Who we are
Meet Our Powerhouse Team:
Your guiding light in Portugal
Raquel – CEO and Entrepreneur Extraordinaire – Legal Consultant
As the CEO and Co-founder of Lighthouse Consulting, Raquel brings more than 20 years of experience in the banking and insurance industry as a legal consultant to the table. Her legal expertise and deep understanding of the intricacies of the Portuguese economy make her an invaluable asset to our clients. Raquel’s passion for entrepreneurship and her drive to empower expats in Portugal is the driving force behind Lighthouse Consulting’s success. She’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and do whatever it takes to ensure our clients’ success.
Luis – Real Estate Maestro
Luis, the other Co-founder is our resident real estate and construction expert with over 20 years of experience in the field. His extensive knowledge of the Portuguese real estate market and his knack for finding hidden gems make him an indispensable resource for our clients. Whether it’s finding the perfect investment property, overseeing construction projects, or providing strategic advice on real estate ventures, Luis is there every step of the way, ensuring our clients’ dreams become a reality.
Together, Raquel and Luis form a dynamic duo that combines legal expertise, business acumen, and a deep understanding of the Portuguese market. Their passion for helping expats thrive in Portugal sets them apart, making Lighthouse Consulting the go-to consultancy for personalized support and success. With their unwavering commitment to excellence and a team of dedicated experts, Raquel and Luis are here to guide you towards a brighter future in Portugal.
From our Portuguese hearts to yours…
Things we can help you with:
-a business set up / set up your company
-review of contracts (rental, leases, deeds, or any other)
-business brokerage
-real estate consulting
-construction and remodeling
Partnerships in:
–golden visa and luxury real estate
Ready to thrive in Portugal?
Connect with us today for personalized guidance and support on your expat journey.
What we can do for you
At Lighthouse Consulting, we empower expats in Portugal to navigate the complexities of the Portuguese economy with knowledge and certainty.
Discover how our comprehensive and holistic consulting services, backed by Raquel’s legal expertise in the banking and insurance industry and Luis’s extensive experience in real estate and construction, can guide you from business advisory and real estate investment to insurance and construction. Our personalized solutions, expert partnerships, and online courses enhance the living experience of expats in Portugal, making us the go-to consultancy for tailored support and success in your ventures.
Create your Business!
As simple as that, we will send you a template for you to fill in with the information we need, and we will take care of everything for you. Contact us, or book an apointment. We will deliver a turnkey ready to operate company, together with a referred English speaking accountant. This service includes consultations and advice on the best type for your company, practical operational tactics and tips for the best start to your business, commercial registry filing, and beneficial ownership registry filing.
Review your contracts!
We will be your advisor, and review all the contracts that you need, from leases or rental contracts, to buy and sell contracts, promissory contracts (cpcv), business contracts or any other information you want to have checked out.
Do you want to buy a house, rent a house, buy a business or sign any document but are unsure about the necessary steps, documents or safeguards that you need to have? Contact us, or book an apointment. We will be right there with you to help you have a solid foundation for your next adventure here!
Business Brokerage!
Do you want to invest in a business in Portugal but don’t know where to start? We can help you find the specific business to own or create here in Portugal, connecting you with the necessary structures to succeed. Do you have a business that you wish to sell to a proper investor or are you in need of a partnership to scale and grow your business? We have a growing network of connections that will help you get to where you need and start or buy a thriving and successful business. Contact us, or book an apointment.
Real Estate!
Do you want to find your dream property here in Portugal? Do you want to buy or rent a house or an apartment? Contact us, or book an apointment. We can help you by not only advising you on the locations and types of properties but also doing the house-hunting process for you. We will walk you through all the steps of the buying, selling, or renting process, insuring you are going to make the deal of a lifetime!
Construction and remodeling!
Do you need to have some house remodeling work done? Do you want to change up a room in your house, to adapt it to your tastes and needs? Do you need a new kitchen or bathroom? How about if you could build your home from the ground up exactly as you wanted? Contact us, book an apointment or check out our portfolio! We can help you! We have a level 3 construction permit which allows us to build huge buildings! Let us help you build your dream home here in Portugal!
Online courses!
We have a collection of various online courses to help you in several fields of living here in Portugal to give you the autonomy and knowledge to navigate by yourself in this beautiful country of ours with the confidence of knowing all the specificities that you need, but hey, we will still be here for you if you want a side kick to feel even more confident! Jump right in!
Also… Ask and you shall receive!
Let’s talk and we’ll try to answer any specific topics you want us to address or even have a course on it!
Testimonials
What our dear clients say…
“We cannot recommend Raquel and Lighthouse Consulting enough. We are at the beginning of our move to Portugal and Raquel has consistently been available to answer our many questions. She is thoughtful and knowledgeable and we truly appreciate her expertise involving all aspects of our move. She is prompt, accurate, and has patiently listened to all of our concerns. Talking with her via video chat feels like we are talking to an old friend. We are looking forward to continuing our journey to Portugal with Lighthouse Consulting by our side!”
Kristie Contreras
Client
“Raquel was amazing, quick, reliable, and communicative. She made sure we were taken care of and understood all the nuances involved with doing business in Portugal”
Zain Lakhani
Client
“It was a great pleasure working with Raquel! She is very kind and considerate with her clients. Raquel went out of her way to be flexible and coordinate Skype calls that were outside her regular working hours due to our busy schedule and the difference in time zone. I would definitely recommend her to anyone I know!”
Susan Evans
Client
“Raquel’s help was invaluable in our process of getting set up as freelancers in Portugal. She helped us brain storm the most financially efficient routes to take and spent time ensuring we understood how to use the financial portal here. She’s always on the end of the phone for questions and it has really given us that peace of mind we are on track! Reliable, and knowledgable, Raquel is a problem solver and an empowering advisor.”
Merryl
Client
“Raquel of Lighthouse Consulting has been an incredible contact and resource for me as I transition my life and business endeavors to Portugal. As a seasoned business owner and professional in the US I knew right away that Raquel had expansive knowledge of the legal necessities and best business practices in order to succeed in Portugal which is even hard to come by with consultants in America let alone a new country. She has an amazing reputation in Portugal and her friendly and energetic personality is an added bonus to her professionalism. Raquel is an expert in many fields and I look forward to working with her for years to come.”
Daine White
Client
“I would say a big thanks to Raquel for all her help and great expertise she shared! With her assistance I would be able to open my business online, navigate through Finance Portal to learn various options related to taxation. She also helped me to apply for my NHR, NISS, and gave lots of tips and priceless advices. Raquel is not only professional and patient but also a fun person, making her exceptionally easy to communicate with. She is very committed to get things done successfully, always ready to dedicate extra time to providing answers via email or organizing additional Zoom sessions.
I would highly recommend Raquel and Lighthouse Consulting LDA for those who needed help with starting businesses and getting things done right from the beginning in the new country.
It would never happen without her help! Thank you again Raquel! It was a great experience!”
Tatyana
Client
“I would highly recommend using Lighthouse Consulting, they were an absolute godsend in advice when setting up a business, not just for cutting through the Portuguese bureaucracy, but pointing me in the right direction of unknown loopholes that would take years to find organically. They specifically focused on what I needed and put me in touch with the right people to give me the best possible start. They gave me advice on the best business structures and setups for potential grants and the optimal tax benefits. Not only did they help me with my business and very kindly educated me in the Portuguese culture and gave me great tips for unknown beaches and restaurants. I am a person who actually tackles business duties in my own hands, however using Lighthouse Consulting was the best decision, it saved me hours of work setting up the company and with the advised business structure it will save me thousands in the future.”
Alec Morris
Client
“Raquel is a breath of fresh air in the business world in Portugal. She’s resourceful, efficient, and very well in-tune with the needs of foreigners.
I was in dire need to incorporate asap and there was no way to do in less than 3 months as per the usual routes. Not only did she help me incorporate within a few days, she helped simplify the whole process afterwards.”
Jennifer Nava
Client
“Raquel at Lighthouse Consulting is a true asset for anyone navigating the complexities of freelancing & tax in Portugal. Her expertise, dedication, and personable approach make her a guiding star in the consulting world. I wholeheartedly recommend Raquel to anyone seeking a reliable and supportive partner in their freelance journey.”
Sam
Freelance Graphic & Packaging Designer, UK
“Since moving to Portugal 1,5 years ago I have purchased a house, a car, employed a housekeeper and navigated the at times tremendously overwhelming burocracy incolved in such acrivities here in Portugal. I can say wholeheartedly that I would not have managed to accomplish any of these things without Raquel. She is without a doubt the most effective, knowledgeable, responsive and heartfelt lawyer I have ever worked with. (And in the last 12 years I have moved to four countries, bought/rented 6 houses and dealt with numerous lawyers) At this point I would not even think of signing any contract no matter what it entails without checking in with Raquel first. I cannot recommend her enough!”
Elise
Client
“Raquel Lighthouse/Batista wrote a professional reference letter for me for my visa application and we’ve had some communications discussing important legal issues pertaining to relocating to Portugal. I found her to be not only very knowledgeable and professional, but also very reassuring and friendly and easy going. I feel fortunate to have discovered her and been able to utilize her services. I will do more with her in the future as needed. I have no reservation about highly recommending her and her services to others. She will take care of your professional needs and in a prompt friendly manner.”
Sophia Isabel
Client
“I just wanted to say thank you again for your help, we’re figuring it all out and I will probably check in with you again once we’re closer. I have three kids and know how tough it can be, so just wanted to let you know that I think you’re the best lawyer we’ve worked with, you always respond immediately and with a baby at home I just wanted to say a big thank you!!”
Luna Marisol
Client