Set up two companies with the paperwork and sequencing handled clearly

Businesses often choose a two-company setup when they want to separate different activities, ownership groups, brands or risk profiles from the outset. For example, one company may be intended for a particular venture while the other is used for a separate line of business or a joint project. The legal and commercial reasons vary, and the right structure depends on what each entity will do, who will own it and how the companies are expected to interact. Tax and accounting consequences may need separate advice before final decisions are made.

The process usually starts with confirming the proposed structure for both entities, including names, directors, shareholders and share allocations. Once those details are settled, we prepare the incorporation paperwork, arrange registration steps and draft the standard constitutions and related setup documents for each company. Because this is a two-entity setup, sequencing matters. It is important to check whether the companies should mirror each other, have different ownership terms, or be formed in a particular order to match the intended structure and records.

We generally need the proposed company names, director details, shareholder details, registered office information and a clear explanation of how each company is intended to be used. We may also need to know whether the two companies will have the same owners, whether there are different shareholdings between them, and whether any existing company records or shareholder arrangements need to be taken into account. Completion steps can depend on the company records and any existing shareholder arrangements, so those details can affect timing and document preparation.

Timing depends on how quickly the required information is provided and whether any issues arise with the proposed names, ownership details or supporting records. Where the structure is straightforward and instructions are complete, the work can move relatively quickly, but regulator processing and third-party steps are outside Sprintlaw's control. A two-company setup can also take longer than a single registration if there are different shareholder arrangements or sequencing questions to resolve. We can outline the expected steps once we have the core details for both entities.

Possibly, but that can become more than a simple dual setup if the new entity needs to fit around existing records, ownership terms or commercial arrangements. In that situation, we would usually need to check how the existing company is structured, whether there are current shareholders or governance documents, and whether the second company is being added as part of a wider restructure. This service is best suited to the setup work described on this page, rather than a full restructure or ongoing management of the group after registration.

Submit an enquiry on this page or click 'Get started'. One of our legal consultants will review it within 1 business day and get in touch to understand what you need.

Your consultant will then email you a fixed-fee quote setting out the cost, scope and timing. If you're happy with it, you can accept the quote and sign our engagement letter online.

Once you've accepted, one of our Australian-qualified lawyers will work with you to complete your project. They'll contact you by email or phone if they need anything.

Sprintlaw works on fixed-fee pricing wherever possible, so you can review the scope and cost before you decide whether to proceed. For the Dual Company Setup Legal Service service, pricing starts from $1,200.00.

After you enquire, a legal consultant will confirm what is included, the expected timing and whether any extra work is needed before you engage us.

We work online, so we can help wherever you are in New Zealand. Our team works remotely, mainly from Australia.

Your work is done by our Australian-qualified lawyers, who hold Australian practising certificates and specialise in business law. None of them are New Zealand lawyers or hold a New Zealand practising certificate.

Sprintlaw NZ Limited is a legal consultancy, not a law firm, and is not regulated by the New Zealand Law Society. We don't act in court or tribunal matters, conveyancing (including leases and business sales) or other reserved areas of work. Communications with Sprintlaw are unlikely to be protected by legal professional privilege. We still keep everything confidential under our engagement letter.