Xolo Go or Xolo Leap: Which should I choose for my online business?

Update 2022/01/01: 
I've reconsidered e-residency as an option for my online business

Update 2020/07/30: 
Xolo Go update: You can now accept payments from customers based in the USA and Canada.

Update 2020/06/24: 
It’s been a month since I signed up for Xolo Go. The verification process was fast and easy. Also, the Xolo dashboard is well designed. The only hurdle so far is finding EU based B2B customers.

Update 2020/05/28: 
Please note that pricing has changed since the writing of this article. Also, Xolo now offers new plans “Leap Pro” and “Growth” which includes Stripe, Paypal and Transferwise integration.As I write this, the world is currently facing a pandemic (COVID-19 or Coronavirus). I have been planning a fully online business for months, but now facing current events there is more of an urgency to take action and move forward.

TLDR: Given current global events, collecting an e-residency card would be incredibly careless making the option to move forward with Xolo Go the best option (for me) for now and then switch to Xolo Leap later.

What is Xolo?

Xolo (formerly known as LeapIN) was founded in May 2015 and enables freelancers, contractors and digital nomads around the world to start and run microbusinesses remotely and fully online. It’s ideal if you need the business side of things to be mostly automated as well as be location-independent. Although similar services exist, I’ve made a comparison in a previous post as to why I will most likely proceed with Xolo. In 2019 Xolo introduced a product called Xolo Go where instead of owning a company you simply pay a transaction fee to provide a professional service. Also, recently Xolo Leap customers now have the option to apply online for a fully-licensed German bank account provided by Wirecard*.

*Xolo has decided to suspend issuing new bank accounts in Wirecard Bank as its parent company Wirecard AG has filed for bankruptcy

Xolo Leap

Xolo Leap allows you to run a one-person business offering professional or digital services. You will need to be an Estonian e-resident to use this service. Essentially all you pay is a monthly fee to have your business admin taken care of (this includes accounting and banking). Another thing to consider is that there are limitations to the kind of business you can operate.

In my previous post covering this topic, I calculated the estimated cost of starting a business with LeapIN/Xolo Leap. The prices have not changed much so here is an updated estimate.

Xolo Leap + e-residency

• e-Residency, Business setup and registration: €335

• Xolo Leap costs for a year after reaching €1000 (including accounting and banking): €948

Total: €1 283

Extras:
Minimum share capital: €2 500

*Cost of an Airline ticket + hotel for 4 days to collect Digital ID in Turkey(my closest collection point): ± $1 150
*Priced to US dollars based on the exchange rate at the time of writing

Xolo Go

Xolo Go is a product ideally suited for freelancers (offering a professional service) without the need to own their own company. There is no monthly fee and you simply pay a percentage(5%) of all outgoing payments. This sounds great but there are limitations, I’ll list a few:

• Customers need to be business customers (B2B) in EU countries who have a valid EU VAT registration

• Xolo Go with your first name and last name will appear on all invoices

• Payments via Stripe and Paypal are not possible

Considering there is no monthly fee I am willing to overlook these limitations for now.Given the current climate, the option to use Xolo Leap will have to be put on hold. Therefore, I will get started on my Xolo Go application and (if feasible) switch to Xolo Leap at a later date.

Here is a full comparison of Xolo Go vs Xolo Leap.

Originally published on Medium