Setting up a Russian Company

Russian Limited Liability and Joint Stock companies have to be registered in Russia to function, and the procedures are similar for both of them. The major difference resides in the obligation of Joint Stock companies to register the issuance of share certificates, unnecessary for the Limited Liability company.
 
Preliminary activities before registeringa Russian Limited liability (LLC) and Russian joint stock companies (JSC)
Companies in Russia are registered through the Russian Federation Tax Service, at the local Tax Service office, where the company is located. First of all the companies must adopt a joint resolution of the founders, executed in form of minutes of the founding meeting, and also a charter, or a foundation agreement. This agreement should contain information about the organization of the managing board, names and addresses of the members, or shareholders and the value of their contributions. The founders of the company may choose whatever name they consider adequate, except "Russia", or "Russian Federation", as long as they obtain a certificate for its uniqueness. 

Registration to the Tax Service in Russia
Registering to the Tax Service is done by submitting an application for registration to the local Tax Service office, where the company is located. The application for registration must be completed by either the founder, or the founder's director (in case of legal entity). The application must be signed in front of a public notary and it should contain a list of the activities the company intends to perform. Along with that, the application must also contain the minutes of the meeting of the founders, expressing a decision on registration of the company. The founders must also submit the company's foundation documents, the foundation agreement for the LLC, and the charter for the JSC, and a receipt for the applicable state registration fee. After registration is completed, the company obtains certificates for the main state registration number (OGRN) and a taxpayer identification number (INN).

Opening the bank account for the Russian company
The newly registered company must open a bank account, and the documents needed depend on the regulations of the bank. The company must inform the Federal Tax Service of the company bank account number, and obtain a letter of confirmation.

Founding a Russian company from abroad
The Russian Federation is open to foreign investors starting a business on it's territory, however the legal address of the company must be in the country, so that the tax authorities acquire control over your activity. An attorney may be designated to perform the foundation activities, while the owners are abroad.

How long does it take to found a Russian company?
Every procedure is completed in a day or two, except registration to the Tax Service, which is finished in twenty days. A company is founded in approximately one month.