Cyprus Startup Timeline

Cyprus startup journey — week-by-week from Day 1 to exit.

Seven phases from initial scoping to ultimate M&A / IPO exit. Each phase includes the specific Cyprus engagements, deliverables, milestones, and deep-link articles. Built for founders planning their full Cyprus structuring arc.

— — Seven phases

Seven phases — Day 1 to exit.

Phase 1 — Weeks 1-2: Scoping + Cyprus Ltd

Initial scoping + Cyprus Ltd Essential / Basic / Business tier setup.

Free 30-min scoping call (English / French / German / Italian / Spanish / Greek / Polish / Hebrew available).
Cyprus tier selection (Essential €1,050 / Basic €2,300 / Business €3,900 from /pricing/company-registration).
KYC documentation gathering (passport, proof of address, source-of-funds).
Engagement letter signed.
Cyprus Ltd incorporation submitted once the KYC, name approval and signed documents are complete; Registrar timing varies.

Pricing — Company Registration How to Register a Cyprus Company Cyprus Company Formation Service

Phase 2 — Weeks 3-6: Operational setup

Cyprus banking, tax registrations, founder relocation (optional).

Bank or EMI onboarding: provider approval, timing and account terms depend on the ownership, activity, countries involved and source-of-funds evidence.
VAT/VIES registration (if turnover >€15,600).
Cyprus social-insurance registration (if hiring employees).
Founder Tax Residency + Non-Dom Bundle (€699 + VAT) — for founders relocating.
Yellow Slip (EU) / Pink Slip (non-EU) application.

Cyprus Banking Hub Cyprus VAT/VIES Guide Cyprus Non-Dom 2026

Phase 3 — Months 2-6: Funding + IP Box methodology

Pre-seed / seed fundraising + IP Box scoping.

Shareholders' Agreement drafted (Cyprus Bar / ICPAC-led, see /articles/cyprus-shareholders-agreement-essentials).
Multi-class share structure designed (founder + investor + employee classes).
Pre-seed / seed funding: SAFE / convertible-note / Series Seed Preferred (see /articles/cyprus-startup-funding-rounds-taxonomy-2026).
ESOP framework established + first allocations (see /articles/cyprus-esop-stock-options-taxation-2026).
IP Box methodology development begins (qualifying-IP characterisation + nexus calculation).

Shareholders' Agreement Essentials Startup Funding Rounds Taxonomy ESOP Stock Options Tax

Phase 4 — Year 1: Annual cycle + IP Box claim

First annual cycle of Cyprus operations.

Quarterly VAT + VIES returns.
Annual audit by ICPAC-firm.
Annual IR4 corporate tax return with IP Box deduction claim (if applicable).
Annual HE32 + UBO Register updates.
Founder annual IR1 personal tax return.
20% R&D super-deduction claim (2026 reform — see /articles/cyprus-r-and-d-super-deduction-2026).

Cyprus SaaS IP Box Worked Example Cyprus R&D Super-Deduction Cyprus Annual Compliance

Phase 5 — Years 2-3: Scaling + Series A/B

Series A / B fundraising + ATR pre-clearance + governance upgrade.

Series A round (€3M-€15M typical): VC-grade SHA + multi-class preferred + drag/tag/ROFR.
Series B round (€10M-€50M): growth-equity participation + governance upgrade.
Optional ATR (Advance Tax Ruling) for binding IP Box pre-clearance (€4,000-€5,500 + VAT + €1,000/€2,000 gov fee).
Cyprus payroll bureau scales (4-10 employees: €150 + VAT/month).
Founder secondary partial-liquidity (0% Article 8(22) titles exemption — see /articles/cyprus-secondary-share-sales-founder-liquidity-2026).

Cyprus VC-Backed Startup LP Cyprus ATR Pre-Clearance Cyprus Secondary Share Sales

Phase 6 — Years 3-5: Series C + pre-IPO

Series C + pre-IPO restructuring + IFRS upgrade.

Series C round (€30M-€150M).
IFRS-compliant audit (typically required for IPO-readiness 12-24 months ahead).
Governance upgrade: board independence + audit / risk / remuneration committees + internal-controls framework.
Pre-IPO share-class consolidation (multi-class to single-class or dual-class for founder control).
Pre-IPO secondary partial-liquidity for founder + early investors (0% Article 8(22)).

Cyprus Exit via IPO Cyprus IPO Listing Prep Cyprus AI Builder Pre-IPO

Phase 7 — Year 5+: Exit (M&A / IPO)

M&A or IPO exit. Article 8(22) eligibility review on founder + investor share-sale.

M&A: 90-day completion playbook (see /articles/cyprus-ma-playbook-2026).
IPO: 12-24 month arc, listing on CSE / LSE / NASDAQ / Euronext / FSE.
Founder and investor share sales: assess the Article 8(22) income-tax exemption and separate Cyprus-property CGT rules.
Post-2026 stamp-duty repeal does not remove registration fees or other transaction costs.
Founder Non-Dom 0% SDC on post-exit dividend take-out for 17 years from Cyprus tax-residency.

Cyprus M&A Playbook Cyprus Exit via IPO Cyprus SaaS Exit Prep

— EVERYTHING INCLUDED

Engagement pricing from our /pricing schedule per phase.

Phase 1 — Cyprus Ltd (Essential / Basic / Business)€1,050 / €2,300 / €3,900 + VAT
Phase 2 — Tax Residency + Non-Dom Bundle€699 + VAT
Phase 3 — Pre-seed / seed legal: scoped per engagementFrom €2,300 (Cyprus Ltd Basic)
Phase 4 — Annual accounting + audit (transaction-tiered)From €2,100 + VAT/yr
Phase 5 — Series A / B + ATR Preparation€4,000–€5,500 + VAT
Phase 6 — Pre-IPO IFRS + governance upgradeScoped
Phase 7 — M&A / IPO executionScoped

Full schedule

Full schedule at /pricing

Your investment

From €1,050 + VAT (Phase 1)

Each phase quoted in writing at the engagement-letter stage. We track founders from incorporation to exit — single firm relationship across the full journey.

Book your free 30-min scoping call

Our promise

Full-journey partnership — incorporation to exit.

Nexora can support agreed stages from incorporation through later transactions. Each engagement records its scope, assumptions, dependencies and responsible providers in writing.

General information. See our editorial standards and disclaimer.

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