Wealth Management for Business Owners Moving to or Living in Spain

By Victor Gersten, EA, CFP®, MS, MPAS™ | Information current as of October 2026

Questions that come up when an owner moves to Spain

Owning a business while becoming a Spanish tax resident adds layers that employees rarely face. The questions we hear most often:

• How should you pay yourself (salary, distributions, or a mix) once Spain taxes your worldwide income?
• How will Spain treat a US LLC or S corporation, which the IRS treats very differently?
• Does the Beckham regime fit your situation, and is the window to apply still open?
• Do you owe Social Security in Spain, in the US, or neither (totalization)?
• What must be reported in Spain about your ownership interest, and when?

These are planning questions for you personally. The answers depend on your entity, so we work alongside the advisers who handle the company side.

What the Founder Package includes

• Everything in the Settler Package: pre-move planning, residency timing, investment and account review, and ongoing cross-border wealth management.
• Planning for owner pay and distributions as part of your overall personal cash flow.
• Your business interest counted in the full picture of your wealth, at equity value, so concentration and liquidity are visible.
• Coordination of US and Spanish tax preparation through our tax coordination service, including autónomo reporting where relevant.
• Planning ahead for a sale, succession or other exit event.

What it does not include

• Corporate, entity formation or legal advice. Your attorney and corporate accountant stay in that role.
• Preparation of corporate or entity tax returns.
• Valuation of your business.
• State tax advice.

Who this fits

US citizens who own or co-own a business and are moving to Spain, or already live there, and who want one adviser looking at the whole personal picture. If you are an employee or retiree, the Sailor or Settler Package on our pricing page is likely the better fit.

Founder Package at a glance

Minimum assets under advisement	$20,000
Initial planning fee	$7,500 to $15,000, depending on complexity
Ongoing fees	Tiered. See the pricing page for the current schedule.
Term	No minimum term. Either side can end the agreement with 30 days’ notice.
Discovery Session	$499, credited toward your fee if you engage within 90 days

These terms apply to agreements signed on or after October 1, 2026. Fees are described in our Form ADV Part 2A.

Common questions

Do you advise on my company itself?
No. We plan for you as the owner: pay, distributions, ownership and exit as they affect your personal finances. Your corporate and legal advisers handle the company, and we coordinate with them.

Can I keep my US business after moving to Spain?
Many owners do, and the rules depend on your entity type and how you work. It is worth planning before the move, because the first year of Spanish residency often sets the pattern.

Is the Beckham regime available to business owners?
Sometimes. Eligibility depends on how you are employed or engaged and when you apply, and the application window is short. We review it with your Spanish tax adviser.

Is there a minimum commitment?
No. There is no minimum term, and either side can end the agreement with 30 days’ notice.

Related reading

• Tax Preparation and Coordination for Americans in Spain
• The US Spain Tax Treaty Explained
• FEIE or Foreign Tax Credit: Which One Should You Use?
• Package finder

Cross Border Wealth Advisors is a California state-registered investment adviser (CRD 309890). Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. This page is general education only and is not legal or tax advice, or an offer of advisory services until a formal client agreement is executed. Fees are negotiable and may vary based on complexity, scope of services and client circumstances. Lower fees for comparable services may be available from other sources. Described in our Form ADV Part 2A.