In this guide
To choose a consultant in Presidente Franco, write down what you need solved first (tax, setting up a company, an employment or legal matter, or selling into Brazil) and ask two advisers for a written proposal with scope, deadlines and fees. Before paying, check what you can do for free: a standard EAS company can be set up online at no cost, and in neighbouring Ciudad del Este the trade ministry runs a free technical-assistance centre for small businesses.
What kind of advice does your business need?
Presidente Franco is part of the Ciudad del Este metro area, across the river from Foz do Iguaçu in Brazil; its economy today is mainly commerce and tourism, with sawmills, dairy, oil and palm-heart processing, and rural soy farms (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Depending on your case:
- Accounting and tax: returns, books and electronic invoicing through Marangatú, the system of the DNIT (opens in a new tab) tax authority. Look for someone fluent in it who reminds you of deadlines.
- Setting up the company: with several partners, foreign investment or custom by-laws, an adviser adds value. If it is simple, you can do it yourself (see below).
- Employment and legal: contracts, dismissals, debt collection or claims. To represent you in court, the lawyer must be registered with the Supreme Court (opens in a new tab).
- Clients or partners in Brazil: ask whether the adviser works in Portuguese and has handled cases with counterparts in Foz; it saves translating every document.
Do you need an adviser to open an EAS?
Not always. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (opens in a new tab), the EAS (simplified joint-stock company):
- Is filed online at eas.mic.gov.py through SUACE.
- With standard by-laws, is set up within 72 hours at zero cost.
- Has no minimum or maximum capital, and each partner is liable up to their contribution.
- Needs a legal representative who logs in with an electronic ID and must be Paraguayan or hold a Paraguayan cédula.
That last point matters in a border city: if the partners are Brazilians without a Paraguayan ID, an adviser who sorts out the representation is worth paying. Between February 2021 and November 2024, 13,744 companies were created this way (La Nación (opens in a new tab)).
Free business advice in Ciudad del Este
The ministry's SBDC Business Development Centre opened in April 2024 with the Itaipú Technology Park (La Nación, 2024 (opens in a new tab)) and operates on Itaipú land in Área 3 of Ciudad del Este. It offers information, training and free technical assistance to small businesses in Alto Paraná, starting with a diagnosis of the business; by 2025 it had assisted about a thousand firms (La Nación, 2025 (opens in a new tab); Última Hora (opens in a new tab)). From Franco, take PY07 and PY02 towards Ciudad del Este (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)). Contact them first to book the initial meeting.
If your meetings cross to Foz
Since 14 September 2026, the Integration Bridge from Presidente Franco has allowed private cars from 07:00 to 13:00, only for residents of Ciudad del Este, Presidente Franco, Hernandarias and Foz do Iguaçu, and every occupant must carry the Border Resident Transit Document (DTVF) (Paraguay's foreign ministry (opens in a new tab)). If your adviser or client is on the other side, book morning meetings or use video calls; outside those hours, cars still cross by the Friendship Bridge.
What to check before hiring
- Invoice: every sale of goods and services must carry a factura (Sedeco via ABC Color (opens in a new tab)). Ask for the adviser's tax ID (RUC) and an invoice for every payment.
- Not barred: the DNIT (opens in a new tab) publishes lists of businesses barred for tax sanctions and of taxpayers in arrears. Whoever handles your tax should not be on them.
- Bar number, if a lawyer: ask for it before signing a power of attorney.
- Scope in writing: deliverables, deadlines and what is billed separately, such as amended returns or extra meetings.
- Document language: with Brazilian partners, agree from the start which language reports are in and who pays for translations.
How to prepare the first meeting
- Bring a one-page summary: what the business does, staff numbers, whether you sell to Brazil or Argentina, and what you need to decide.
- Hold the first conversation by video and keep in-person time for signing.
- Compare with advisers in Ciudad del Este too: the two cities are economically integrated (Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)), and a clear proposal matters more than a nearby office.
FAQ
Do I need an adviser to set up a company in Presidente Franco?
Not always. A standard EAS is set up online at eas.mic.gov.py within 72 hours at no cost, but the legal representative must be Paraguayan or hold a Paraguayan ID.
Is there free business advice near Presidente Franco?
Yes, the trade ministry's SBDC Business Development Centre operates on Itaipú land in Área 3 of Ciudad del Este, with free technical assistance.
How do I check an accountant is in good standing?
Ask for their RUC and an invoice for every payment, and check they are not on the DNIT lists of barred businesses or taxpayers in arrears.
Can I drive to Foz over the Integration Bridge for a meeting?
Since 14 September 2026, private cars may cross only from 07:00 to 13:00, for residents of Ciudad del Este, Presidente Franco, Hernandarias and Foz carrying the border resident transit document.
