From €300 and a van to seven employees: Spanish self-employment launch

The first week as a self-employed worker: fees, accounting, and a tight job

How much does it really cost to start a business in Spain? A construction contractor who leaves employment for self-employment is measuring this in real time: he registers as an *autónomo* (self-employed worker) and builds his own crew with €300, a van loaded with tools, and several advance payments. With his brother and two permanent workers—plus one on demand—he starts the team. Over time, the company grows to seven people and remains standing.

The startup has clear logic. The goal isn't rapid growth, but functioning well with a stable crew, summarized by the protagonist: sowing with happy customers. However, structural costs don't wait for anyone. Fees, advisory services, and salaries arrive before opening for business.

What are the costs before invoicing?

The first expense is the social security contribution for self-employed workers. Two figures appear in the thread: under €60 for individual registration and €148 as the reduced rate for the first year in another case. Additionally, accounting services (*gestoría*) add €160 including VAT for individuals and €150 plus VAT when operating as a company. Another self-employed person summarizes it wryly: you haven't even peine yet and everyone is already charging you.

Labor costs are also known. The protagonist calculates that each worker costs about €110 per day for the company. Budgets are based on this, creating the sector's unstable equilibrium: raising prices drives clients to cheaper competitors; cutting too much means any unforeseen issue evaporates the margin.

Why can a single job eat up the margin?

Because budgets are signed before knowing what’s behind the walls. A specific case: replacing a bathtub with a shower tray. The tub was embedded five centimeters on each side and anchored to the brick wall; removing it took two hours and delayed the entire day's work.

In another project, damage came from subcontractors. The marble installer punctured a pipe while fitting a bathroom countertop; the bidet installer damaged a drain, and complex tiling took several days. The margin for that job disappeared. The protagonist describes the week as a series of mishaps, noting a phrase every construction freelancer knows: it’s hard to do it right.

Why does the Tax Agency inspect when VAT is refundable?

Because a positive VAT balance acts as a red flag. Advice circulating among those who’ve experienced it is clear: once VAT is due for refund, an audit is almost guaranteed. The recommendation is to secure accounting with scanned invoices and data in spreadsheets: number, date, client, amount, and VAT. Notifications from the Agencia Tributaria (Spanish Tax Agency) allow very few days to respond.

Formality, payments, and word-of-mouth

Against those encouraging off-the-books work and minimal invoicing—a recurring trend—others insist on the opposite: accept bank transfers, keep cash under €1,000, and don’t take more jobs than can be delivered on time. Maintaining formality and meeting deadlines sustains the portfolio through word-of-mouth, which in renovations is worth more than any ad. There’s also a repeated idea: in a market full of graduates without applicable trades, having a trade guarantees a future.

From sick leave to relaunch

The real blow didn’t come from bad luck with jobs, but health. The protagonist spent months on sick leave and fired the staff; stress collapsed him. Upon return, the business rebuilds from scratch: marketing campaign, logo, website, SEO, and before-and-after videos as showcases.

Regarding future structure, debate continues. One contact advises buying a pre-formed public limited company at a bargain price and distributing shares among trusted partners to appear solid for large contracts. The protagonist doubts if this path is too revolutionary and might lead to failure. Another user is clearer: for certain messy situations, use a limited liability company and move on.

With these numbers, starting a business looks less like entrepreneurship and more like walking a tightrope. The protagonist says without drama: the company stays afloat, though hanging by a thread. In Spain, that’s called merit. Most would call it the base price.