New · The only shelf companies in Chile sold with a bank account
Shelf Companies in Chile with an Active Bank Account
Take over a ready-made Chilean company whose local bank account is already open and operating. Hire employees, invoice clients and pay suppliers in about 2 weeks, instead of waiting months for incorporation and bank onboarding.
Request Availability- to start operating
- ~2 weeks
- shorter than incorporating
- ~80%
- local bank account included
- Active
- bilingual support
- 100%
The Real Bottleneck
Incorporating in Chile is fast. Opening the bank account is not.
Traditionally, company formation in Chile – including the opening of bank accounts for foreign shareholders – takes several months. The company itself can be registered quickly; what stalls market entry is bank onboarding, compliance reviews for foreign ownership and the paperwork that follows.
Without a bank account you cannot pay salaries, receive payments from clients, pay local suppliers or capitalize the company. That is where most international expansion plans lose months.
While some local providers may offer shelf companies, most do not provide active bank accounts – often the main source of costly delays.
Our Solution
A shelf company with the bank account already working
Our shelf companies include active bank accounts, established through the International Department of our trusted partner bank. During the transfer period we update the company bylaws, ownership and powers of representation, all while keeping the bank account fully active and operational.
- Duly incorporated Chilean company with no prior commercial activity
- Active local bank account through our partner bank's International Department
- Tax ID (RUT) and registration before the Chilean IRS (SII)
- Share transfer to your parent company or shareholders
- Bylaws amendment: company name, business purpose and capital
- New powers of representation and bank signatories
- Local legal representative and fiscal address (optional)
- Seamless handover to our accounting, payroll and tax services
Compare Your Options
Why a shelf company with a bank account changes the timeline
| Company Incorporation | Classic Shelf Company | South Gate’s Shelf Companies | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operational readiness | Couple of months | Several weeks | 2 weeks |
| Includes active bank account | No | No | Yes |
| Includes Tax ID and Tax Authority registrations | No | Yes | Yes |
| Process salary payments for employees | No | No | Yes |
| Pay taxes | No | No | Yes |
| Bid bonds to participate in tender processes with companies or the government | No | No | Yes |
| Make payments to local and foreign vendors | No | No | Yes |
How It Works
From first call to operating company in about 2 weeks
- 1
Discovery call
We understand your business, timeline and shareholding structure, and confirm shelf company availability.
- 2
KYC & documentation
We collect the corporate documents and KYC information of your shareholders required by the notary and the bank.
- 3
Power of Attorney, Share Transfer and Bylaws
The Power of Attorney is executed, shares are transferred, and the bylaws are amended and notified to the bank and local tax authorities.
- 4
Powers & bank signatories
New legal representatives and bank signatories are appointed while the bank account remains fully operational.
- 5
Start operating
Invoice and pay suppliers – with our accounting, payroll and tax team already on board.
Who It Is For
A game-changing solution for international companies looking to expand their operations into Chile
Expedited market entry
International companies seeking to enter the Chilean market in a significantly expedited manner.
Public tenders
Companies aiming to participate in public tenders that require a local entity within strict, non-extendable deadlines.
Urgent regulatory deadlines
Urgent registration requirements or any regulatory, legal or banking procedure subject to strict timeframes.
Hiring in Chile now
Teams that need to put local employees on payroll right away, without relying on an Employer of Record indefinitely.
FAQ
Shelf companies in Chile: frequently asked questions
What is a shelf company?
A shelf company is a legal entity that has already been incorporated and registered, but has not carried out commercial activity. Instead of incorporating a new company from scratch, you acquire its shares and adapt it to your business – saving the time required to set it up.
What makes South Gate's shelf companies different?
Our shelf companies come with an active local bank account, established through the International Department of our trusted partner bank. Opening a bank account is usually the longest step for foreign-owned companies in Chile, so having it already in place is what allows you to start operating in about 2 weeks.
How long does it take to start operating?
Typically about 2 weeks from the moment we receive the complete KYC documentation. This reduces incorporation times by approximately 80% compared with the traditional route of incorporating and then opening bank accounts for foreign shareholders.
Can a foreign company own 100% of the shares?
Yes. Chilean law allows foreign individuals and companies to own 100% of a Chilean company. The shares of the shelf company are transferred to your parent company or to the shareholders you designate.
Can I change the company name and business purpose?
Yes. As part of the transfer we amend the bylaws to update the company name, business purpose, capital and management structure to fit your operation.
What happens to the bank account after the purchase?
The account remains active and operational throughout the process. We update the powers of representation and the bank signatories so your appointed representatives can operate it.
Do I need a local legal representative?
In practice, yes. Bank tokens and access are granted by default to local legal representatives, so choosing a senior, Chile-based representative is key. South Gate can provide an experienced lawyer to act as your legal representative, as well as your fiscal address.
What happens after the company is transferred?
You can keep working with us as your bilingual back-office partner: accounting, tax compliance, treasury, payroll, HR, corporate secretarial services and legal counseling – with one senior point of contact.
Check Availability
Request a shelf company with a bank account
Tell us about your plans and we will send you current availability, pricing and the documents required – usually within 24 hours.