Initial assessment: a written roadmap before you commit time and money
Many foreign companies lose time because they start with the wrong procedure. The initial assessment gives you, in writing, what to do, in what order, with whom, and what depends on third parties.
Free initial conversation
Free initial conversation, with no obligation, of up to 30 minutes. You tell us your objective, the country and the stage you are at. We tell you clearly whether we can help you and whether your case requires an initial assessment. It does not include legal, tax, immigration, accounting or financial advice.
It can take place by video call, phone or in writing. We will ask what you want to achieve and in which country or countries, what stage you are at, who the parties involved are and what timeline you have in mind. We will tell you whether we can help you and with which service, which professionals would be involved, whether your case requires an initial assessment and how it is quoted, and what we cannot do or guarantee. It creates no obligation for either party.
Variable price; timeline runs from receipt of complete information
If your case requires it, we quote it according to the type and complexity of the operation. The initial assessment is normally delivered 3 to 7 business days after we receive the complete information needed to begin.
What the report includes, depending on the case
- Objective and scope.
- Recommended steps and order of execution.
- Required documents.
- Responsibilities.
- Dependencies.
- Risks.
- Estimated timelines.
- Institutions involved.
- Vertex activities.
- Third-party activities.
- Decisions that are yours to make.
- Exclusions.
- Next steps.
If you decide to continue
If you decide to continue, we send you a proposal with scope, responsibilities, Vertex fees and third-party costs shown separately. If you hire us for implementation, the assessment fee may be credited as set out in the proposal.
It does not replace the opinion of a lawyer, accountant or notary, and it does not guarantee the project's feasibility or decisions by authorities or banks.
Assessment report · Company A (hypothetical)
Illustrative example. Hypothetical company; it does not correspond to a real client. The content of each report depends on the case.
A foreign packaging manufacturer considering forming a company in El Salvador to import and distribute in the region.
| No. | Section | Illustrative content |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Objective | Form a Salvadoran company to import and distribute, and open its bank account |
| 2 | Scope of the assessment | Possible corporate structure, documents, sequence, institutions, risks and client decisions. Excludes legal and tax opinions |
| 3 | Recommended steps and order of execution | 3.1 Confirm the corporate form with a lawyer. 3.2 Gather and apostille the documents of the parent company and the shareholders. 3.3 Translate any documents not in Spanish. 3.4 Execute the deed before a notary. 3.5 Register the company in the commercial registry. 3.6 Complete the tax registrations with the accountant. 3.7 Prepare the bank file. 3.8 Prepare the calendar of initial obligations |
| 4 | Required documents | List according to the corporate form and the country of origin |
| 5 | Responsibilities | Table by step: Vertex, lawyer, notary, accountant, bank, client |
| 6 | Dependencies | Tax registration depends on commercial registration; the bank file depends on both |
| 7 | Risks | Origin documents with limited validity; apostille delays in the country of origin; additional bank requirements |
| 8 | Estimated timelines | Ranges by step, subject to the institutions; not guaranteed |
| 9 | Institutions involved | Commercial registry, tax administration, bank, consulates |
| 10 | Vertex activities | Preparation and review of the file, coordination, follow-up and reports |
| 11 | Third-party activities | Legal opinion, deed, tax registrations, official translations, bank decision |
| 12 | Client decisions | Corporate form, partners or shareholders and managers, address, bank |
| 13 | Exclusions | Legal and tax advice, third-party fees and charges, decisions by institutions |
| 14 | Next steps | If the client decides to continue, a proposal with scope, responsibilities, Vertex fees and third-party costs shown separately |
How we report progress to you
During implementation we send you progress reports at the frequency set in the proposal. Each report shows the activities completed, the processes under way, the documents received and pending, who is responsible for each activity, any blockers, the next steps, the relevant dates and the decisions that are yours to make. We notify you without waiting for the next report when a blocker arises that requires your decision, when an institution requests additional information or when a document is about to expire. You can ask for the updated checklist at any time.
Checklist · Company formation in El Salvador · Company A (hypothetical)
Illustrative checklist example. Each checklist is adapted to the case.
| No. | Activity | Responsible | Depends on | Status | Document |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Confirm corporate form | Lawyer and client | Initial assessment | Completed | Lawyer's note |
| 2 | Shareholders' passports | Client | None | Received | Copies |
| 3 | Apostilled parent company documents | Client | None | Pending | None |
| 4 | Official translation | Authorized translator | 3 | On hold | None |
| 5 | File review | Vertex | 2, 3 and 4 | On hold | Review list |
| 6 | Deed of incorporation | Notary | 5 | On hold | Deed |
| 7 | Commercial registration | Registry | 6 | On hold | Certificate |
| 8 | Tax registrations | Accountant | 7 | On hold | Certificates |
| 9 | Bank file | Vertex and client | 7 and 8 | On hold | File |
| 10 | Calendar of obligations | Accountant and Vertex | 8 | On hold | Calendar |
Possible statuses: pending, received, under review, on hold, in process, completed, blocked.
Progress report No. 3 · Company A (hypothetical)
Illustrative example. Hypothetical company.
Period and frequency: as set in the proposal.
| Section | Illustrative content |
|---|---|
| Completed in the period | Corporate form confirmed by the lawyer; passports received and reviewed |
| In progress | Apostille of the parent company's documents, handled by the client in its country |
| Documents | 2 of 5 received. Pending: parent company certificate of existence, representative's power of attorney, bank reference letter |
| Blockers | The apostille in the country of origin is on hold until the date the client reports |
| Client decisions | Confirm the address to be used in the deed |
| Next steps | Official translation upon receipt of the documents; appointment with the notary |
| Relevant dates | Notary appointment and document expiration |
| Risks | If the apostille is delayed, the parent company certificate could expire and will need to be renewed |
Frequently asked questions
01Is there a cost for the initial conversation?
No.
02Does the initial assessment have a fixed price?
No; it is quoted in advance.
03When does the timeline start?
The initial assessment is normally delivered 3 to 7 business days after we receive the complete information needed to begin.
04Am I required to hire you for implementation?
No.
First step
The first conversation is free, with no obligation, and lasts up to 30 minutes.