Cost, timeline,
and currency — modelled
Three calculators we use internally with clients. Indicative outputs only — book a scoping call for binding numbers.
Modelled against live Iranian regulatory regimes
Free Zone Cost Estimator
Indicative USD setup + 3-year operating cost. Order-of-magnitude only — actual quotes depend on activity license, land tariff, and counsel fees.
Business Setup Timeline
Typical wholly-owned subsidiary in mainland Iran. Total ≈ 134 business days (~7 months). Some steps run in parallel.
FX / IRR Converter
Indicative conversion at NIMA reference rate (~IRR 580,000/USD). Not a quote — IRR markets carry a NIMA/free-market spread; check live rates before remittance.
Assumptions behind the numbers
Free-zone setup
Base figures derive from posted 2025 land, license and registration tariffs across the seven FTZs, blended with our actual client invoices over 2022–2025. Excludes capex, working capital and counsel retainers.
Operating cost
Annual run-rate estimates US$4.8k per local staff (loaded cost incl. SSO, payroll tax, basic benefits) plus 55% of setup as recurring overheads (office, utilities, license renewals). Excludes raw materials and logistics.
Setup timeline
Phase durations reflect median completion across mainland PrJSC, FIPPA-licensed and free-zone tracks in 2023–2025. FIPPA path adds 45–60 working days for OIETAI review.
FX conversion
NIMA reference rate refreshed periodically from CBI publications. Parallel-market rate shown for orientation only — investors should NEVER model business cases at parallel rates.
Sector multipliers
Manufacturing carries the highest multiplier (land + utilities + environmental); ICT the lowest (services-only license). Tourism varies by sub-segment.
Confidence interval
Outputs are order-of-magnitude (±25–35%). For bid-ready numbers we issue a fixed-fee scoping memo with binding figures.
When each calculator earns its keep
| Tool | Best for | Don't use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Free zone estimator | Comparing 2–3 zones for a defined activity; sizing the budget envelope for board approval. | Submitting binding numbers to a tender or financier — request a scoping memo instead. |
| Setup timeline | Sequencing the project plan, deciding when to hire local staff, when to start visa applications. | Promising regulators a hard deadline — OIETAI and ministry review windows can shift. |
| FX converter | Translating IRR pricing to USD/EUR for sense-checks and orientation only. | P&L modelling — use a documented base/upside/downside scenario set in your model. |
Need a binding model?
For board approvals, joint-venture negotiations or financier requirements we issue a fixed-fee scoping memo — a 12–20-page document with binding figures, sensitivity analysis, and a phased cash-flow schedule signed off by our analysts and reviewed by local counsel.
Typical turnaround is 7–10 working days. Models cover entry mode comparisons, FIPPA vs. mainland LLC vs. free-zone trade-offs, tax-leakage scenarios across treaty jurisdictions, and exit-route stress tests.
Request a scoping memoDecision-grade calculators, not marketing widgets
These tools surface order-of-magnitude costs and timelines that we refine into firm quotes during scoping. They are not a substitute for due diligence, but they get you to the right question 80% faster.
Indicative, not binding
Outputs are benchmarks from our recent mandate book. Real numbers depend on activity license, land tariff, FX execution venue, and counsel.
Updated quarterly
Free-zone base costs, FX reference, and timeline norms are refreshed each quarter against our active engagements.
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Frequently asked questions
How accurate is the free zone cost estimator?+
Within ±25% for a standard wholly-owned subsidiary. Sector-specific licensing (e.g. petrochemicals downstream, financial services) can move the figure materially. Always validate with a scoped quote.
Why does the timeline assume 4-5 months end-to-end?+
That is our observed median for a mainland Iran wholly-owned subsidiary with FX banking. Free-zone-only entities can complete in 8-10 weeks. Highly regulated sectors add 4-12 weeks for licensing.
Which FX rate should I budget at?+
For capital injection and regulated imports, budget at NIMA. For operational expenses paid locally, the free-market rate applies. We model both in the financial plan we produce during onboarding.
Can you run these calculators against my actual deal parameters?+
Yes — book a discovery call and we will produce a written cost & timeline memo with our internal models within 5 business days.
What the free-zone, timeline and currency tools model — and where judgement takes over
The three calculators on this page are planning instruments, not quotations. They encode the cost drivers, sequence and currency mechanics we see repeatedly in Iranian market-entry files so that a board paper can carry a defensible order of magnitude before any adviser is retained. Each rests on assumptions that hold for a typical file and break for an atypical one, and the honest use of a model is to know which of those you are.
What each tool models and its main assumption
| Tool | Models | Key assumption | Where it breaks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free zone cost estimator | First-year licence, office, visa and registration cost across seven zones | Standard trading or light-assembly operation with under ten staff | Heavy manufacturing, bonded warehousing, large expatriate headcount |
| Setup timeline visualiser | Sequence and duration of registration, licensing and banking steps | Complete documentation supplied on time and no sector-specific permit | Regulated sectors, incomplete legalisation, ownership structures needing extra screening |
| FX and IRR converter | Conversion between the NIMA reference rate and the open market rate | Rates as published at the date shown, not live quotes | Rapid policy shifts, sector-specific allocation rules, large transfers |
Indicative planning benchmarks based on our engagement experience; actual timelines vary by sector and file.
Using the outputs responsibly
- Treat every figure as a band of roughly plus or minus twenty per cent, not a price
- Add a contingency line for translation, legalisation and notarisation — routinely underestimated
- Re-run the currency tool at the date of your decision; Iranian rates move faster than budgets
- Check whether your sector requires a ministry licence before trusting the timeline output
- Use the free-zone comparison to shortlist two zones, then verify locally before committing
- Keep the assumptions visible in any board paper that quotes the result
Frequently asked questions
How accurate are the free zone cost estimates?
They are planning benchmarks intended to be within roughly twenty per cent for a standard trading or light-assembly operation. Zone authorities revise fee schedules annually and negotiate package terms, so a written quotation from the zone remains the only firm number.
Which exchange rate should we budget with?
Use the NIMA reference rate for transactions that will clear through the official channel and the open market rate for local operating costs. Budgeting entirely at one rate is the most common source of variance in first-year forecasts.
Does the timeline tool account for sector licences?
No. It models the common registration, tax, and banking sequence. Regulated sectors such as pharmaceuticals, telecoms and financial services add ministry approvals that can extend the schedule by two to five months.
Can these tools replace professional advice?
They replace the first spreadsheet, not the adviser. They are designed to get an internal discussion to the right order of magnitude quickly, after which a scoped review confirms the numbers against your actual structure.