When you need to enter a regulated market fast, founders increasingly look at ready-made licensed companies. The logic is simple: why wait a year when you can buy a structure that has already passed the regulator? But buying is not a "speed button": you get the permission along with history, obligations and vetting of the new owner. Here is when this route really pays off.
In short: buying saves time on preparing and reviewing an initial application, but it does not remove change-of-control approval, which takes months. It pays off when the license matches your model exactly and the company's history is clean.
Two routes to a regulated market
| Parameter | New license | Buying a ready-made company |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline | Preparation + review, often 6–18 months | Due diligence + change-of-control approval, often 3–9 months |
| Cost | Advisers, capital, team | Deal price + capital + checks + team |
| History | Clean slate | You inherit reporting, clients and claims |
| Scope of permissions | Built for your model | Whatever was already granted |
| Process control | Full | Depends on seller and regulator |
When buying makes sense
- The license scope covers your services and markets exactly; no extension is needed.
- The company has working infrastructure: banks, payment partners, auditor, policies.
- The history is clean: no regulator orders, litigation or problem clients.
- The seller is ready for transparent due diligence and a transition period.
When a new license is better
- Your model differs from the seller's and permissions would need extending.
- The company has been dormant — the regulator may require an almost new application.
- The seller will not disclose documents or is rushing the deal.
- You want to build policies and the team around your own model from scratch.
The part people forget: change of control
In most countries acquiring a qualifying holding in a regulated company requires the regulator's prior consent. The new owner goes through the same vetting as an initial applicant: source of funds, reputation, business plan. Deals are structured so the seller is paid only after approval. Buying saves time, but it does not spare you the regulator.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start operating right after signing?
Usually not. The regulator must first approve the change of control. Until then the previous owner remains responsible for the company.
What does due diligence cover?
Corporate documents, license scope and status, regulatory reporting, finances, tax, contracts, client base, AML history and IT systems. A detailed checklist is in our article on pre-purchase checks.
Can I buy a company in one country and operate across the EU?
If the license is passportable (for example a MiCA CASP, payment or EMI license), yes — by notifying the regulator. More on passporting in our article on the CASP license.
Considering a purchase? Send a request on the ready-made companies page and we will compare market options with a new application and estimate the real timeline and budget. If the new route wins, we will help with a license map.
This article is for information only and is not legal advice.