Most first-hand reports shared here ended in success.
Based on 1 first-hand report shared by the community — 1 reported success — for company in Bulgaria. Reviewed for 2026.
Bulgarien: company formation for location-independent founders. Bulgarien is an EU/Schengen member with a 10% corporate tax rate, rated medium as an incorporation base for nomads and online businesses.
Sole Owner Limited Liability Company / Limited Liability Company (EOOD / OOD). Limited liability. Minimum capital €1 / none.
Limited Liability Company (OOD). Limited liability. Minimum capital €1 / none.
Sole Owner Joint-Stock Company (EAD). Limited liability. Minimum capital €25,000.
Substance & taxation. A company on paper here does not move your tax home: if you run it from another country, controlled-foreign-company and place-of-effective-management rules can tax the profits where the business is really managed. Bulgarien works best when its structure matches where you actually live and work.
What applicants report. Members have shared 1 first-hand report. reported timelines include Incorporation takes about 3-5 business days. Corporate bank account opening with traditional Bulgarian banks takes 2-4 weeks due to compliance for non-residents.. common friction points: Traditional Bulgarian banks are increasingly reluctant to open bank accounts for single-owner EOODs registered by non-residents, often requiring multiple in-person visits, high compliance check fees (BGN 500+), or refusing online applicants outright unless an EU residency card or local substance is proven. Using local fintechs (like iCard or Paysera) acts as a standard temporary workaround.. practical tips: Hire a local registration agency to deposit the capital and handle the Commercial Register (EPZEU) filing; Use Paysera or another local electronic money institution if local brick-and-mortar banks delay the account approval. Treat this as community orientation, not a guarantee.
Bottom line. For most location-independent founders the Sole Owner Limited Liability Company / Limited Liability Company (EOOD / OOD) is the natural starting point. Bulgarien works best when the structure matches where you actually live and manage the business — get substance and place-of-effective-management right before you incorporate, not after.
Min capital€1 · EUR 1 minimum capital (BGN 2 converted at the fixed 1.95583 rate on Bulgaria's euro accession 01.01.2026); Art. 117 Commercial Act. Many founders choose more for credibility.
Accountingrequired
Auditnot required
Company registerpublic
UBO registerpublic
Min shareholders1
Min directors1
Local directornot required
Substancenot required
Local businessallowed
TaxFlat 10% corporate income tax (the EU's lowest headline rate, unchanged since 2007); plus 5% dividend withholding on distributions (~15% combined).
non resident foreignerset up1 voice · early signal
Setting up a Bulgarian EOOD is incredibly cheap and fast. However, non-resident banking compliance is a massive bottleneck. Traditional banks charge heavy fees for non-resident background checks and often reject digital-only remote businesses without local substance.
Matches your experience?
Bulgarian registered office addressCapital deposit (minimum BGN 2)Certified passport and power of attorney if registered remotely
Conditions: Founder must appoint a registered accountant immediately to handle monthly VAT filings (compulsory once VAT thresholds are met or for EU transactions) and annual corporate tax declarations.
Watch out: Fails to meet tax residency requirements if the company is managed from a high-tax state with active CFC and permanent establishment laws, which would pull the 10% Bulgarian tax corporate profits into the home taxation system.
Tips: Hire a local registration agency to deposit the capital and handle the Commercial Register (EPZEU) filing · Use Paysera or another local electronic money institution if local brick-and-mortar banks delay the account approval
last seen 2026-02-15
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