How much does it cost to set up a company in Bulgaria?

The cost depends on the legal form, the number of founders, where the documents are signed, VAT registration, the bank and the accounting volume. We calculate state fees and our work case by case: send a short description of your task and we will send a quote within a working day.

Can a foreigner register a company in Bulgaria?

Yes. A foreigner, including a Ukrainian citizen and a non-resident, can be the founder and the manager of an EOOD or OOD. Documents in another language are filed with a certified translation into Bulgarian.

What is the minimum share capital for a Bulgarian EOOD?

Since 1 January 2026, the minimum share capital of an EOOD and an OOD is EUR 1. For an AD the minimum is EUR 25,000.

What taxes does a company pay in Bulgaria?

Corporate income tax is 10 percent of profit and dividend tax is 5 percent. VAT is 20 percent; registration is mandatory once annual domestic turnover exceeds EUR 51,130 or when the company provides services to business clients in other EU countries.

Did Bulgarian dividend tax change in 2026?

No. The rate remains 5 percent: the 2026 budget act, adopted in July 2026, left it unchanged, and the corporate and personal income tax acts keep the same rate.

How long does it take to register a company in Bulgaria?

Usually, in our experience, 2–4 weeks to the Commercial Register entry after we receive the documents, and another 2–8 weeks for the bank account and VAT. The timeline depends on the case, its details, the work of the authorities and force majeure. The registrar itself reviews the application by the end of the next working day.

Can I register a company in Bulgaria remotely?

Yes, in most cases. You sign the documents before a notary in your country and have them apostilled, and we file with the register under a power of attorney. The bank may ask the signatory to visit in person.

Do I need accounting if the company is not trading?

Yes, the books are kept from the date of registration. If there was no activity during the year, a declaration of inactivity is filed once instead of the annual statements, and a VAT-registered company files monthly returns even with zero turnover.

Do I need to report a Bulgarian company to the Ukrainian tax authority?

Yes, if you are a Ukrainian tax resident. Under the CFC rules in Ukraine, the CFC notice is filed within 60 days after acquiring a stake, and the CFC report annually together with the return. Bulgaria's 10 percent rate is below the 13 percent threshold, so the exemption usually relies on the share of passive income or the EUR 2 million limit.

Does a company in Bulgaria give me a residence permit?

No, registering a company alone gives no right to live in Bulgaria. Residence is granted on separate grounds under the Foreigners Act; for business, one of them requires creating at least 10 jobs for Bulgarian citizens.

Should I buy a ready-made company in Bulgaria?

A new registration is usually just as fast and comes with no inherited history. If you need a ready-made company, we first check the register, reports, debts and accounts; from 2 April 2027, the registrar will also check the company's and the seller's contribution debts when a share is sold.

Can I set up a company in Bulgaria for a crypto business?

Yes, and crypto-asset services under the MiCA regulation require a licence from the Financial Supervision Commission. We register the company ourselves and handle licensing through a partner.

Register a company in Bulgaria ✓ EOOD, VAT and accounting

Company formation in Bulgaria, turnkey: we help you register a company in Bulgaria, usually an EOOD, register it for VAT, keep its books and, if you are a Ukrainian tax resident, file the CFC report in Ukraine.

Since 2012 · 50+ jurisdictions · company, VAT and accounting in one team · first consultation free

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In brief

To register a company in Bulgaria usually means setting up an EOOD, a single-member limited liability company. A foreigner, including a non-resident, can be the founder and the manager, and since 2026 the minimum share capital is EUR 1.
Bulgarian corporate tax is 10 percent and dividend tax is 5 percent. VAT is 20 percent; registration is mandatory once annual domestic turnover exceeds EUR 51,130, and a company providing services to business clients in other EU countries must register regardless of turnover.
Bulgaria company formation with Crystal Tax is turnkey: we prepare documents and translations, register the company in the Commercial Register, file beneficial ownership details, register for VAT, prepare the bank package and keep the books together with partner accountants in Bulgaria.
The registrar of the Registry Agency reviews an application for initial registration by the end of the next working day. The annual corporate income tax return is due by 30 June, and the annual financial statements are published in the Commercial Register by 30 September.
Usually, in our experience, the company appears in the register 2–4 weeks after we receive your documents, and the bank account and VAT registration take another 2–8 weeks. The timeline depends on the case, its details, the work of the authorities and force majeure.

Your situation

Choose the situation closest to yours: a short outline of the route and the first step.

IT services and consulting for EU clients

For exporting services, an EOOD registered for VAT on intra-EU services usually fits. First step: we review your contracts and clients and calculate the tax in Bulgaria and the CFC consequences in Ukraine.

Example. A developer from Kharkiv works with clients in Germany and the Netherlands. We register an EOOD, register it for VAT before the first invoice to an EU client, prepare the bank package and file the CFC notice in Ukraine.

Discuss this case →

Trading goods across Europe, I need an EU VAT number

We register the company and plan VAT from the start: intra-Community supplies, VIES returns and warehousing. First step: we map the supply chain and the buyers' countries.

Example. A Ukrainian furniture maker sells to Romania and Greece through a Bulgarian company. We register an OOD with two partners, obtain a VAT number and set up accounting for intra-EU supplies.

Discuss this case →

I moved to Bulgaria and want to work through my own company

The company and the right to live in Bulgaria are handled separately. First step: we check your residence status and tax residency and decide who will be the manager and how they will be paid.

Example. A family from Odesa lives in Varna under temporary protection. We register an EOOD in the husband's name, set up the manager's remuneration and contributions, keep the books and determine where he is tax resident.

Discuss this case →

Crypto project: I need a company in the EU

We register the company quickly; crypto-asset services under MiCA need a licence from the Financial Supervision Commission. First step: we determine whether the model falls under licensing and work through a partner.

Example. A team builds software for non-custodial crypto wallets. We review the model, register an EOOD for software development and sales, and separately check which features would require a licence.

Discuss this case →

I want to buy a ready-made company in Bulgaria

We check a ready-made company first: register, debts, reports, accounts. First step: we compare the purchase with a new registration, which is often faster and cleaner.

Example. A client was offered a ready-made company with a history. Our check showed its annual reports for two years had not been filed. We register a new EOOD within the same timeframe, with no inherited history.

Discuss this case →

I already have a company in Bulgaria and the books are a mess

We take over an existing company. First step: we check the register, VAT returns, annual reports and CFC reporting in Ukraine.

Example. The accountant stopped responding and VAT returns for several months were not filed. We restore the accounting, file the missing returns and prepare the annual report.

Discuss this case →

What is included when we register a company in Bulgaria turnkey

When we register a company in Bulgaria turnkey, we cover the whole path from choosing the legal form to the first report: documents, register, VAT, bank, accounting and the owner's taxes in Ukraine.

Office desk with a view of Sofia and Vitosha mountain: a document folder and a laptop, preparing to register a company in Bulgaria — Company formation in Bulgaria: register, VAT, bank account and accounting

Legal form and structure. We compare EOOD, OOD and AD, decide who will be the founder and the manager, and calculate taxes in Bulgaria and in Ukraine.
Name and constitutional documents. We check the name, prepare the articles of association or the partnership agreement, the decision appointing the manager, and the manager's notarised consent with a specimen signature.
Documents of foreign founders. We arrange the apostille, certified translation into Bulgarian and powers of attorney, so you do not have to travel to Bulgaria more than necessary.
Registered address. We find an address in Bulgaria, which is stated in the constitutional documents and in the register.
Registration in the Commercial Register. We file the application with the Registry Agency, obtain the UIC (EIK) and respond to the registrar's instructions.
Beneficial owners. We file the details of the beneficial owners for entry in the register.
VAT. We register the company for VAT once the threshold is exceeded or for intra-EU services.
Bank account. We select a bank, prepare the KYC package and support you through the review.
Accounting and reporting. We keep the books and file returns together with partner accountants in Bulgaria.
CFC in Ukraine. We file the notice and the annual CFC report for an owner who is a Ukrainian tax resident.

If you are still choosing a country, we will compare Bulgaria with other jurisdictions on the page company registration abroad.

EOOD, OOD or AD: which Bulgarian company to set up

Small and medium businesses usually set up an EOOD with one owner or an OOD with several partners; an AD is chosen for large capital and issuing shares.

Criterion	EOOD	OOD	AD or EAD
Founders	One person, individual or legal entity	Two or more persons	One or more persons
Minimum share capital	EUR 1	EUR 1, each share at least one euro cent	EUR 25,000
Paying in the capital	The minimum before registration; for larger capital at least 70 percent	Same as for an EOOD	Cash contributions through a capital-raising bank account
Management	The owner personally or an appointed manager	General meeting and manager	Board of directors or a two-tier system
Liability	Limited to the capital	Limited to contributions	Limited to shares
Typical use	IT, consulting, trade, a single owner	Business partners	Large projects, investors, regulated activities

A foreigner can be the founder and the manager of an EOOD or OOD. The Commercial Act sets no citizenship or residency requirement for the manager. The manager files a notarised consent with a specimen signature, and the manager's name is entered in the Commercial Register.

An OOD works well when there are several partners: in the partnership agreement we set out shares, decision-making, a partner's exit and the sale of a share in advance. Under a 2026 amendment, from 2 April 2027 the registrar will also check with the tax authority whether the company and the seller have unpaid mandatory contributions when a share is sold.

A sole trader, ET, is liable for debts with all personal assets, so we usually do not recommend this form to foreign owners.

Describe your business, clients and owners, and on a free 10-minute call we will discuss the legal form and the order of steps; we prepare the tax calculation for Bulgaria and Ukraine after reviewing your task.

Accounting in Bulgaria after company registration

Accounting in Bulgaria is mandatory for every company from day one: the books are kept monthly, and once a year the company files a corporate income tax return and publishes its financial statements.

Every month

source documents, bank statements, invoices to clients and from suppliers;
VAT return with purchase and sales ledgers by the 14th of the following month, if the company is VAT registered. The return is filed even with zero turnover;
VIES return for services and supplies to clients in other EU countries, by the same deadline;
payroll, the manager's remuneration and social security contributions, if any.

Once a year

annual corporate income tax return between 1 March and 30 June of the following year;
annual financial statements in the Commercial Register by 30 September. From 2026, statements filed through the National Statistical Institute system are published by the register automatically, except for AD companies and companies subject to mandatory audit;
if the company had no activity for the whole year, it files a declaration of inactivity instead of the statements, once, for the first such year.

What changes in the coming years

Bulgaria is phasing in the SAF-T standard audit file. The obligation applies to the largest companies from 1 January 2026, to large companies by turnover and taxes in 2027 and 2028, to small and medium companies as a general rule from 1 January 2029, and to all others from 1 January 2030. Micro-enterprises without VAT registration are exempt from SAF-T.

For an owner from Ukraine, Ukrainian reporting is added to the Bulgarian one: the CFC report is filed together with the company's financial statements. So we prepare the Bulgarian annual report in a form that can be attached to the Ukrainian return right away, and we reconcile the exchange rate and income figures.

What we take on

We keep the books, calculate taxes, and file VAT and VIES returns, the annual return and the financial statements together with partner accountants in Bulgaria. VAT registration is a separate service: VAT registration in Bulgaria. If you have several companies in different countries, one team handles them all: international company accounting.

How long it takes to register a company in Bulgaria

Usually, in our experience, the company appears in the Commercial Register 2–4 weeks after we receive your documents, and the bank account and VAT registration take another 2–8 weeks. The timeline depends on the case, its details, the work of the authorities and force majeure.

Stage	Usually, in our experience
Consultation, choice of legal form, owner checks	1–3 working days
Apostille, translations, powers of attorney, notarised signatures	1–3 weeks, depending on the country where documents are signed
Filing with the Commercial Register and UIC (EIK)	A few working days, if the registrar issues no instructions
Bank account	2–8 weeks, depending on the bank and the business profile
VAT registration	Filed as soon as there are grounds for it

The official deadline covers only the review of a complete application: under the Commercial Register Act, the registrar reviews an application for initial registration by the end of the next working day. If documents are missing, the registrar issues instructions, and registration follows once they are met. The deadline excludes collecting documents, apostille, translations and the bank's review.

What the cost of Bulgaria company formation depends on

We price Bulgaria company formation case by case: the cost consists of state fees, notary costs and the scope of our work.

legal form: EOOD, OOD or AD;
number of founders and managers, and whether they are individuals or companies;
where the documents are signed, and whether apostille, translations and powers of attorney are needed;
registered address in Bulgaria;
VAT registration and its grounds;
the bank and how complex the source of funds review is;
accounting volume: number of transactions, employees, intra-EU supplies;
CFC reporting in Ukraine and the owner's tax residency.

We work under a contract. We will give you an estimate within a working day after a short description of your task and send a quote with stages and timelines.

Why clients trust us with company formation in Bulgaria

Registration in Bulgaria involves dozens of details at the register, the notary, the tax office and the bank, and clients have trusted us with them for years for five reasons:

In business since 2012

For fourteen years we have registered companies, opened accounts and handled tax matters in 50+ jurisdictions. We know the requirements of registrars, banks and tax authorities from our own cases.

We handle the register, tax office and banks

We correspond with the Registry Agency, the tax office and the bank and answer their requests ourselves. From you we need documents, signatures and decisions.

We see the case through

We address the registrar's instructions and questions from the tax office and the bank at no extra charge under the contract. If a regulatory licence is needed, we work through a partner and remain responsible to you.

One team for the whole structure

The company, VAT, bank account, accounting, Bulgarian taxes and CFC reporting in Ukraine are handled by one team of Crystal Tax lawyers and accountants together with partners in Bulgaria.

Contract and confidentiality

The scope of work, timelines and confidentiality are set out in the contract. We disclose information about you and the company only to the extent the procedure requires.

How to set up a company in Bulgaria: step by step

To set up a company in Bulgaria with us, the work goes through six stages. We need documents, signatures and decisions from you; we do the rest.

Flowchart of company registration in Bulgaria: consultation, structure, documents and apostille, Commercial Register and UIC, VAT and bank account, accounting and CFC — How Crystal Tax registers a company in Bulgaria

Consultation. We review the business, clients, partners and the owners' tax residency. The first consultation is free.
Structure. We choose the legal form, founders, manager and capital, and calculate taxes in Bulgaria and in Ukraine, including CFC rules.
Documents. We prepare the constitutional documents and arrange notarised signatures, apostille and translation into Bulgarian.
Commercial Register. We file the application, obtain the UIC (EIK) and enter the beneficial ownership details.
VAT and bank account. We register the company for VAT once there are grounds, apply to the bank and answer compliance questions at no extra charge.
Accounting and CFC. We start the bookkeeping, put return and report deadlines in the calendar and file the CFC notice in Ukraine.

Documents needed to register a company in Bulgaria

To register a company in Bulgaria, we need a passport and signatures from each founder and manager, and a name, registered address and description of activity for the future company.

international passport of each founder and manager;
description of the activity, future clients and countries, expected turnover;
details for the registered address in Bulgaria;
the manager's notarised consent with a specimen signature;
declaration of beneficial owners;
if the founder is a company: register extract and constitutional documents with apostille, and an ownership chart down to the individuals;
for the bank: proof of source of funds, contracts or invoices with clients, bank statements.

The application and attachments are filed in Bulgarian. Documents in another official EU language are accepted with a certified translation into Bulgarian; foreign documents generally need an apostille. We give you the exact list after the consultation and arrange translations and apostille ourselves.

Company taxes in Bulgaria in 2026

On 1 January 2026 Bulgaria adopted the euro, and all amounts in tax and company laws are stated in euro.

Tax	Rate and conditions
Corporate income tax	10 percent of profit. The tax period is the calendar year; the annual return is filed between 1 March and 30 June of the following year
Dividend tax	5 percent withheld at source for individuals and foreign companies. The 2026 budget, adopted in July 2026, left this rate unchanged
VAT	20 percent, with a reduced rate of 9 percent for certain goods and services
Mandatory VAT registration	Annual domestic turnover for the calendar year above EUR 51,130; application within 7 days after the threshold is exceeded
VAT registration for intra-EU services	Regardless of turnover, if the company provides services to business clients in other EU countries or receives taxable services from foreign suppliers. Application no later than 7 days before the tax becomes chargeable
VAT return	Monthly by the 14th of the following month, together with the ledgers and the VIES return

Company obligations

keep accounting records and publish the annual financial statements in the Commercial Register by 30 September of the following year;
keep the beneficial ownership details in the register up to date;
if the manager is paid or the owner works in the company, pay social security contributions under the Social Security Code, taking EU coordination rules into account;
file the SAF-T file once the company's deadline arrives: as a general rule from 2029 for small and medium companies.

A Bulgarian company and the owner's taxes in Ukraine

If the owner is a Ukrainian tax resident, the Bulgarian company is a CFC (controlled foreign company) under the CFC rules in Ukraine: the owner files a notice and an annual CFC report for it.

the notice of acquiring a stake is filed within 60 days;
the CFC report is filed together with the annual return, with the company's financial statements attached;
a double taxation convention between Ukraine and Bulgaria has been in force since 3 October 1997. Under it, dividend tax is capped at 5 percent for a company holding at least 25 percent and at 15 percent in other cases. Bulgaria's domestic rate for individuals is 5 percent;
CFC profit is exempt in Ukraine if one of the conditions of Article 39-2 of the Tax Code is met. The effective rate condition requires at least 13 percent, that is the base rate of 18 percent minus 5 points. Bulgaria's 10 percent rate is below this threshold, so for a Bulgarian company the other two conditions usually apply: passive income of no more than 50 percent of total income, or total income of all the owner's CFCs not exceeding the equivalent of EUR 2 million;
dividends from a Bulgarian company are taxed in Ukraine with personal income tax at 9 percent and military levy at 5 percent; tax paid in Bulgaria is credited under the rules of the Tax Code and the convention;
CFC penalties for the martial law period do not apply, provided all obligations are fulfilled within six months after it ends. The tax on CFC profit itself remains in place.

If the owner moves to Bulgaria or another EU country, we review tax residency separately. More details: controlled foreign companies.

Bank account, address and residence permit: what to know

A company in Bulgaria gives you the right to do business in the EU; a bank account and the right to live in the country are obtained separately, each under its own rules.

Bank account. Bulgarian banks check the owners, the source of funds, the clients and the business's link to Bulgaria. Banks often ask the signatory to visit in person. The bank makes the decision; we prepare a complete and consistent package and select a bank or payment institution that suits the business profile.
Address. The registered address is stated in the constitutional documents and in the register, and official mail is sent there. We choose an option where the company actually receives its correspondence.
Residence permit. Registering a company alone does not give the right to live in Bulgaria. Long-term residence is granted on separate grounds under the Foreigners Act; for a business owner, one of them requires creating at least 10 full-time jobs for Bulgarian citizens.
Ukrainians in Bulgaria. Many are in the country under EU temporary protection. We check its duration and effect on tax residency as of the date you contact us.
Crypto-assets. Supervision under the MiCA regulation in Bulgaria is carried out by the Financial Supervision Commission. We obtain the licence through a partner, and we remain responsible to you.

How to set up a company in Bulgaria: where to start

To get started, write two or three sentences about what the company will do, where your clients are and who will own it. We will assess the task within a working day and suggest the legal form, the order of steps and the timeline. The free consultation takes 10 minutes; a detailed review of the structure, including taxes in Ukraine, takes 30 minutes.

Other international business services

VAT registration in BulgariaRegistration on the turnover threshold and for intra-EU services, returns and VIES.Learn more →

International company accountingBookkeeping and reporting for companies in Bulgaria and other countries in one team.Learn more →

CFC reportingNotices and annual reports on controlled foreign companies to the State Tax Service of Ukraine.Learn more →

Company registration abroadBulgaria, Romania, Poland, Hungary and other countries: jurisdictions compared for your business.Learn more →

Sources

Registry Agency (Agentsia po vpisvaniyata): registration in the Commercial Register; State Budget Act of Bulgaria for 2026, State Gazette No. 69 of 2026; Commercial Act (Targovski zakon), consolidated text; Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities Act (Zakon za targovskiya registar i registara na YuLNTs); Corporate Income Tax Act (Zakon za korporativnoto podohodno oblagane, ZKPO); Value Added Tax Act (Zakon za danak varhu dobavenata stoynost, ZDDS); Accountancy Act (Zakon za schetovodstvoto); Tax and Social Security Procedure Code (DOPK), SAF-T; Tax Code of Ukraine, Article 39-2; Convention between Ukraine and Bulgaria for the avoidance of double taxation. Content reviewed and updated on 27.09.2026.