferential access
to the services supplied by different
experts (notaries, chartered acccoun-
tants,..), to funding schemes and to a
three-year follow-up of the newly-crea-
ted rm.
www.midi-pyrenees.cci.fr
Contact Points Setting-up business in
Midi-Pyrnes in the Chambers of
Commerce and Industry
> ARIGE
www.ariege.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 61 02 03 26
commerce-services@ariege.cci.fr
> AVEYRON
www.rodez.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 65 77 77 01
info@rodez.cci.fr
www.millau.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 65 59 59 00
accueil@millau.cci.fr
> GERS
www.gers.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 62 61 62 19
jf.buffet@gers.cci.fr
> HAUTE-GARONNE
www.toulouse.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 61 33 65 01
entreprendre@toulouse.cci.fr
> HAUTES-PYRNES
www.tarbes.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 62 51 88 80
entreprendrehp@tarbes.cci.fr
> LOT
www.lot.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 65 20 35 01
createur@lot.cci.fr
> TARN
www.albi.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 63 49 26 48
creation@albi.cci.fr
www.castres-mazamet.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 63 51 47 51
n.membrives@castres-mazamet.cci.fr
> TARN ET GARONNE
www.montauban.cci.fr
Tl. +33 (0) 5 63 22 26 05
v.michel-operti@montauban.cci.fr
Midi-Pyrnes Expansion
Midi Pyrenees Expansion is the Agency
set up by the Regional Council to ensure
the Development and Promotion of the
Midi-Pyrnes region : it plays an active
part in the implementation of the regional
economic policy ; its activities focus on the
strengthening of competitivity and and on
regional development.
Midi-Pyrnes Expansion is the entry-point
both for companies and local stakeholders.
www.midipyrenees-expansion.fr/
Information on real estate and land is
available at the Chambers of Commerce
and Industry in the region.
List of territories and intercommunalities
> Different types of activity areas play
host to companies in the Midi-Pyrnes
region
The Midi-Pyrnes incubator plays host
to the promoters of technological, innova-
tive, research-derived projects and assists
them in their business project.
www.incubateurmipy.com
20 21
Nurseries are temporary host structures
for newly-created start-ups. The Midi-Py-
rnes region already counts 14 structu-
res of this type.
www.rezopep-midipyr.com
3. Company transmission and take-
over in Midi-Pyrnes
This regional scheme facilitates business
transfer and take-over ; it helps both the
assignors/sellers and the acquirers to gain
access to a well-structured market.
PMI Contact et
PMI Contact Condentiel
PMI Contact Offers of SMEs-SMIs sale,
transfer and take-overs published in a re-
gional bulletin or on line
www.pmicontact.net
PMI Contact Condentiel Both com-
pany assignors/sellers and acquirers can
have access to unpublished business op-
portunities and to benet from a perso-
nalized and fully anonymous support.
Chambre Rgionale de Commerce et dIn-
dustrie Midi-Pyrnes :
ACT Contact
ACT Contact helps in dealing with sale/
acquisition of rms in the area of trade,
services and craft.Offers are available in
a regional bulletin or on the following
web site :
www.actcontact.net
4. Financial incentives :
Chambre Rgionale de Commerce
et dIndustrie Midi-Pyrnes
Smaphore
The database Smaphore is a national
scheme available in nearly all the French
regions. Each promoter of a project can
thus identify all the nancial and techni-
cal aid packages available in his/her area
in order to create, develop, expand, trans-
fer or take-over a company.
www.aides.cci.fr
> Differents types of nancial aid answe-
ring your requirements can be obtained
Investment :
- tangible : Regional Development Incen-
tives (PAT), Development Funds for SMEs,
Business Real Estate, etc.
- intangible : aid to consulting, aid to the
creation of new activities, aid to export..
Access to loans :
(apart form bank loans)
- loans : OSEOnancement, development
funds,
- secured loans : OSEOgarantie, Midi-
Pyrnes Contingency Regional Fund
Strengthening equity funds :
More than ten bodies can help on these
matters : The Regional Institute for the
industrial development of Midi-Pyrnes
(IRDI), Midi-Pyrnes Creation, OSEO-
financement, OSEOinnovation, Midi Ca-
pital, Midi-Pyrnes Funds, Interregional
Joint venture.
Aid to RD and technological innova-
tion :
Several schemes are available : Aid to in-
novation by OSEOinnovation, Network
technology services (PTR), Regional Fund
for technology transfer , Aid to Techno-
logy dissemination, The Midi-Pyrnes
Innovation Agency/ RDT gathers all the
regional partners involved in the techno-
logical development of companies and in
the support to innovative projects.
www.midipyrenees-expansion.fr
www.midipyrenees-innovation.fr
www.oseo.fr
5. Hiring workers in Midi-Pyrnes
> Employment and human resources di-
vision : counsel and aid to recruitment
in Midi-Pyrnes :
> A few examples of aid to recruitment :
- FRIE (Fonds Rgional dInnovation pour
lEmploi) : for companies counting less
than 50 people on the staff with an in-
novative approach in the social area.
- Cration Fonction Nouvelle : helps the
company to use for its development the
expertise of a specialist
- Prime Rgionale de Crations dEmplois :
supports the rms implementing a struc-
turing investment program.
- Prime dAmnagement du Territoire (PAT) :
subsidies granted by the central govern-
ment to companies carrying our programs
with a positive impact on employment in
priority areas.
www.diact.gouv.fr
- PAT entreprises de service lindus-
trie : central government aid granted
function of the size of the company, of
the number and location of jobs created.
www.midipyrenees-expansion.fr
> Specialized bodies :
- Job Centres (ANPE)
www.anpe.fr/region/midi_pyrenees/
- Job centres for executives (APEC)
Tl. +33 (0) 5 62 15 10 30
www.apec.fr
- European network EURES
eei.toulouse-anaem@anpe.fr
6. Firms engaged in the crafts and in
the farming sectors, professionals
> Guild Chamber (Chambre Rgionale
de Mtiers et dArtisanat)
Tl. +33 (0) 5 62 22 94 22
> Regional Chamber of Agriculture
(Chambre Rgionale dAgriculture)
www.midipyrenees.chambagri.fr/
> National union of Professionals in
Midi-Pyrnes
www.unapl-mp.org/
22 23
LEGAL FORMS
OF COMPANIES
1. Natural persons
Sole trader, community property, private
company.
2. Legal persons
> Commercial companies
partnership, private limited company, new
limited company, public limited company,
partnership limited by shares, limited
partnership
> Special commercial companies
cooperative, mutual guarantee society,
economic interest grouping, investment
company.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURE
1. Requirements for setting up a
company
> Central company register
Registration of the company name: a cer-
ticate issued conrming that the name
intended for use is not already registered.
> Notary
Granting of public deeds: the founding
partners sign the deed setting up the busi-
ness before a notary.
Required documents: certicate that the
intended company name is not already
registered, DNI (national identity docu-
ment) and NIF (scal identity number) of
the founding members, details of the com-
pany and articles of association.
> Autonomous Communities tax ofce
(CCAA)
Tax on capital transfers and documented
legal acts:
a tax paid on the setting up a company.
required documents: form 600, duly
lled in, original and copy of the deeds,
DNI and NIF number of the taxable sub-
jects.
> Company register
Documents required for registration: 1st
copy of the founding deeds, declaration
that the name is not already in use and
document stating that the tax on capital
transfers and documented legal acts has
been paid.
> National tax administration agency
(AEAT)
- Fiscal identity code: this is requested
from the AEAT and corresponds to the
scal address of the company.
- Required documents: ofcial form, duly
lled in, simple copy or photocopy of the
founding deeds of the company and pho-
tocopy of the DNI card or notarial proxy.
National
- Registro mercantil central
Tel. +34 91 563 12 52
www.rmc.es
- Direccin general de tributos
Tel. +34 91 595 80 00
www.meh.es
Balearic Islands
- Registro mercantil
24
Setting up a company in Spain: Aragon,
Catalonia and the Balearic Islands
Tel. +34 97 175 50 00
- Conselleria d economia i hisenda
Tel. + 34 97 117 67 00
www.caib.es
- Delegacin especial de la agencia
tributaria
Tel. +34 97 172 32 70
www.aeat.es
Catalonia
- Registro mercantil de Barcelona
Tel. +34 93 508 14 44
barcelona@registromercantil.org
www.registradores.org
www.registromercantilbcn.es
tributaria
Tel. +34 93 291 11 00
www.aeat.es
Aragon
- Registro mercantil de Zaragoza
Tel. +34 97 676 10 04
www.registradores.org
Tel. +34 97 671 42 78
www.aragob.es
2. Registration with the commercial or
company register
The company must be identied for tax
purposes in the provincial ofce of the tax
agency corresponding to the tax address
of the company.
Required documents:
Census return (form 036 or 037)
DNI and NIF: natural person
Entities liable to pay corporation tax:
founding deeds and articles of association,
and the deed certifying entry in the public
register.
National
- Agencia estatal de la administracin
tributaria
Tel. +34 91 585 80 00
ges.dmad@aeat.net
www.meh.es
Balearic Islands
tributaria
Tel. +34 97 172 32 70
www.aeat.es
Catalonia
tributaria
Tel. +34 93 291 11 00
www.aeat.es
Aragon
- Agencia estatal tributaria delegacin
especial
Tel. +34 97 676 52 20
www.aeat.es

3. Other notication and registration
requirements
Labour department or Territorial delega-
tion of each autonomous community:
> Notication of the opening of the
work centre
- The entrepreneur or legal representative
of the company must inform the labour
authorities of the opening of the work
centre
- Required document: ofcial form in qua-
druplicate.
25
26 27
> Obtaining and legalisation of regis-
ters:
- There must be a visitors book in which
the labour inspectorate must note the ne-
cessary observations and an up-to-date
staff register in which all workers are lis-
ted.
- Required document: a form that can be
requested in the Provincial Ofce of La-
bour and Social security.
National Employment Institute (INEM)
> Job offer:
- A request made by the employer to the
worker to cover a job vacancy
- Required documents: company registra-
tion number in the Social Security les;
DNI number if the employer is a natural
person and Company Tax ID (CIF) if the
employer is a legal person; ofcial job of-
fer form.
> Work contract:
- Required documents: employment card,
photocopy of the workers and the em-
ployers DNI number, job offer, basic copy,
work contract.
> Basic copy:
- A basic copy of work contracts forma-
lised in writing (except special upper ma-
nagement contracts), must be given to
the workers legal representatives
- Required documents: standard work
contract to be lled in
- Deadline: 10 days from the formalisation
of the contract.
National
- Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos
Sociales Direccin General de Trabajo.
Tel. +34 91 409 09 41
www.mtas.es
- Instituto Nacional de Empleo
Tel. +34 91 585 98 88
Balearic Islands
- Delegacin provincial del Ministerio
de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales
Tel. +34 97 177 16 10
- Conselleria de Treball i Formaci
Direcci general de treball.
Tel. +34 97 178 49 28
www.caib.es
- Servei dOcupaci
de les Illes Balears (SOIB)
Tel. +34 97 117 63 00
www.soib.es
Catalonia
- Servei dOcupaci de Catalunya (SOC)
http://oficinatreball.net/socweb/
opencms/socweb_es/home.html
Tel. +34 93 553 61 00
- Departament de Treball i Industria
Tel. +34 93 228 57 57
www.gencat.net/treballiindustria
Aragon
- Direccin general de trabajo Ministerio
de trabajo y asuntos sociales
Tel. +34 97 628 35 34
www.mtas.es
- INAEM (organismo autnomo adscrito
al Departamento de economa, hacienda
y Empleo del Gobierno de Aragn)
Tel. +34 97 671 45 42
www.aragob.es inaem@aragob.es
4. VAT register
> Spanish VAT legislation: Law 37/1992
and its implementing regulation
> The company must be registered at least
10 days before the start of activity
> This is done using the census return
(form 036 or 037), registration in the com-
pany census and scal identication code
> It must be presented at the provincial
ofce of the tax administration agency
corresponding to the tax address of the
company.
National
Tel. +34 91 595 80 00
www.meh.es/
Balearic Islands
- Delegacin especial de la agencia tri-
butaria
Tel. +34 97 172 32 70
www.aeat.es
Catalonia
tributaria
Tel. +34 93 291 11 00
www.aeat.es
Aragon
- Agencia estatal tributaria
delegacin especial
Tel. +34 97 676 52 20
www.aeat.es
REGISTRATION
WITH THE TAX AUTHORITIES
> Whenever a company is set up, it must
make its own tax return and pay the tax
on capital transfers and documented legal
acts (ITP and AJD)
> Use form 600
> The Economic Activities Tax (IAE) is a di-
rect tax levied for the performing of busi-
ness, professional and artistic activities
anywhere in Spain, whether or not they
take place on a particular site
> There are tax exemptions regulated by
law and reductions for natural and legal
persons beginning their activities
> Registration as a company or a sole tra-
der is made at the Delegation or Admi-
nistration of the tax ofce. It is managed
directly by the city councils if it is a muni-
cipal tax.
The property ownership tax is a direct tax
levied mainly on ownership of real estate.
It is managed via the municipal register
and is presented to the delegation of the
tax ofce at the property register and tax
cooperation management centre.
National
- Direccin General de Tributos
Tel. +34 91 595 80 00
www.meh.es
Balearic Islands
tributaria
Tel. +34 97 172 32 70
www.aeat.es
- Conselleria deconomia i hisenda
Tel. +34 97 117 67 00
www.caib.es
28 29
- Gerencia del Catastro en Baleares
Tel. +34 97 172 22 78
Catalonia
- Departament deconomia i nances
Tel. +34 93 316 20 00
bustia_web.eif@gencat.net
www.gencat.net/economia
tributaria
Tel. +34 93 291 11 00
www.aeat.es
Aragon
- Agencia estatal tributaria
delegacin especial
Tel. +34 97 676 52 20
www.aeat.es
- Direccin general del catastro
gerencia territorial de Zaragoza
Tel. +34 97 648 65 20

SOCIAL SECURITY OBLIGATIONS
1. Social Security coverage for
self-employed workers is mandatory
> They must register in the corresponding
regime of the social security (RETA)
> The company must be registered in the
social security system
> They must register for a system of cove-
rage for risks of accidents and occupatio-
nal diseases
> When they are employing workers, self-
employed persons must register and afliate
the workers in the social security system
> This is done in the Provincial Depart-
ment of the Social Security General Fund
corresponding to the registered address of
the activity.
National
- Tesorera general de la seguridad
social
Tel. +34 91 503 80 00
www.seg-social.es
Balearic Islands
- Direccin provincial de Baleares
Tel. +34 97 143 73 00
social
Tel. +34 97 121 83 00
illesbalears.direccionprovincial@tgss.
seg-social.es
Catalonia
social
Tel. +34 93 496 20 00
barcelona.direccionprovincial@tgss.
seg-social.es
- Inspeccin provincial de trabajo
y seguridad social
Tel. +34 93 401 30 00
dcataluna@mtas.es
Aragon
social
Tel. +34 97 672 20 00
y seguridad social
Tel. +34 97 628 35 34
2. Mandatory registration
and afliation
> The entrepreneur or legal representative
of the company is obliged to afliate all
the workers of the company
> This is done in the Provincial Depart-
ment of the Social Security General Fund
corresponding to the registered address of
the company
> The afliation number assigned to the
worker will remain valid throughout his/
her life, therefore when a company hires a
worker who already has such a number, it
will only be necessary to register the wor-
ker with the company.
National
- Tesorera general de la seguridad social
Tel. +34 91 503 80 00
www.seg-social.es
Balearic Islands
- Direccin provincial de baleares
Tel. +34 97 143 73 00
Catalonia
- Tesorera general de la seguridad social
Tel. +34 93 496 20 00
barcelona.direccionprovincial@tgss.
seg-social.es
Aragon
social
Tel. +34 97 672 20 00
3. Additional Formalities
> The entrepreneur or legal representative
of the company must then inform the la-
bour authority of the opening of the work
centre where the activity will take place,
and its reopening after any signicant al-
terations, extensions or changes
> All the companies are obliged to have:
- a visitors book in which the labour ins-
pectorate must note the necessary obser-
vations and an up-to-date staff register in
which all workers are listed.
- a staff register: kept up-to-date and
containing a list of all workers when they
begin their activity, should the company
employ workers
- For each work centre, the company
must announce the working times, inclu-
ding national, regional and local public
holidays
- The documentation is presented at the
Provincial labour and social security ins-
pectorate
National
- Direccin general de trabajo
Tel. +34 91 409 09 41
dgt@mtas.es
www.mtas.es
30 31
Balearic Islands
y seguridad social
Tel. +34 97 177 16 10
Catalonia
y seguridad social
Direccin territorial
Tel. +34 93 401 30 03
dcataluna@mtas.es
Aragon
y seguridad social
Tel. +34 97 628 35 34
OTHER REGISTRATION
PROCEDURES
1. Health and Safety permits
> Law 31/1995 and Royal Decree 39/1997
on Occupational Risk Prevention
> Companies that employ workers must
look after their health and safety
> This involves an obligation to adopt the
necessary measures in the event of
emergencies, providing workers with pro-
tective equipment and ensuring the
health of employees and of female wor-
kers who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
> In companies with fewer than 6 wor-
kers, this service may be provided direct-
ly by the employer.
The employer may however contract an
external service to do this regardless of
the number of workers employed.
National
- Instituto nacional de seguridad e
higiene en el trabajo
Tel. +34 91 403 70 00
www.mtas.es/
Balearic Islands
- Conselleria de treball i formaci
Direcci general de treball i salut
Tel. +34 97 117 63 00
Catalonia
- Centre de seguretat i condicions de
salut en el treball
Tel. +34 93 205 50 01
www10.gencat.net/trebal l _scst/
AppJava/0000-Seguretat.jsp
- Instituto nacional de seguridad e
higiene en el trabajo
Tel. +34 93 280 01 02
www.mtas.es/insht
Aragon
- Instituto Aragons de seguridad
y salud en el trabajo
Tel. +34 97 651 66 33
www.aragob.es
2. Licence of establishment
> Any natural or legal person who wishes
to start up an activity in a premises or es-
tablishment must apply to the urban plan-
ning department of the city council of the
area in which the activity is to be conduc-
ted for an Opening Licence
> There are two types of licence:
- Opening licence for activities covered
under the rules governing disturbing, un-
healthy, harmful and dangerous activities
- Licence to operate a harmless activity.
Contact points: city council of the place
where the establishment is located.
3. Trading licence
No specic trading licence is required.
However, for certain activities it is neces-
sary to apply for inscription in the register
of industrial establishments, including:
- Activities involving the generation, dis-
tribution and supply of energy and energy
products
- Activities involving the prospecting, ex-
ploitation and use of mineral deposits
- Food industries
- Industrial activities related to transport
and telecommunications
- Services of engineering, consulting, de-
sign, etc.
- Accreditation organisations, control bo-
dies, laboratories and other agents autho-
rised to work with the public administra-
tion in matters of industrial safety and
quality
- Ofcial forms are required for registe-
ring such activities and are presented at
the industrial register of the Autonomous
Community in which the company is lo-
cated.
Balearic Islands
- Conselleria de comercio, indstria
i energia
Direcci general de industria
Registre Industrial
Tel. +34 97 117 66 15/6
Catalonia
- OGE (Ocina de Gesti Empresarial)
Tel. +34 93 484 92 30
oge@gencat.net
centreserveiscambra@mail.cambrabcn.
es
Aragon
- Ayuntamiento de Zaragoza
Servicio de urbanismo
Tel. +34 97 672 10 00
4. Health certicate
> Anyone directly handling foodstuffs (in-
dustrial and commercial) must have a food
handlers card
> To obtain this card, the worker must pass
the texts set by the Regional ministry of
Health and Social Welfare of the Autono-
mous Community in which the company is
located
> This card is personal and cannot be trans-
ferred to anyone else.
Balearic Islands
- Conselleria de Salut i Consum
Servei de Control Sanitari / Autoritzacions
Sanitaries
Tel. +34 97 117 69 11
Catalonia
- Serveis Territorials de Salut
Tel. +34 93 567 11 60
stb.salut@gencat.net
Aragon
- Direccin General de Consumo
Tel. +34 97 671 56 12
www.aragob.es
5. Works permit
> City councils can establish and levy the
tax on constructions, facilities and works
> This is an indirect tax on any building,
installation or works for which the corres-
ponding works or urban development per-
mit must be sought
> The tax is based upon the real and effec-
tive cost of the building, installation or
works
> The tax represents between 2% and 4%
of the real cost
> The documentation is presented at the
urban planning department of the city
council of the place in which the construc-
tions, facilities and works are to be perfor-
med at the same time as the works permit
is quested.
Contact points: City council of the mu-
nicipality in which the works are to be
performed.
6. Register of commercial names,
trademarks and patents
The following must be registered in the
industrial property register:
- Patents of invention
- Utility models
- Trademarks
- Establishment titles
- Trade names
- The necessary documentation for the
application is presented directly at the In-
dustrial Property Register.
National
- Registro de la propiedad industrial
Tel. +34 91 349 53 00
www.oepm.es
- Ocina espaola de patentes
y marcas
Ministerio de ciencia y tecnologa
Tel. +34 90 215 75 30
informacion@oepm.es
www.oepm.es
Balearic Islands
- Institut dinovacin empresarial
de les Illes Balears (IDI)
Conselleria de comercio i indstria
i energia
Tel. +34 97 178 42 68
www.idi.es
Catalonia
- Ocina de Gesti Empresarial (OGE)
Tel. +34 93 484 92 03
oge@gencat.net
www.gencat.net/oge
Aragon
- Instituto tecnolgico de Aragn
Tel. +34 97 671 62 50
www.ita.es
32
KEY FIGURES
> Population
1 269 027 inhabitants.
The population has increased by almost
7% since 1999.
More than the half the population (647
373 people) lives in its capital, Zaragoza.
> A region with a high economic level
90 005 companies
The area of inuence of the region: more
than 25 million end consumers and a po-
tential market of EUR 25 240 million
Sixth region in terms of per capita in-
come in Spain
Low unemployment: 6.29% of the popu-
lation.
> A predominantly industrial region
The metropolitan area of Zaragoza is
home to the General Motors factory (Fi-
gueruelas), and companies dedicated to
the production of equipment for the car
industry, mechanical equipment and ma-
chinery, and other industrial branches
such as chemicals, glass, paper, graphic
arts ...
Concentrations of companies in the main
county towns (Barbastro, Fraga, Cala-
tayud, Tarazona, Alcaiz ).
The traditional thermal and hydroelectric
energy sector is growing alongside the re-
cent implantation of wind turbines.
> Strategic situation
Located in the middle of the northeastern
sector of Spain, which is the most develo-
ped part of the country.
In the heart of the Ebro valley, it is an eco-
nomic centre equidistant from the most
populated and nancially powerful areas
of Spain: Madrid, Catalonia, the East Coast
or Levante and the Basque Country.
33
ARAGON
An ever-growing region .
In 2008, Zaragoza will play host to the
international exhibition water and
sustainable development gathering
over 60 participating countries. The
facilities, building and equipment of
Expo 2008 will be rehabilitated into
public and private buildings.
A natural passageway to France through
the middle of the Pyrenees.
The very fast train soon too connect the
region with Barcelona in 1 h 15 minutes
links Aragon with Madrid.
> An attractive region, open to the world
Exports worth EUR 713.3 million.
Main export destinations: France, Portugal,
Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.
> Aragon innovates
Aragon invests 0.75% of its GDP in RDI, of
which more than half is invested by the
private sector, whose investment in re-
search and development is almost twice
that of the public sector.
STARTING A BUSINESS
IN ARAGON
1. Setting up a company
Aragonese Institute for Business Creation
A public body depending on the govern-
ment of Aragon. Its functions are:
Promoting public and private investment
projects with special relevance for the less-
developed areas of Aragonese territory
Promoting industrial infrastructures, ame-
nities and joint services for companies
Promoting and taking part in market re-
search and the preparation of economic
planning studies of the Autonomous
Community
Fostering external promotion and busi-
ness localisation in Aragon
Technical assistance and nancial advice
to companies.
www.iaf.es
Starting a business in Aragon
The ofce for documentary advice and
processing provides personal advice and
information services for setting up a com-
pany in Aragon.
It manages and processes the setting up
of newly-created companies on-line.
Specialised technical support: Technical
help in creating and starting up business
projects.
Training courses for entrepreneurial pro-
jects, which include accompanying the
promoters of initiatives to check their
technical, commercial and economic--
nancial viability, and involve personalised
tutoring to improve the development of
the business plan.
www.emprender-en-aragon.es
Investing in Aragon
A website setting out the advantages of
investing in Aragon, explaining the charac-
teristics of Aragon in geographical, econo-
mic, labour, RDI, and infrastructure terms.
It also covers subsidies and incentives for
investing in Aragon and the main organisa-
tions that support start-ups and improve-
ment in companies.
www.investing-in-europe.com
Chambers of Commerce
Aragon has three Chambers of Commer-
ce, which act as a consultative body that
cooperate with the Public Administra-
tions and provide services involving sup-
port to entrepreneurs, training courses
and incentives for external trade, with an
ongoing attachment to excellence and
innovation.
Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce
www.camarazaragoza.com
Huesca Chamber of Commerce
www.camarahuesca.com
Teruel Chamber of Commerce
www.camarateruel.com
Entrepreneurial
one-stop-shop
A team of experts who process docu-
ments, provide information and advice to
business people according to their needs
and the degree of maturity of their busi-
ness project, helping them to resolve all
their doubts in a personalised way.
www.ventanillaempresarial.org
SACME
The Zaragoza Employers Confederation
provides a Support Service to the Creation
of Micro-companies called SACME. It is run
by different professionals of the company
who help entrepreneurs to realise their bu-
siness projects (from the rst steps up to
the actual setting up of the company).
www.cez.es
www.sacme.net
> CEEI ARAGON
A Company Centre that hosts some of the
state-of-the-art technological companies
of our Region. It supports promoters with
innovative business ideas, both in the in-
dustrial sector and in the eld of advan-
ced company services.
It offers premises for setting up your acti-
vity, manages subsidies and provides the
entrepreneur with a wide range of servi-
ces to help turn your business scheme
into a protable company.
www.ceeiaragon.es
> Walqa Technology Park
Aim: to become a centre of innovation
and R&D, especially in the eld of com-
munication technologies, Internet and
electronic commerce, contributing to the
general economic development of Huesca
and thus of the whole of Aragon.
www.walqa.com
> Zaragoza PLAZA logistics platform
This platform is the largest logistics pre-
cinct in Europe. The main characteristic of
PLAZA is that it is based on an intermodal
transport centre with connections to the
most important production and consu-
mer centres in Europe.
This intermodal nature builds on the at-
tractive localisation and central location
assets of the centre, fully open to compa-
nies involved in activities related to logis-
tics, which PLAZA helps by providing a
series of common amenities and services
that make its location even more advan-
tageous.
www.plazalogistica.com
34 35
> PLATEA intermodal platform
Located in the province of Teruel, this is a
state-of-the-art logistics and industrial
area which quickly and smoothly provi-
des land to companies that request it for
logistics and industrial activities, provi-
ding an adequate response to any set-up
project, regardless of size.
www.platealogistica.com
3. Transmission and recovery
of companies

The company for the industrial develop-
ment of Aragon focuses its activities on
promoting investments in the Aragon re-
gion, with stakes in the capital of existing
companies, and providing support as an
active and entrepreneurial partner to
these companies in which it holds stakes.
www.sodiar.com
4. Financial grants for company
start-ups

Ofcial Credit
Institution (ICO)
This is a public business entity that de-
pends on the Ministry of Economy and
the inland revenue and offers different
lines of nancing to foster and support
productive investments in Spanish com-
panies. Through these credit lines, the ICO
provides nancing to business projects of
groups that do not nd it easy to access
credit, mainly small and medium-sized
companies or people starting up a new
company. It also provides access to the
investments in strategic sectors, invest-
ments abroad and investments involving
technological innovation to the producti-
ve processes.
www.ico.es
> IAF ICO-PYME 2006 subsidies
The Aragonese Institute for Business
Creation awards grants for the implanta-
tion of new industrial activities, industrial
services, wholesale and retail trade,
transport and services in Aragon and
helps in the enlargement or modernisa-
tion of existing businesses. Investments
must be nanced and adhere to the
conditions laid down by the ICO within
the ICO-PYME 2006 line.
www.iaf.es
> Zaragoza municipal institute of em-
ployment and business incentives
This has a line of subsidies that aims to
provide nancial support to company
projects that create jobs and meet a series
of requirements. These subsidies are
available to any natural or legal person
wishing to start up a business project in
the municipal area of Zaragoza.
www.imefez.org
> SODIAR
The Company for the industrial develop-
ment of Aragon is also dedicated to pro-
moting investments in the Aragon region,
holding stakes in the capital of compa-
36
nies to be set up. Sodiar processes grants
and incentives for entrepreneurs.
www.sodiar.com
5. Hiring workers in Aragon
The Aragonese Employment Institute be-
longs to the Government of Aragon and
provides a service giving hiring advice for
companies, and grants and subsidies for
hiring workers.
www.aragob.es
Aragon Employers
Confederation
Job placement unit
(Confederacin de Empresarios de Aragn)
This is a service that advises companies
on the ideal professional proles for the
sector in which they operate. It provides
information on the available measures to
foster employment. It helps to cover job
vacancies through a process of selection,
intermediation and management of job
offers.
www.crea.es
> Chambers of commerce: career gui-
dance service
Services of information, career guidance
and employment agency for entrepre-
neurs and job seekers.
Zaragoza Chamber of Commerce
www.camarazaragoza.com
Huesca Chamber of Commerce
www.camarahuesca.com
Teruel Chamber of Commerce
www.camarateruel.com
6. Company associations
Aragon Employers Confederation
www.crea.es
Zaragoza Employers Confederation
www.cez.es
Teruel business confederation
www.cet-teruel.org
Huesca business confederation
www.ceos.es
Aragon professional association of arti-
sans
www.artearagon.com
Aragon association of self-employed
workers
www.asociacionautonomos.com
Aragon farmers associations
www.araga.org, www.uaga-aragon.com,
www.mediorural.com
37
Industry :
Very important industrial base with the
processing industry, initially textiles; deve-
lopment towards other sectors: cars and
accessories, chemicals industry, foodstuffs,
shipbuilding, furniture
Developing manufactures of domestic ap-
pliances and state-of-the-art IT and data
transfer equipment.
Decisive sectors :
graphic arts, the editorial industry and
construction, the growth of which is di-
rectly associated to tourist development.
Tertiary sector :
the largest sector in terms of GDP and
employment. The major elements are
tourism, and companies linked to adverti-
sing, use of the new technologies and the
creation of Internet contents.
Financial sector :
A powerful nancial system driven by the
large savings banks that hold nearly 70%
of Catalan private savings. These have a
38
CATALONIA
decisive inuence on the large Spanish
and Catalan companies.
> Industrialised Catalonia
Three groups of activity make up 44.4%
of total turnover: foodstuffs, drinks and
tobacco; chemical industries and the ma-
nufacture of transport equipment.
The extractive industries sector experien-
ced the greatest increase (37.8%).
Textiles, the clothing industry, leather and
footwear fell most notably (-11.9%.)
> An attractive Autonomous Commu-
nity, open to the world
A clear international vocation.
Europe, the most important area: Catalo-
nia bolsters the role of local and regional
entities through its membership of the
Committee of the Regions, as well as
playing an active role in Spains European
policy.
An active participation in the European
regional movement.
It is working to build a bridge between
the Mediterranean and the Baltic region,
and with Central and Eastern Europe.
> Catalonia innovates
Following the Lisbon declaration (2000),
and then the Barcelona declaration
(2002), the European Union has dened
three complementary objectives: the
creation of the European Research Area,
reaching a total research effort represen-
ting 3% of GDP by 2010 and strengthe-
ning scientic excellence, objectives that
also are shared by the Government of
Catalonia.

www.gencat.net www.gencat.cat
STARTING A BUSINESS IN
CATALONIA
1. Setting up a company
Centre for Innovation and
Company Development
CIDEM is a body of the Department of
Employment and Industry of the Catalan
regional government, or Generalitat. Its
mission is to boost Catalonias corporate
sector and foster its competitiveness
against the challenges before it.
The CIDEM offers direct support to com-
panies and entrepreneurs through pro-
ducts and services oriented towards im-
proving its competitive position in the
different elds of action.
www.cidem.com
Investing in Catalonia
Websites of the CIDEM that explain the
advantages of investing in Catalonia, pro-
viding information on the characteristics
of its geographical, nancial, labour, RDI
infrastructure and situation, among other
factors. They also provide information on
grants and incentives for investing in Ca-
talonia.
Information on: legalising companies,
branches or subsidiaries of foreign com-
39
KEY FIGURES
> Population
6 813 000 inhabitants
60% of the population of Catalonia lives
in the metropolitan area of Barcelona.
Its natural growth rate is 2%.
> Area
32 000 km
2

> Language
Catalan and Spanish are co-ofcial lan-
guages throughout the autonomous com-
munity. Aranese is also used, but only in
the Arn Valley.
> An Autonomous Community with a
high-level economy
Primary sector :
Very powerful subsectors: cava (sparkling
wine), wine, pig rearing, fruit and meat
products.
It is a crossroads, where the exchange
of ideas, customs and people have hel-
ped to congure Catalan culture and
traditions.
Generalitat de Catalunya
panies, setting up commercial companies,
individual business start-ups and opening
representative ofces.
The Catalan Investment Agency provides
information and advice to people and/or
companies that are interested in investing
in Catalonia.
www.cidem.com
www.catalonia.com
www.cidem.com/cidem/cat/elcidem/aci/
In terms of Spain as a whole, the State
Company for the Promotion and Attrac-
tion of Foreign Investments S.A. also of-
fers information and advice for possible
foreign investors.
www.interes.org
Starting a business in Catalonia
The ofce for documentary advice and
processing of the Chamber of Commerce
of Barcelona provides personal advice and
information services for setting up a com-
pany in Catalonia.
It manages and processes the setting up
of new limited companies on-line.
Specialised technical support: Technical
help in creating and starting up business
projects.
Training courses for entrepreneurial pro-
jects, which include accompanying the
promoters of initiatives to check their
technical, commercial and economic--
nancial viability, and involve personalised
tutoring to improve the development of
the business plan.
www.cambrabcn.es
and go to the section on Company start-ups.
Chambers of Commerce
Catalonia has thirteen Chambers of Com-
merce, which act as a consultative body
that cooperates with the Public Adminis-
trations and provides services involving
support to entrepreneurs, training courses
and incentives for external trade, with an
ongoing attachment to excellence and in-
novation.
Barcelona Chamber of Commerce
www.cambrabcn.es
Girona Chamber of Commerce
www.cambra.gi
Tarragona Chamber of Commerce
www.cambratgn.com
Lleida Chamber of Commerce
www.cambralleida.com
Manresa Chamber of Commerce
www.cambramanresa.com
Palams Chamber of Commerce
www.cambrescat.es
Reus Chamber of Commerce
www.cambrareus.org
Sabadell Chamber of Commerce
www.cambrasabadell.org
Sant Feliu de Guxols Chamber of Com-
merce
www.cambrastfeliu.com
Tarrega Chamber of Commerce
www.cambratarrega.com
Terrassa Chamber of Commerce
www.cambraterrassa.es
Tortosa Chamber of Commerce
www.cambratortosa.com
Valls Chamber of Commerce
www.cambravalls.com
The Council of Cambras in Catalonia has
designed a Web page in collaboration
with the Chamber of Commerce and In-
dustry of Perpignan. Its aim is to provide
any person willing to set up a business in
Catalonia or in France with relevant in-
formation on the different forms of
companies, on registration and adminis-
trative formalities, on current legislation
and on all the bodies involved in the
process.
www.crearcat.com
The Company
Management Ofce
the Department of Labour and Industry
of the Generalitat manages the adminis-
trative procedures concerning industrial
activities or services, necessary for legali-
sing industrial projects (setting up of
companies, moves or incorporation of re-
levant changes).
The Chamber has OGE-Chamber points
where these administrative procedures
can be performed, which also provide ac-
cess to information on other administra-
tive procedures related to the legalisation
of company projects, whichever compe-
tent public administration is involved.
www.gencat.net/oge
Barcelona City Councils Local
Development Agency
Agency is a touchstone for company crea-
tion and growth. To achieve this, Barcelona
Activa has two specic lines dedicated to
companies: the line for Promotion of En-
trepreneurial Initiative and the line for
Business Consolidation.
The rst of these lines is located in the
Glries Centre for Entrepreneurial Ini-
tiative, where the entrepreneur can nd
all he needs to transform a business idea
into a viable business project.
The Business Consolidation line is bac-
ked up by the management of the Barce-
lona Nord Technology Park, the Glries
Business Incubator and a whole raft of re-
sources that aim to foster and develop
company growth.
www.barcelonactiva.es
www.barcelonanetctiva.com
> Delegation of the Chambers of Com-
merce and Industry of the Languedoc-
Roussillon in Barcelona
The aim of this delegation is to help the
companies of the Languedoc-Roussillon
region to build suitable strategies to opti-
mise their commercial relations with
Spain. It offers them services such as n-
ding commercial information, commercial
prospecting and providing ofce space in
their premises.
Tel. +34 93 318 8110
http://www.languedoc-roussillon.cci.fr/
sections/services-entreprises/international/
antenne-barcelone
delccilr@wol.es
2. Sites for setting up companies
Network of technology parks in Catalonia
www.xpcat.net
40 41
Industrial actions of the Catalan Land
Institute (Institut Catal del Sl)
www6.gencat.net/incasol/noves/def_
fr.htm
Spanish Coordinator of Business Parks
www.poligonoscepe.org/
Industrial Agreement of the Metropoli-
tan Region of Barcelona
www.pacteind.org
3. Transmission and recovery
of companies
The Family Business Institute is the best-
placed to provide guidance in this eld,
due to its particular characteristics. Ofce
in Barcelona: Tel. +34 93 363 35 54
E-mail : iefbcn@iefamiliar.com
www.iefamiliar.com
4. Financial grants for the company
start-ups

Ofcial Credit Institution
The Ofcial Credit Institution is a public
business entity that depends on the Minis-
try of economy and inland revenue.
www.ico.es
> Department of Labour and Industry of
the Generalitat of Catalonia:
Company start-up service:
If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, and
you have a business idea, you want to as-
sess its viability and set it up, the Com-
pany start-up service provides informa-
tion, guidance, advice, training and
nancial help. This service acts in three
main areas: spreading a company culture,
fostering the creation of business activity
and providing support to micro-compa-
nies and small companies.
The service is provided via a network of
partner entities distributed all over Catalo-
nia. Its technical staff provide guidance in
all the stages of development of the idea,
help to make the business plan and provi-
de information on the grants, subsidies
and other possible advantages available.
This has a line of subsidies that aims to
provide nancial support to company
projects that create jobs and meet a se-
ries of requirements. Any natural or legal
person wanting to set up a business ini-
tiative in Catalonia may seek help from
this service.
wwwgencat. net/trebal l i i ndustri a/
index_es.html
> The nancial portal for companies and
entrepreneurs
The aim of the Portal is to provide all
companies and entrepreneurs in Catalo-
nia with information on the nancial ins-
truments promoted by the Generalitat.
www.gencat.net/nempresa/
5. Hiring workers in Catalonia:
> Catalan Employment Service (SOC):
This service belongs to the Government
of Catalonia and provides a service giving
hiring advice for companies, and grants
and subsidies for hiring.
http://ocinatreball.net/socweb/opencms/
socweb_es
> Catalan Employers Confederation
This is a service that advises companies
on the appropriate professional proles
for the sector in which they operate. It
provides information on the measures
available to foster employment. It helps
to cover job vacancies through a process
of selection, intermediation and manage-
ment of job offers.
www.foment.com
www.pimec.es
> Chambers of commerce: career gui-
dance service
Service of information, career guidance
and employment agency for entrepre-
neurs and job seekers.
Barcelona Chamber of Commerce :
www.cambrabcn.es
General Board of Chambers of Catalonia :
www.cambrescat.es
6. Associations of companies
and professionals
Catalan Employers Confederation
www.foment.com
Pimec: small and medium-sized enter-
prise of Catalonia:
www.pimec.es
42 43
Tourism
Practical and updated information for tourists,
foreign residents and the tourist industry.
www.illesbalears.es
Information available to the tourist in-
dustry:
Statistics, booklets, leaets and general
background information.
www.nestraturistica.com
Industrie :
seven leading sectors : shoewear, leathe-
rware and fashion, the agrifood sector
(especially wines and pork meats), jewel-
lery, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, fur-
niture, tap trade, ceramics and glassware.
Transports :
All data on the means of transport on the
Balearics are available on the Internet.
http://tib.caib.es
KEY FIGURES
> Population
The population is around 1 million per-
sons,15% of which come from abroad,
not including 12 million tourists a year.
> Political system
Comunidad Autnoma de las Islas Baleares:
www.caib.es
> Economy
The economy has developed thanks to
tourism, new technologies and to the
quality of life. The economic fabric of the
Balearic Islands has many strengths : a
skilled labourforce, a great creativity, a
strong innovation and open relationships
with other countries.
Agriculture and Fishery
www.productebalear.net
The archipelago of the Balearics is the
Autonomous Community situated in the
most western part of the Mediterranean
sea. It is made of the following islands :
Mayorca, Minorca, Ibiza, Formentera, Ca-
brera and a few islets.
44
THE BALEARIC ISLANDS
For more information:
Consejera de Economa, hacienda e In-
novacin
http://econ-hisenda-innova.caib.es
Centre of Economic research created by
the Caixa de Balears Sa Nostra and the
University of the Balearics
www.cre.sanostra.es
www.sanostra.es
www.uib.es
Public entity in charge of the promotion
and organization of trade fairs, etc.
www.resicongressos.com
STARTING A BUSINESS
IN THE BALEARIC ISLANDS
1. Setting-up a company

Entrepreneurial one-stop shop
It assists you throughout the process of
business creation from project denition
to project maturity : denition of legal
forms and their characteristics, adminis-
trative formalities, registration require-
ments, aids and subsidies to start-ups,
models to build the business plan, certi-
cate stating that the intended name is not
already registered.
www.ventanillaempresarial.org

European Centre of innovative businesses
Its missions : creating, identifying and
encouraging viable innovative projects,
consolidating companies by improving
their competitivity, innovating by circu-
lating the information on novel ideas and
by supporting corporate innovation ma-
nagement strategies.
www.ceeibalears.com
> Chambers of Commerce
Chambers of Commerce of Majorca,
Ibiza and Formentera
www.cambresbalears.com
Chamber of Commerce of Minorca
www.camaramenorca.com
> Other web sites
Portal for employers
www.balearsempren.com
Portal for agrofood, handicraft and in-
dustrial products manufactured in the
Balearic Islands
www.productebalear.net
Institute of Innovation of the Balearics
www.idi.es
2. Places for setting-up companies
> ParcBit Technology Park
ParcBIT is a centre aiming at encouraging
innovation in the Balearics. This centre
boasts all the necessary infrastructures
and facilities to acommodate all the
companies engaged in new technologies
or in leading and innovative sectors.
www.parcbit.es
45
> Palma Can Domenge Technology Park
Centre for businesses and meetings loca-
ted in the centre of Palma de Majorca.
It answers the various needs of compa-
nies: rental of premises, rental of meeting
or conference rooms, of classrooms, vir-
tual ofces and archives rooms.
www.candomenge.com
3. Financial grants to Research,
Development and Innovation
> Centres for research, development and
innovation
Directorate General to research and tech-
nological development (Ministry of Econo-
my, Finance and Innovation of the Balearic
Islands)
http://dgrdi.caib.es
It encourages innovation between busi-
nesses, employers and the civil society.
http://balearsinnova.net

IBIT
The IBIT foundation is a technology cen-
tre whose mission is to assess, develop
and promote new technologies so that
the Balearics can embark on the informa-
tion society of knowledge.
www.ibit.org
> Incentives granted by the Government
of the Balearic Islands
Information booklet on business and in-
vestments in the Balearics.
www.investinbalearics.com
Aid to industrial projects
http://dgpindus.caib.es
ISBA offers mutual guarantees. This -
nancial entity (with no banking activity)
can provide small and medium-sized
rms with guarantees under very specic
conditions.
www.isbasgr.es
4. Jobs and training
Portal of the Government on labour, trai-
ning and health matters.
http://treballiformacio.caib.es
> The Training and Employment Institute
of Calvi
Encourages the economic activity of the
town by boosting the spirit of entrepre-
neurship and the study of the social and
professional environment.
www.calvia.com
> Institute de Palma
Information on the main activities of the
Institute in the area of employment, job
insertion, training and economic promo-
tion is available to the citizens of the
Balearics.
www.imfof.es
> Foundation Universities-Businesses of
the Balearic Islands
www.fueib.net
5. Associations of companies
Confederation of Balearic companies
www.caeb.com
SMEs in Majorca :
www.pimem.es
SMEs in Ibiza et Formentera
www.pimeef.net
SMEs in Minorca
www.pimemenorca.org
Association of young entrepreneurs of
the Balearic Islands
www.joves.com
46
Balearic federation of shopkeepers
www.afedeco.com
Association of small traders of Majorca
www.pimeco.com
Association of agrotourism in the Ba-
learic Islands
www.topncas.com
47
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT :
Jean-Louis Falcou : Euro Info Centre - CRCI Midi-Pyrnes
Tl. : +33 5 62 74 20 32 - Email : eic@midi-pyrenees.cci.fr
The European Commission cannot be held responsible for the contents of this guide.
Front page photograph : Emmanuel Grimault.

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