8 Corporate Services

8 Corporate Services is a boutique accountancy and corporate services practice in Xgħajra, a small coastal town on the south-east side of Malta, a short drive from Valletta and the Grand Harbour. It combines day-to-day accounting with company formation, business planning and help with raising finance, and it is licensed by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) as a company service provider.

On VisitMalta.co.uk the firm is listed with corporate services in Malta and with accountants in Malta. Its approach is deliberately personal, which suits owners who want one familiar adviser instead of a rotating cast.

A firm that stays small on purpose

The practice was set up in July 2005 by Massimo Briffa, who began in the audit and accounting line in 1998 and started the firm with two clients he had been helping since that year. They still use it. The first employee joined in 2008, and the team has stayed stable, with colleagues leaving only for parenthood or retirement. The name comes from the number eight: the firm's accountants like numbers, the figure resembles the infinity symbol, and the team has eight members.

Growth has been managed carefully. The firm takes on no more than 200 clients in a year and has never advertised, yet it is regularly at capacity. Massimo meets every client face to face, and the firm avoids the habit of passing clients between staff every few months, which means you do not have to explain your business from scratch each time.

Accounting, planning and financing

Accounting covers the full range, from payroll and VAT to more involved work such as reorganising company structures for greater efficiency. Business planning includes budgeting and financial and strategic planning, so owners can see where a venture is heading.

The firm can also help with applications for bank finance and EU funding, and with appraising private equity investment. A consultancy arrangement is available for businesses that want ongoing corporate support rather than a single task. For a wider picture of how Malta taxes companies, read our overview of Malta's corporate tax structure and our guide to Malta tax for UK nationals. Our featured partner CLA Malta is another route for larger audit and advisory needs, and nearby practices in the directory include 3a Malta and A4 Services Limited.

Company set-ups and the MFSA licence

For anyone starting a business, or forming a limited company for an existing enterprise, the firm supports each stage of the process. 8 Corporate Services Ltd is registered under Article 5 of the Company Service Providers Act 2013 and is licensed by the MFSA to act as a company service provider, under company registration number C50429.

Malta is an EU member state with a regulated financial services sector, and its commercial law is historically based on English statute and principles, with all laws published in English as well as Maltese. That familiarity helps British founders. Our guide to Malta's financial services sector explains the industry in more detail, and if you are planning to move yourself as well as your company, our Malta relocation guide covers the practical steps.

Why Malta, and how to get in touch

There are several practical reasons for basing a business in Malta: a well-educated, multilingual workforce, with most Maltese speaking English and many also Italian or French, a central Mediterranean location, and political stability. The University of Malta traces its origins to 1592. The nominal corporate tax rate is 35 per cent, though a company with foreign shareholders is usually eligible for a refund of six sevenths, so ask an adviser how this applies to your case.

Direct flights link the island with London in about three hours, so a first meeting is easy to arrange; see our guide to flights from the UK to Malta. To ask 8 Corporate Services about accounting, a new company or funding, use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the firm.