Starting a business in the Canaries — or already running one?
Business Administration in Tenerife — Without the Guesswork
Spanish bureaucracy for business is more complicated than it looks — and it rarely gets simpler once you're in it. Whether you're registering as self-employed for the first time or running an established operation that needs monthly fiscal, payroll and bookkeeping support, BCA Spain has been handling it all since 2002.
Est. 2002 · Golf del Sur · Six Languages · Setup & Ongoing Administration
Who this page is for
Two types of business client. One office.
New Starters
Setting up for the first time
You're about to register as autónomo or form a new SL. You've heard the warnings. You know it's not straightforward. What you need is someone who knows the process from start to finish and can get you set up correctly from day one. BCA assess your individual situation: which structure suits you, what paperwork is required, and what comes next. We're with you at each step.
Existing Businesses
Already trading, need reliable support
You're already trading. Every month there are tax filings, payroll runs, bookkeeping entries. You need someone reliable — someone who knows the Canarian system, who won't let a deadline slip, and who you can ring if something unexpected arrives. BCA handles the ongoing administration for a wide range of businesses across the Canaries. Whatever your sector, the work gets done.
What BCA handles for business clients
Business Setup and Ongoing Administration
BCA Spain provides two distinct service groups — the setup services you need to get trading legally, and the monthly administration that keeps you compliant once you're up and running.
Setup Services
Autónomo Registration
Self-employed registration with the Spanish tax authority and social security system. BCA handle the paperwork, the forms and the official submissions. And when you stop trading — we make sure every deregistration step is confirmed in writing. The consequences of a registration left open can run for decades. We've seen it.
SL Formation
Company formation for those who need a limited company structure. BCA coordinate the notary appointment, complete the Registro Mercantil filings and obtain all required legal documentation. One piece of advice we give every client without exception: never buy an existing SL. Always form a new one.
Notary Accompaniment
Business matters in Spain require notary involvement. BCA accompany you to the appointment, prepare the required documentation beforehand and follow up on all registrations afterwards. You don't go alone.
Registro Mercantil
Commercial registry filings and ongoing compliance submissions — completed correctly and on time.
Commercial Premises Checks
If you're buying or leasing a commercial property, BCA confirm whether a valid Licencia de Apertura exists before any transaction proceeds, and clarify whether you're dealing with a traspaso, an SL purchase or a freehold. See also: buying or leasing commercial premises in Tenerife.
Ongoing Services
Fiscal (Tax Administration)
Monthly and quarterly tax filings, VAT returns and annual corporate tax — handled by BCA on a regular cycle. Deadlines don't slip.
Contable (Book keeping)
Full bookkeeping service. Your accounts are kept up to date, correctly recorded and ready for review or submission at any point.
Laboral (Payroll & Employment)
Payroll management, employment contracts and the administration of labour law obligations. If you have staff — or plan to take on staff — BCA manage the compliance work.
Know before you act
Two mistakes that cost business owners everything
Warning 1 — Never Buy an SL
Buying an existing SL to acquire a business seems quicker than forming a new one — but you inherit every liability attached to that company, including debts that will not appear in any official check for up to three months. Social security contributions for employees accumulate in the background and only surface once the transaction is complete. By then, the sellers have been paid and the problem is yours. The cost of unwinding this is always higher than the cost of doing it correctly from the start.
Warning 2 — Autónomo Left Open After Trading Stops
A client BCA assisted had ceased self-employment in 1997. His previous advisor had correctly closed the social security account — but had not notified the Canarian tax authority. Almost thirty years later, the tax authority raised a query about unfiled returns. BCA had to retrieve decades of records to evidence the cessation date and resolve it.
When you stop trading, confirm in writing that every deregistration step has been completed. If you're not certain yours was — BCA can check.
Your Title Goes Here
How BCA Works With Business Clients
01
Initial Assessment
You tell us what you're looking to do — register as self-employed, form a company, take on staff, or bring your monthly administration under control. BCA assess your individual situation and confirm which steps apply — and in what order.
02
Setup and Registration
BCA handle the submissions, accompany you to the notary where required and ensure every registration is completed correctly. We're with you at each step. Nothing goes through without your understanding of what it is and why it's being done.
03
Ongoing Administration
For fixed clients, BCA manage monthly fiscal, payroll and bookkeeping on a regular cycle. You'll know what's happening and when — and you can ring the office any time something needs attention.
Coordination, not representation
When your business needs legal expertise
BCA Spain is not a law firm — and we're clear about that. What BCA do is coordinate. Over more than twenty years in south Tenerife, we've built relationships with specialist solicitors covering commercial law, employment law and tax disputes. When your business matter needs a solicitor, BCA connect you with the right one — and stay involved to coordinate and translate throughout.
You're not handed over and left to manage it alone. Legal coordination for your business setup — ring the office and we'll explain who we work with and how the process works.
BCA is not a law firm. We coordinate, translate, accompany and refer. For clients who need court representation, we connect you with the right specialist and stay involved.
Cross-border situations
UK income alongside Canarian business
For clients with cross-border tax situations — UK income alongside Canarian business activity, for example — BCA can help you understand what needs coordinating between the two.
Ring the office and we'll talk through your situation. Every situation is individual — and there's no obligation to proceed until you're satisfied you understand what's involved.
2002
Est. 2002
More than twenty years of business administration in the Canaries
Full service
Business admin
Setup, fiscal, payroll and bookkeeping — one office
6
Languages
UK, German, Dutch, French and Italian-speaking clients
Golf del Sur
South Tenerife
Your local office in San Miguel de Abona
FAQ
Questions we're often asked about business services
I want to register as self-employed. Where do I start?
Ring the office and tell us what you're planning to do. BCA will assess your individual situation — which structure is right for you, what registrations are required and in what order. It's a straightforward first conversation, and there's no obligation on either side.
What's the difference between autónomo and an SL?
Autónomo is self-employed registration — simpler to set up, lower initial cost, but with personal liability. An SL (Sociedad Limitada) is the Canarian equivalent of a limited company: more structure, more protection, more ongoing administration. BCA will explain which makes sense for your individual situation — the right choice depends on your turnover, your plans and your risk appetite.
I've heard I shouldn't buy an existing SL. Is that right?
BCA's position on this is unambiguous: don't. When you buy an existing SL, you inherit all of its liabilities — including debts that may not appear in any check for up to three months. Always form a new one. BCA handle the full formation process from start to finish.
I'm already trading. Can BCA take over my monthly administration?
Yes — BCA work with established businesses as well as new ones. If your current setup isn't working or you'd like to move your administration to a local office that knows the Canarian system, ring us. We'll review what's in place and explain what's involved.
Do I need to be in Tenerife to set up my business?
For some steps — the notary appointment in particular — your physical presence is required. BCA will tell you exactly when you need to be here and what you need to bring. Preparatory steps can often be handled remotely, and we'll advise you on the sequence so you can plan accordingly.
I stopped trading a few years ago. Is there anything I should check?
Possibly, yes. BCA can obtain a digital certificate and run a check across the tax authority, social security and commercial registry. If anything was left open — an autónomo registration that was never fully closed, a filing that was missed — we can identify it and deal with it now. Better to know than to receive a letter you weren't expecting.
Can BCA help if I need a business registration and a work visa at the same time?
Yes. The visa and business registration processes run in parallel, and each affects the other — getting the sequence right matters. BCA handle both. For working legally in the Canaries — your visa options, see our Visas & Residency page.
Running a business in the Canaries should feel manageable.
Not sure where to start? That's exactly why we're here.
Whether you're registering for the first time or sorting out years of accumulated paperwork — ring the office, send an email or pop in. No obligation, no pressure. We work in your language, and we'll tell you plainly what your situation needs. BCA Spain — all our services
09:00 – 15:30 hrs, Monday to Friday · Golf del Sur, San Miguel de Abona