Setting up a business in Thailand can be overwhelming. Finding the perfect location, digesting relevant regulations, preparing documentation in Thai and English, navigating multiple government agencies, all while deciding who to trust for support.
Bangkok attracts entrepreneurs and international investors at record rates. In 2023, more than 85,000 companies registered with the Department of Business Development. Thailand offers clear advantages: direct access to ASEAN markets, strong infrastructure, competitive operating costs, and a business-friendly regulatory environment.
But the registration reality is complex. The Department of Business Development requires precise documentation. The Revenue Department has specific address verification standards. Banks scrutinise proof of physical premises. Immigration reviews business locations for work permit applications. Each agency has different requirements, and mistakes cause delays or rejections.
The most common obstacle? Establishing a compliant registered office address that meets DBD standards while coordinating documentation across multiple agencies in Thai and English.
Servcorp's Company Registration Package provides a complete solution: a regulator-approved office address, all legal documents prepared, and a dedicated on-site manager who guides you through every step of the registration process.
Understanding Foreign Ownership in Thailand
Thailand's Foreign Business Act governs foreign participation and sets ownership restrictions. For most businesses, foreign ownership is limited to 49%, with Thai nationals required to hold at least 51% of shares.
However, important exceptions exist. Companies in promoted industries such as technology, manufacturing, and renewable energy can qualify for 100% foreign ownership through the Board of Investment promotion. BOI has expanded incentives for green technology and digital economy sectors in 2025. Certain unrestricted business activities allow 100% foreign control without special licenses. Companies in restricted sectors can apply for a Foreign Business License, though the process requires cabinet approval and takes several months.
The Private Limited Company structure remains most popular for foreign investors. Navigating these requirements, determining your eligibility for exemptions, and structuring ownership correctly requires expertise. Servcorp's package supports both Thai-majority and foreign-owned companies, providing the compliant foundation and expert guidance required, regardless of your ownership structure.
What the Registration Process Actually Involves
Company registration in Thailand isn't just about filling out forms. It's a multi-agency process with precise requirements at every step.
You need company name approval from the DBD that meets Thai regulations and cultural appropriateness standards. A compliant registered office address accepted by the Department of Business Development, Revenue Department, Thai banks, and Immigration. Your Memorandum of Association is drafted in proper legal format with at least 25% of registered capital paid upfront. A statutory meeting documented with proper minutes. DBD registration filing coordinated with multiple supporting documents. Tax Identification Number from the Revenue Department within 60 days. VAT registration if revenue thresholds apply. Corporate bank account opening with proof of physical premises. Work permit applications if employing foreign staff, which require meeting employment ratios and minimum capital per foreign employee.
Each step has specific Thai-language documentation requirements. Each agency has different standards for what constitutes acceptable proof. Thailand's new DBD Biz Regist digital system has reduced processing time to 1-3 business days, but only when documentation is perfectly correct. One missing document or incorrect format restarts the process.
The timeline with proper guidance is 7-14 days. Without expertise, it stretches to weeks or months as you navigate rejections, resubmissions, and agency coordination.
Why Your Registered Office Address Is Critical
The Department of Business Development scrutinises address legitimacy during registration. Virtual mailboxes and residential addresses are frequently rejected. You need a physical office space that proves business operations.
Banks require verified proof of physical premises before opening corporate accounts. The Revenue Department needs a location that meets their standards for VAT registration and tax correspondence. Immigration authorities review your business address when processing foreign employee work permits. Each agency has different verification processes.
Traditional office solutions create new problems. Long-term leases require substantial deposits, committing you to fixed costs before revenue begins. Office setup takes weeks or months, delaying your entire registration timeline. Prestigious Bangkok CBD locations command premium rates. You're paying for full office space when you just need a compliant address for registration.
This is where most foreign business owners get stuck. They underestimate address requirements, attempt registration with non-compliant addresses, face rejections, then scramble to find acceptable solutions while their timeline extends indefinitely.
Why Your Business Address Matters
The registered office address requirement is often underestimated by new businesses, yet it's critical for regulatory compliance and operational credibility.
The Department of Business Development scrutinises address legitimacy during registration. Virtual mailboxes and residential addresses are frequently rejected. Banks require proof of physical premises before opening corporate accounts. The Revenue Department needs a verified location for VAT registration and tax correspondence. Immigration authorities use your business address when processing work permits for foreign employees.
Traditional office solutions present challenges: long-term leases require substantial deposits and commit businesses to fixed costs before revenue begins flowing. Office setup takes weeks or months, delaying your registration timeline. Prestigious CBD locations command premium rates that strain startup budgets.
Servcorp's Company Registration Office addresses these challenges by providing a DBD-approved business address with a dedicated suite number in prestigious Bangkok CBD locations, such as CentralWorld and Dusit Central Park. This compliant address enables immediate registration without traditional office commitments, giving you regulatory compliance and market credibility from day one.
Servcorp's Complete Registration Solution
Servcorp eliminates the complexity by providing everything Thailand's regulators require, backed by expert guidance that ensures nothing gets overlooked.
Servcorp Company Registration Package Includes:
1. Dedicated One-Person Office with 24/7 Access
Your own suite number in a prestigious Bangkok CBD location, ready within 48 hours. This isn't a shared virtual address or mailbox. It's your exclusive physical office space with round-the-clock access. The Department of Business Development, Revenue Department, major Thai banks, and Immigration all accept it for registration, tax filing, banking, and work permit requirements. Our locations at CentralWorld, Dusit Central Park, and other prime addresses provide direct access to BTS and MRT. You're surrounded by great restaurants, shopping malls, and luxury hotels. This creates immediate credibility with regulatory agencies, banks, and clients.
2. Complete Legal Documentation Prepared
All legal documents suitable for DBD, VAT, VISA, and Work Permit registration in Thailand. No guesswork about Thai-language formatting requirements or proper legal structure. Everything is prepared to regulatory standards before submission.
3. Dedicated Onsite Manager Guidance
An experienced manager who assists you through the entire registration process. They coordinate with authorities, ensure documentation is correct, handle agency communications, and make sure everything gets done smoothly. This expert guidance is the difference between 7-14 days with proper completion versus months of rejections and resubmissions. Your manager knows exactly what each agency requires, how to format documents correctly, and how to navigate any issues that arise.
4. Professional Business Infrastructure
Bilingual staff handle all mail and courier deliveries. A dedicated Bangkok phone line answered professionally in your company's name. Three hours daily coworking access at your chosen Servcorp location. Three days of monthly private office access at any Servcorp location worldwide. Fully-equipped meeting rooms available on demand.
Why This Approach Works:
You Get Registration Right the First Time
Your dedicated manager ensures documentation meets every agency's specific requirements before submission. No rejections for incorrect formats. No restarting processes because an address wasn't accepted. No discovering halfway through that your structure doesn't qualify for your intended business activities.
One Partner for Everything
Instead of coordinating between office landlords, legal document preparers, and multiple agencies yourself, you have one solution. The same team handles your office space, prepares your documentation, and guides you through agency requirements. Everything is coordinated.
Immediate Setup, Long-Term Flexibility
Your office is ready within 48 hours. Start your registration process immediately instead of waiting weeks for traditional office space. As your business grows, expand into larger private office space. The solution scales with you.
Ongoing Support Beyond Registration
This isn't a one-time registration service that ends when you receive your DBD certificate. You get ongoing administrative support from bilingual secretaries who handle operational tasks so you can focus on growing your business. Meeting rooms, coworking space, and global office access are all included to support your day-to-day operations and international expansion.
We tailor solutions as you grow. Need an authentic business address to build credibility? Require expanded office space when you hire? Want additional administrative support? Servcorp is here to support your growth in the Thai market.
Frequently Asked Questions:
