Company Registration in Bulgaria - Business Starting & Setup

Want to set up a firm in Bulgaria? We can assist you in starting a business or in buying a shelf company in Bulgaria with a full package of necessary documents, legal advice and follow-up support. Incorporation of a firm in Bulgaria includes provision of a registered office (for at least 1 year in any of our service plans), an apostilled set of constitutional documents, secretarial services and assistance with compliance fee and pre-approval for opening an account in banks of Bulgaria. The total price of company formation in Bulgaria includes all necessary fees and charges for the first year of operation, as well as full one-year nominee service (package Optimum).

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Service packages Legislation Tax System Audit Services
Service packages
Express
Standard
Optimum
Company registration
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Legal address per year
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Secretarial services for the first year
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Fees and duties for the first year
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Apostilled bound set of incorporation documents
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Nominee service per year
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Bank Account Pre-approval
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Price
4 700 USD

7 450 USD

8 060 USD

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General Corporate Information

Types of Entity in Bulgaria

Bulgarian legislation provides for the establishment of the following organisational and legal forms:

  • General Partnership
  • Limited Partnership
  • Limited Liability Company
  • One-man-company with Limited Liability
  • Joint-stock Company
  • Partnership Limited by Shares
  • Sole Proprieto

The most common structures are the Limited Liability Company with two or more shareholders (LLP) and Limited Liability Company with one shareholder (SPL)

Registration

Company Name

There are the following requirements for the company name in Bulgaria:

  • must not be identical or too similar to the name of an existing company;
  • must end with the indication of the legal form: LLC or EPO;
  • you cannot use in the name the words indicating the types of activities that require special legal regulation, licensing (bank, insurance, investment, financial, trust);
  • It is prohibited to use words, indicating the national or international nature of activity (national, imperial, European, Global).

Registration of the company in Bulgaria

The following steps are required to register a company:

  • Define the company name, the structure (director, shareholder, beneficiary), the amount of share capital, the type of activity;
  • Check the uniqueness of the company name;
  • to pay for the services;
  • to provide the appropriate documents;
  • to register at the tax authorities.

With the personal presence of the shareholder (one-day visit), the period of company registration in the register takes 1 week.

Without the personal presence of the shareholder, the company registration takes 2-3 weeks, as the company is first registered to a local agent, and then transferred to the client.

Registered office

There are no requirements for a registered office.

Seal

There are no seal requirements.

Company Structure

Director

There are no residency requirements for a director.

A local director is not required, because the residence of the company is determined by the place of incorporation (Bulgaria), but in the case of a conflict of norms, when the company is in fact managed from another country, it is necessary to study the double taxation avoidance agreement between the countries.

Information about the directors is contained in a public registry.

Secretary

No secretary is required for Bulgarian limited liability companies.

Shareholders

Requirements for shareholders: two or more shareholders in a LOD, one shareholder in an EOOD.

There are no residency requirements for the shareholder.

Information about the shareholders is contained in the public register.

Beneficiary

Bulgaria 2021 has adopted transparency rules from the OECD and on first request can provide data on the beneficiary through the agency's corporate website or by request.

Share capital and shares

The minimum authorized share capital of a Bulgarian Limited Liability Company is BGN 1.

The standard amount of share capital is 5,000 BGN.

Bearer shares and shares with no par value are prohibited.

Frequently Asked Questions about Company Registration in Bulgaria

How much does it cost to register a company in Bulgaria?
The cost of opening a company in Bulgaria depends on the type of company to be registered and the type of activity you will be engaged in. The minimum package of services costs USD 5675 and includes: registration of the company on a turnkey basis, lease of the registered office for a year and secretarial services, payment of all necessary duties and fees, as well as apostilled translation of the constituent documents.
Can a foreigner open a company in Bulgaria?
Yes, a foreigner can open a company in Bulgaria. Foreign individuals and companies can establish and own a business in Bulgaria and have the same rights and obligations as Bulgarian citizens and companies. However, there may be specific legal and regulatory requirements that must be met, such as obtaining a business license, registering the company with the Bulgarian trade register, and obtaining necessary permits or visas. It's recommended to consult with a local lawyer or accountant to ensure compliance with Bulgarian laws and regulations.
Is Bulgaria an offshore?
While Bulgaria has a low tax regime and a modern infrastructure, it is not commonly seen as an offshore destination for financial services or for the incorporation of companies. The Bulgarian government has taken measures to ensure that its financial sector operates in a transparent and compliant manner, and to prevent the abuse of its tax regime for illegal purposes. It is worth noting that Bulgaria is a member of the European Union and complies with the EU's tax transparency and information exchange standards.
Does Bulgaria have VAT tax?
Yes, Bulgaria has a Value Added Tax (VAT) tax. The standard VAT rate is 20%, with some goods and services subject to a reduced rate of 9%. Businesses are required to register for VAT if they exceed certain thresholds, and to charge VAT on their sales and claim VAT on their purchases. The VAT system in Bulgaria is in line with the EU VAT Directive, which sets the rules for VAT in the EU.
How long does it take to set up a company in Bulgaria?
The process of setting up a new company in Bulgaria, from applying for registration to receiving a set of documents, is 2-3 weeks.

Core Services and fees for the formation of a company in Bulgaria

— Incorporation

Price4 700 EUR

(including incorporation tax and state registry fee)

— Annual government fees

Priceincluded

(Stamp Duty) and incorporation fee

— Corporate legal services

Price3 030 EUR

(including registered address and registered agent)

—Delivery of documents by courier mail

Price2250 EUR

DHL or TNT, at cost of a Courier Service

Nominee Director

Priceот 2 750 EUR

Paid-up “nominee director” set includes the following documents

Nominee Shareholder

Paid-up “nominee shareholder” set includes the following documents

Compliance fee in Bulgaria

Compliance fee is payable in the cases of: incorporation of a company, renewal of a company, liquidation of a company, transfer out of a company, issue of a power of attorney to a new attorney, change of director / shareholder / BO (except the change to a nominee director / shareholder), signing of company

Basic

Price350 USD

simple company structure with only 1 physical person

For legal entity in structure under GSL administration

Price150 USD

additional compliance fee for legal entity in structure under GSL administration (per 1 entity)

For legal entity in structure not under GSL administration

Price200 USD

additional compliance fee for legal entity in structure NOT under GSL administration (per 1 entity)

For client with high risk Status

Price450 USD

Signing of documents

Price100 USD

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