Building the Future from the Countryside: Why Registering Your Startup in Rural Spain Might Be the Best Move You’ll Ever Make

For decades, entrepreneurs were told that success only lived in the city — in coworking spaces, traffic jams, and overpriced apartments.

But the tide has turned.

Thanks to Spain’s Startup Law (Law 28/2022), a new generation of entrepreneurs is rediscovering the charm and opportunity of small towns and villages. The message is simple: innovation doesn’t need skyscrapers — it needs connection, creativity, and purpose. And that can happen anywhere, even in a quiet village surrounded by olive trees and fresh air.

1. Decentralization: Breathing Space for Innovation

One of the key goals of Spain’s Startup Law is to decentralize business activity away from big cities like Madrid and Barcelona.

Because really — why should all innovation be confined to the same few postcodes?

In rural areas, startups can thrive with lower costs, cleaner air, fewer distractions, and a better work-life balance. The countryside offers room to think, room to live, and room to grow.

Setting up your company in a small town is no longer a quirky idea — it’s a strategic lifestyle and business choice.

2. Startups and Business Angels: The New Rural Ecosystem

The law also strengthens the presence of business angels in Spain — private investors who back early-stage ventures with funding, mentorship, and valuable connections.

And here’s the exciting part: they’re looking beyond the city.

Rural startups are catching their attention by offering something rare — authenticity, sustainability, and local impact. From tech and agrotech to sustainable design and creative industries, rural Spain is quickly becoming fertile ground for meaningful innovation.

3. Empowering Female Entrepreneurs

Another inspiring aspect of the Startup Law is its focus on promoting female entrepreneurship in Spain.

The goal is clear: more women leading startups, innovating, and shaping the future.

Rural environments are particularly well-suited to this — less hierarchy, more collaboration, and more space for balance and creativity. Across Spain, women are launching sustainable farms, digital startups, design studios, and social enterprises — proving that rural innovation is also a feminist revolution.

4. A National Support Network for Entrepreneurs

To turn vision into action, the law introduced two major initiatives:

• The National Entrepreneurship Office (ONE) — a central hub connecting startups, investors, and public institutions.

• The National Forum for Emerging Companies — a collaborative platform fostering dialogue between government and entrepreneurs.

Together, these initiatives ensure that rural innovators stay connected to national networks, resources, and opportunities — no matter where they’re based.

5. Real Benefits for Rural Companies

This isn’t just a feel-good movement — it’s backed by tangible financial and legal benefits.

If you register your startup in Spain (including in rural areas), you can enjoy:

• Reduced corporate tax: just 15% for the first few years.

• Fast online registration and simplified bureaucracy.

• Flexible stock options to attract and retain talent.

• Simplified contracts and legal clarity for founders and investors.

• Labor flexibility for remote and distributed teams.

That means your rural startup can compete on equal footing with urban companies — with lower costs and a higher quality of life.

6. Digital Nomads and Global Investors: Welcome to Rural Spain

Here’s where things get even more exciting.

Spain now offers a digital nomad visa, allowing remote professionals to live and work legally while teleworking for international companies.

There are also residency permits for investors, making it easier to bring global capital and expertise into Spain’s rural regions.

Picture this: working from a stone house with fiber-optic Wi-Fi, taking meetings from a sunny terrace, and ending your day with tapas at the local bar.

It’s not a dream — it’s the new reality of rural Spain.

7. The Future Is Rural — and It’s Already Here

Spain’s Startup Law isn’t just about business; it’s about redefining how and where we want to live.

Registering your company in a rural area is more than a smart tax decision — it’s a statement of values.

It’s about balance, connection, and sustainability.

It’s about measuring success not only in revenue, but in community impact and quality of life.

Projects like Hamlets Friends in Nuño Gómez (Toledo) are proving this works — combining coworking spaces, colivings, local restaurants, and creative hubs where entrepreneurs from around the world live, collaborate, and build together.

In Short

The future of innovation isn’t in glass towers — it’s in the hills, valleys, and villages where Wi-Fi is strong and communities are stronger.

Starting your business from the countryside isn’t a step back — it’s a leap forward.

And with the Spanish Startup Law, the door to that future is wide open.