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Best Countries for Entrepreneurs in Europe

Europe's combination of startup visa programmes, strong digital infrastructure, and access to a 450-million-person single market makes it increasingly attractive for entrepreneurs. From Estonia's e-Residency programme to Portugal's vibrant Lisbon startup scene, European countries offer diverse pathways for founders.

📈Career & Economy📡Infrastructure💰Cost of Living🛡️Safety
37
Countries Ranked
$2,159
Avg. Monthly Cost
$950
Lowest Monthly Cost
Explore tax regimes and startup visas

Key facts

  • #1: Malta top-ranked Europe country in this list, weighted across 7 dimensions.
  • $1,600/mo cheapest in the regional top 10 — Czechia, single-person cost of living.
  • Safest: Iceland highest normalised safety score among the regional top 10.
  • 37 countries in Europe scored on the dimensions that matter most for this audience.
  • $2,159/mo avg mean monthly cost across all qualifying Europe countries.

37 Countries Ranked

Ranked using persona-optimized weights across 7 dimensions. Scores reflect institutional public-domain datasets.

1
🇲🇹

Malta

Southern Europe

InfrastructureHealthcareLifestyle
69.01
Score
~$2,050/mo
2
🇳🇱

Netherlands

Western Europe

InfrastructureCareer & EconomyHealthcare
66.47
Score
~$2,750/mo
3
🇨🇭

Switzerland

Central Europe

SafetyHealthcareInfrastructure
65.22
Score
~$4,000/mo
4
🇮🇪

Ireland

Western Europe

SafetyHealthcareEducation
64.5
Score
~$3,350/mo
5
🇮🇸

Iceland

Northern Europe

SafetyCareer & EconomyInfrastructure
64.41
Score
~$3,600/mo
6
🇵🇹

Portugal

Southern Europe

SafetyHealthcareInfrastructure
64.04
Score
~$2,000/mo
7
🇸🇮

Slovenia

Southern Europe

SafetyHealthcareInfrastructure
63.93
Score
~$2,000/mo
8
🇩🇰

Denmark

Northern Europe

InfrastructureHealthcareSafety
63.63
Score
~$3,200/mo
9
🇨🇿

Czechia

Central Europe

SafetyInfrastructureEducation
62.95
Score
~$1,600/mo
10
🇩🇪

Germany

Western Europe

InfrastructureCareer & EconomyHealthcare
62.83
Score
~$2,500/mo
11
🇪🇪

Estonia

Northern Europe

EducationInfrastructureSafety
62.34
Score
~$1,950/mo
12
🇦🇹

Austria

Central Europe

SafetyHealthcareInfrastructure
62.11
Score
~$2,650/mo
13
🇳🇴

Norway

Northern Europe

InfrastructureHealthcareCareer & Economy
61.72
Score
~$3,500/mo
14
🇬🇧

United Kingdom

Northern Europe

InfrastructureEducationHealthcare
61.66
Score
~$2,900/mo
15
🇧🇪

Belgium

Western Europe

InfrastructureHealthcareEducation
61.52
Score
~$2,650/mo
16
🇸🇪

Sweden

Northern Europe

HealthcareInfrastructureCareer & Economy
61.47
Score
~$3,050/mo
17
🇱🇺

Luxembourg

Western Europe

InfrastructureHealthcareSafety
61.3
Score
~$3,500/mo
18
🇫🇮

Finland

Northern Europe

SafetyHealthcareInfrastructure
60.73
Score
~$2,950/mo
19
🇨🇾

Cyprus

Southern Europe

LifestyleHealthcareInfrastructure
60.32
Score
~$2,100/mo
20
🇭🇺

Hungary

Eastern Europe

InfrastructureSafetyCost of Living
60.09
Score
~$1,450/mo
21
🇪🇸

Spain

Southern Europe

HealthcareInfrastructureSafety
59.6
Score
~$2,200/mo
22
🇵🇱

Poland

Central Europe

EducationCost of LivingSafety
58.48
Score
~$1,300/mo
23
🇱🇹

Lithuania

Northern Europe

SafetyEducationInfrastructure
58.04
Score
~$1,550/mo
24
🇸🇰

Slovakia

Eastern Europe

InfrastructureSafetyEducation
56.95
Score
~$1,750/mo
25
🇮🇹

Italy

Southern Europe

HealthcareEducationInfrastructure
56.4
Score
~$2,300/mo
26
🇭🇷

Croatia

Southern Europe

SafetyLifestyleCost of Living
56.11
Score
~$1,500/mo
27
🇫🇷

France

Western Europe

HealthcareInfrastructureEducation
55.53
Score
~$2,450/mo
28
🇱🇻

Latvia

Northern Europe

SafetyInfrastructureEducation
55.23
Score
~$1,700/mo
29
🇧🇬

Bulgaria

Southeastern Europe

Cost of LivingSafetyInfrastructure
54.32
Score
~$1,150/mo
30
🇬🇷

Greece

Southern Europe

HealthcareInfrastructureLifestyle
54.1
Score
~$1,900/mo
31
🇷🇴

Romania

Eastern Europe

Cost of LivingInfrastructureLifestyle
54.09
Score
~$1,150/mo
32
🇲🇪

Montenegro

Southeastern Europe

Cost of LivingInfrastructureSafety
53.41
Score
~$1,200/mo
33
🇦🇱

Albania

Southeastern Europe

Cost of LivingHealthcareSafety
51.24
Score
~$1,250/mo
34
🇷🇸

Serbia

Southeastern Europe

Cost of LivingInfrastructureLifestyle
48.92
Score
~$1,200/mo
35
🇲🇩

Moldova

Eastern Europe

Cost of LivingSafetyInfrastructure
48.72
Score
~$950/mo
36
🇧🇦

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Southeastern Europe

Cost of LivingInfrastructureHealthcare
44.17
Score
~$1,150/mo
37
🇲🇰

North Macedonia

Southeastern Europe

InfrastructureCost of LivingSafety
42.57
Score
~$1,450/mo
Explore All 95 Countries
#1 for Entrepreneurs in Europe
🇲🇹

Malta

Southern Europe

69.01
Overall Score
$2,050
Est. Monthly Cost

Malta excels in your top priority (infrastructure) with a score of 95, backed by strong career.

View Full Country Profile

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which European countries are easiest to start a business in?
Estonia leads with its e-Residency programme allowing fully digital company formation in hours. The Netherlands, Ireland, and the UK also rank highly for ease of doing business. Georgia (at Europe's edge) offers zero corporate tax on undistributed profits and minimal bureaucracy.
Are there startup visas in Europe?
France (French Tech Visa), the Netherlands (startup visa), Estonia (startup visa), Spain, Portugal, Finland, and Ireland all offer dedicated entrepreneur or startup visas. Requirements typically include an innovative business plan, funding proof, and minimum capital. France and Estonia have the most streamlined processes.
What are corporate tax rates for entrepreneurs in Europe?
Ireland offers 12.5% corporate tax, one of Europe's lowest. Estonia has 0% tax on reinvested profits. Hungary's 9% rate is the EU's lowest flat rate. Bulgaria and Romania offer 10% flat rates. These compare favourably to Germany (30%) or France (25%) for early-stage companies.

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Parent Pages

🚀Best Countries for Entrepreneurs🇪🇺Best European Countries to Live In 2026

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