How do I open a company in the UK?

You need to register your company with Companies House and choose the right structure. Sterling Global handles the full process, including setup, tax, banking, accountants, and advisory.

How long does it take to open a UK company?

Most UK companies can be incorporated within the same day. We prepare everything for you and ensure compliance from day one.

How can I start a business in the UAE?

You can set up in a Free Zone or Mainland depending on your activity. We handle the full license, visa, Emirates ID, banking, and compliance — all in one place.

Do I need to live in the UAE to open a company?

No, but you may need a UAE residency visa depending on the Free Zone. We guide you through the entire process.

What is tax residence and why does it matter?

Tax residence determines which country can tax your global income. We help you choose the right tax residence and align it with your international structure.

What makes Sterling Global different?

We provide one point of connection for everything: accountants, lawyers, tax advisors, compliance, banking support, business setup, structure, and ongoing advisory — all under one premium umbrella.

Can I set up companies in both the UK and UAE?

Yes. Many entrepreneurs combine both jurisdictions. We create your global structure, holding company, bank accounts, and tax framework.

Do you help non-UK and non-UAE residents start companies?

Yes. We specialise in helping international entrepreneurs access the UK and UAE markets with full setup and advisory support.

Do you help with bank account opening?

Yes, we assist with documentation, preparation, and introductions to the right banks in both the UK and UAE.

Our packages start from £179 for the UK and AED XXXX for the UAE. Book a free consultation to receive a full tailored price guide.

🌍 The Blueprint for Freedom: How to Go Global and Legally Keep More of Your Revenue

Maicon Ferreira
Dec 9
4 min read

As an entrepreneur in the digital age, your greatest assets are your mobility and your intellectual property. Why should your success be tied down by outdated local tax laws and limited asset protection schemes?

The world is your marketplace, and with the right International Structure, it can become your financial fortress. We specialise in creating this blueprint for location-independent founders — a compliant structure that allows you to pay less tax on income and revenue, protect your wealth, and truly operate from anywhere.

1. 🛡️ Build an International Asset Protection Fortress

The first step in true global freedom is separating your personal wealth from your business liabilities and political risk. Traditional LLCs and corporations only go so far; a multi-jurisdictional structure offers a nearly impenetrable shield.

Core Strategies for Asset Protection:

Offshore Companies (IBCs/LLCs): We help you establish a legal entity in a politically stable, legally robust jurisdiction (like Nevis or the Cook Islands) to hold your operating business or key assets (IP, investments). This provides a layer of separation, making it incredibly difficult for foreign judgments and creditors to access your wealth.
The Power of Trusts: A properly structured International Trust can legally own the shares of your operating company. This removes the assets from your personal name, offering the strongest form of protection, simplifying estate planning, and ensuring smooth transfer to future generations without probate delays.
Strategic Diversification: By holding assets and business entities across multiple jurisdictions, you diversify not just your investments, but your legal and political risk exposure.

2. 📉 Legally Minimise Income and Revenue Tax

The goal is not to eliminate tax—that is illegal—but to optimise your structure using internationally recognised principles like tax residency and Double Taxation Treaties (DTTs).

Optimising Your Tax Footprint:

Corporate Structuring: We help you determine the ideal jurisdiction for your company's incorporation and management (its "Substance"). By setting up Holding Companies or subsidiaries in jurisdictions with low corporate tax rates or beneficial treaty networks (e.g., Cyprus for receiving dividends), you can drastically reduce your overall corporate tax burden.
The Power of IP (Intellectual Property) Holding: If your business relies on patents, trademarks, or software (which is true for most digital entrepreneurs), we structure the ownership of that IP in a jurisdiction that taxes royalties and licensing income at a significantly lower rate or zero percent. The operating company then pays a royalty fee to the IP company, legally shifting revenue from a high-tax area to a low-tax area.
Leverage Tax Treaties: Over 100 countries have DTTs. These agreements clarify which country has the right to tax certain income, preventing you from being taxed twice on the same revenue and often reducing withholding taxes on cross-border payments like dividends, interest, and royalties.

3. ✈️ The Freedom of Strategic Tax Residency

For the location-independent entrepreneur, personal tax residency is the most critical factor. By breaking tax ties with a high-tax country and establishing new, legitimate ties in a tax-friendly jurisdiction, you can transform your personal financial life.

Tax Residency Strategies:

The 183-Day Rule (and Beyond): Most countries determine tax residency if you spend more than 183 days there. We help you meticulously plan your travel to avoid accidentally triggering tax residency in unwanted high-tax countries.
Territorial vs. Worldwide Taxation: Many favourable jurisdictions (like the UAE, Panama, or Georgia) use a territorial tax system. This means you only pay tax on income sourced within that country. Since your digital business revenue is generated internationally, you can pay a near-zero income tax rate on your worldwide earnings.
Establishing "Substance": To make your new tax residency legally robust, we guide you on establishing genuine ties: securing a residency permit, leasing a permanent home, and demonstrating that your "centre of vital interests" (where you spend time and where your personal and economic life is centred) is in your new, low-tax base.

Your Next Chapter Starts Now

Operating from anywhere in the world isn't just a lifestyle choice; it's a powerful financial and legal strategy.

By combining asset protection structures, corporate tax optimisation, and strategic tax residency planning, we build a bespoke blueprint that gives you peace of mind and significantly enhances your profitability.

Don't let complex borders dictate your success.

Ready to create your legally compliant, globally optimised structure?

3-Step Action Plan: Building Your Global Structure

Moving your wealth and business operations into an international structure is a significant, value-creating decision. Our process is designed to be as efficient, discreet, and tailored as possible.

Step 1: 📞 The Confidential Discovery Call

The first step is a private, non-committal consultation with one of our principals. This is a crucial exchange where we gain a deep understanding of your current situation and future goals.

What we cover:
- Current Structure: A review of your existing corporate, trust, and tax residencies.
- Financial Goals: Your key objectives for the next 5-10 years (e.g., liquidity event, generational transfer, geographic freedom).
- Risk Profile: Understanding your sensitivity to political, legal, and operational risks.
The Output: A clear determination of whether your objectives align with the solutions we can provide, and identification of the most promising jurisdictions for your specific case.

Step 2: 📝 Proposal & Blueprint Development

Following the Discovery Call, our team of international tax, legal, and financial specialists develops a customized, actionable plan—your personal "Global Blueprint."

What you receive:
- Structure Diagram: A visual map showing the flow of funds, ownership, and control (e.g., Trust → Holding Co. → Operating Co. → IP Co.).
- Tax Impact Analysis: A clear projection of your potential tax savings under the proposed structure versus your current situation.
- Detailed Action Plan: A breakdown of the necessary steps, timelines, and costs for implementation (e.g., setting up the Trust, incorporating the IBC, establishing tax residency).
Key Principle: Every element of the blueprint is focused on legal compliance and substance to withstand international scrutiny.

Step 3: 🚀 Implementation & Ongoing Management

Once the Global Blueprint is approved, our team initiates the implementation process, managing every legal and administrative detail for you, ensuring a seamless transition.

Our Role in Implementation:
- Filing of all required applications and documentation across various jurisdictions.
- Coordinating with local legal and banking partners to open accounts and establish registered offices.
- Guidance on legally severing ties with your previous high-tax jurisdiction and establishing verifiable substance in your new tax base.
Ongoing Support: The relationship doesn't end with implementation. We provide continuous support, including compliance oversight, annual reporting, and adapting the structure as your personal life or business evolves.