Single Family Office Setup
A single family office (SFO) gives one family exclusive control over its wealth — dedicated investment, governance and administrative infrastructure built around a single balance sheet. We architect the entity, secure the licensing, recruit the team and write the investment policy so your office is operational, compliant and institution-grade from day one.
In short: A single family office is a private company that manages the wealth of one family exclusively. Setting one up involves choosing a jurisdiction, forming the holding and operating entities, obtaining any required licence, recruiting an investment and operations team, and codifying an investment policy statement. It typically makes economic sense from $50M–$100M+ in investable assets, and takes 2–6 months to establish depending on jurisdiction.
What SFO setup includes
Jurisdiction & structure design
Comparative analysis of DIFC, Switzerland, Singapore, London and the US against your residency, tax and succession profile — then the holding, operating and asset-holding entities to match.
Entity formation & licensing
Incorporation of the family office company, foundations or prescribed companies, and any regulatory registration — most SFOs serving one family avoid a financial-services licence.
Team recruitment & operating model
CIO, investment analysts, controller and administrative staff, plus the technology stack for consolidated reporting, custody and cash management.
Investment policy & governance
A written investment policy statement, asset-allocation framework and the family governance charter that defines who decides what.
How we set up your SFO
- Discovery & structuring (Weeks 1–4): Family balance sheet review, objectives, residency and tax analysis, and the recommended jurisdiction and entity structure.
- Formation & licensing (Weeks 5–10): Incorporation, bank and custody onboarding, regulatory filings and constitutional documents.
- Staffing & systems (Weeks 8–16): Recruitment of the investment and operations team and implementation of reporting and portfolio systems.
- Activation & handover (Weeks 14–24): Investment policy sign-off, first capital deployment and governance charter adoption.
Frequently asked questions
What is a single family office?
A single family office (SFO) is a private organisation that manages the financial affairs of one wealthy family — investments, tax, estate planning, philanthropy and administration — with dedicated staff acting solely in that family's interest.
How much money do you need for a single family office?
There is rarely a statutory minimum, but a dedicated SFO usually becomes cost-effective from $50M–$100M in investable assets, because annual running costs commonly exceed $1M. Below that, a multi-family office is often more efficient.
How long does it take to set up a single family office?
Typically 2–6 months, depending on the jurisdiction, structure complexity, licensing requirements and how quickly banking and custody relationships are established.
Which is the best jurisdiction for a single family office?
It depends on residency, tax and succession goals. DIFC (Dubai) offers 0% personal tax and a light SFO regime; Switzerland offers discretion and stability; Singapore offers Asian market access with tax-incentive schemes. We model each before recommending.
Does a single family office need a licence?
In most leading jurisdictions a genuine single family office serving only its own family sits outside the financial-services licensing perimeter. Serving multiple unrelated families generally triggers licensing as a portfolio manager or multi-family office.