Small institutions are restricted versions of the full EMI and payment institution licences. They carry lower capital and lighter requirements in exchange for caps on activity, which suits early-stage businesses and local services.
| Buy existing | Apply new | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Capped by volume and, in many regimes, limited to the home market | Full permissions you apply for |
| Passporting | Usually not available | Available under a full EEA authorisation |
| Main risk | Outgrowing the limits and needing an upgrade | Slower and more expensive start |
| Best for | Small, local or early-stage activity | Businesses planning cross-border services |
Every sale is subject to regulator approval of the new owners. Timelines are set by the regulator and are not guaranteed.
A small e-money institution has lower thresholds and lighter requirements than a full EMI, and it is limited in the volume of e-money and payments it can handle.
A small payment institution is limited by payment volume and usually cannot passport services abroad. An authorised payment institution has a full licence.
You can apply to become a fully authorised institution, but that is a separate regulatory process and is not guaranteed.
They are often lower priced because the licence is more limited, but price depends on the jurisdiction, the clients and the condition of the company.
Tell us the licence type, region and budget. We reply with matching companies under NDA.