Your own company in Latin America — set up remotely
The company, bank account and Mercado Libre profile are set up in your name — no flight required. Below: how it works, timelines, price range and the honest downsides.
Option 1. Your own company
Registered in your name, done remotely
You do not have to fly over. All I need from you is a power of attorney: signed before a notary and apostilled, or issued directly at an Argentine consulate if there is one near you, in which case no apostille is needed. Everything else is on me: incorporation, tax numbers, registrations, and opening the Mercado Libre and Mercado Pago accounts.
- The company and the account are entirely yours. The reputation and the sales history are your asset.
- You import through your own company. At customs you front around 84% of the shipment value, but a registered importer gets almost all of it back, so the real cost lands near 23%. Going through a middleman recovers nothing, and your cost per unit ends up roughly one and a half times higher.
- In time it becomes an asset you can sell.
- This is the most expensive and slowest route: 6 to 10 weeks in practice. The power of attorney and the bank account are what drag.
- Nobody can guarantee the bank account: each bank decides by its own compliance rules. I know which doors to knock on and I walk you through that stage.
- You take on ongoing accounting and monthly filings.
- By law the administrator has to be a person living in the country. In the remote setup that role is mine — you remain the owner.
One step remains: Mercado Pago and Mercado Libre verification requires a local ID card, and that is only issued with residency. Until you have it, I complete that step as your employee. It changes nothing about ownership or money.
Ballpark: 3,000 to 6,500 USD to incorporate, depending on the country, the company type and whether a foreign shareholder has to be registered. Accounting runs from 400 USD a month. I put the exact quote together for your case.
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The numbers before the money
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Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to open a company in Latin America?
The ballpark is 3,000 to 6,500 USD to incorporate. The range is wide because it depends on the country, the company type and whether a foreign shareholder needs a separate registration. Add accounting from 400 USD a month. I prepare the exact quote for the specific case and send it within a day.
How long does a remote incorporation take?
Realistically 6 to 10 weeks. The power of attorney and the bank account are what take longest. The registration itself in Argentina goes through in a few days — since June 2026 it is fully digital.
Why do you have to be the administrator rather than me?
By law a company in Latin America must have an administrator who lives in the country. That is the law's requirement, not the marketplace's. Until you have local residency I cover that role. You stay the owner throughout: the money, the goods and the decisions are yours. If you come in person we get the tax number and proof of residence in your name, and you become the administrator yourself.
Do I need a bank account if I already have Mercado Pago?
If you plan to import, yes, it is essential. Paying a Chinese supplier goes through the foreign exchange market, and only banks have access to it. Mercado Pago does not handle FX. Without an account you can only work by buying goods inside the country, but then customs taxes are not recoverable and your unit cost is roughly one and a half times higher.
Tell me about your case
Answer three questions and I will suggest the model that suits you, and help you weigh the prospects before you spend anything.
Which country?
Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay — or undecided so far.
Which product?
The category and rough volume. If you already sell it in your home market, all the better — we will have something to compare against.
Where do you ship from?
From China, or you plan to work with local suppliers on the ground.