Learning Programme - Company Formation
Forming a company step by step
Most people who start a company in Ireland do so without a clear picture of what each stage actually requires. This programme fixes that - it walks you through the real process, in sequence, with no gaps left to guess.
Programme structure
What the programme covers
-
1
Choosing the right company type
Private Limited Company, Designated Activity Company, or a sole trader arrangement - each has different liability exposure and tax implications. You work through a decision framework using your own business scenario, not a generic example.
-
2
Registering with the CRO
The Companies Registration Office process involves specific forms, filing fees, and timing requirements. This module walks through Form A1 and the Constitution document with a live submission walkthrough.
-
3
Tax registration and Revenue obligations
Corporation Tax, VAT thresholds, employer PAYE if you plan to hire - these are not optional extras. You register for the relevant taxes in sequence and understand when each obligation begins.
-
4
Opening a business bank account
Banks require specific documents at the point of application, and some accounts take 3–6 weeks to activate. The module covers what to prepare and which account types suit early-stage companies.
-
5
Ongoing compliance and annual returns
A company that misses its Annual Return Date faces automatic late filing penalties. This module sets up a compliance calendar and explains what the B1 form requires each year.

Tadgh Ó Briain
Freelance consultant, Cork
I had tried to read through the CRO guidance on my own. The programme made the sequence clear in a way that the official docs never did.

Wojciech Kalinowski
Sole trader transitioning to Ltd, Galway
The tax registration module alone saved me from getting the VAT threshold wrong. I was about to register too early.
Time split across modules

Fionnuala Breathnach
Startup founder, Dublin
The compliance calendar in module 5 is something I still use. Filing deadlines feel manageable now.