Fintech license cost calculator: buy an entity or apply from scratch
Every licensing decision is the same trade: applying costs less cash and more time, acquiring an entity that already holds the licence costs more cash and less time. Which side wins depends on three numbers — what the wait costs you in revenue, what the entity costs to buy, and what the application would cost end to end.
Pick a jurisdiction, set your expected revenue, and the model shows the break-even and the price above which applying is the cheaper route. Capital requirements and statutory review windows come from the law and the regulators; everything operator-specific is an assumption you can edit.
44 jurisdictions with verified capital or timeline data. Full details in the Lithuania EMI guide.
Cost calculator: buy an existing entity or apply from scratch
Applying for an EMI licence in Lithuania costs money and time. Buying an entity that already holds one costs more up front and less time. This calculator compares both routes and shows the purchase price at which they break even.
| Cost line | Apply | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | €5,000 | — |
| Legal and advisory | €60,000 | €25,000 |
| Company formation | €5,000 | — |
| Purchase price | — | €250,000 |
| Running costs while waiting (7 vs 1.8 months) | €84,000 | €22,000 |
| Opportunity cost of bound capital | €12,000 | €3,000 |
| Total to go-live | €166,000 | €300,000 |
Going live 5.2 months earlier is worth €165,000 in contribution at the revenue you set — the figure that decides this comparison, and the one a pure cost table leaves out.
Regulatory capital of €350,000 is required on both routes. It stays on the balance sheet, so only its opportunity cost appears above — not the full amount.
Statutory decision period: 3 months from a complete application. Change-of-control assessment: 60 working days.
Sources: Directive 2009/110/EC (EMD2) Art. 4 — initial capital EUR 350,000 · PSD2 Art. 12 — competent authority decision within 3 months of a complete application · PSD2 Art. 6(2) / CRD Art. 22 — qualifying holding assessment, 60 working days · Dealable24 license guide: stated timeline
Indicative figures for orientation, not legal or investment advice. The competent authority is the binding source.
Cost and timeline questions: Lithuania EMI
- How much does an EMI licence in Lithuania cost?
- Applying from scratch costs roughly €166,000 to reach go-live. That covers the application fee, external counsel, company formation and the running costs carried over the 7 months of regulator review. Regulatory capital of €350,000 must be in place and stays on the balance sheet.
- How long does EMI licensing in Lithuania take?
- Expect around 7 months from start to authorisation. The authority's statutory decision window is 3 months from a complete application — the rest is preparation before filing. Acquiring an entity that already holds the licence takes about 1.8 months instead, because the regulator reviews a change of control within 60 working days rather than assessing a new applicant.
- Is it cheaper to buy an existing Lithuania EMI entity?
- Buying pays off up to a price of about €281,000. Below that, the 5.2 months of earlier revenue outweigh the higher purchase price; above it, applying from scratch is cheaper. This assumes €150,000 of monthly revenue once live.
Figures reflect the calculator's default settings. Adjust the inputs above for your own plan.
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