How to Open a Company in Bulgaria as a Non-Resident (2026 Guide)
Bulgaria is a popular EU base for non-resident entrepreneurs because of its 10% flat tax, eurozone membership and a fast, low-cost incorporation process. This guide covers who can own a company, how the remote process works, what it costs, the taxes, and the accounting obligations that follow.
Current as of 23 September 2026. General information, not legal or tax advice. Bulgaria joined the eurozone on 1 January 2026 (€1 = 1.95583 BGN).
Can a non-resident own a Bulgarian company?
Yes. Foreign individuals and companies can fully own a Bulgarian EOOD (single-owner limited company) or OOD (two or more partners). You do not need Bulgarian residency or citizenship.
There is no requirement for a local director or a local shareholder. A foreign company can even be the sole owner of an EOOD, which makes Bulgaria convenient for holding and subsidiary structures.
Which structure?
For most non-residents the EOOD is the natural choice: one owner, limited liability and a minimum capital of €1. If you have partners, an OOD lets you set out shares and management in a company agreement.
| Criterion | EOOD | OOD |
|---|---|---|
| Owners | 1 | 2+ |
| Founding document | Articles of association | Company agreement |
| Minimum capital | €1 | €1 |
| Corporate tax | 10% | 10% |
| Liability | Limited to capital | Limited to capital |
What every company needs in Bulgaria
Every Bulgarian company needs a registered address in Bulgaria, and it must declare its beneficial owners to the Commercial Register when it is registered (an anti-money-laundering requirement). If none of the company’s managers (its legal representatives) lives permanently in Bulgaria, the register must also show a contact person who does (Art. 63(4) of the Measures Against Money Laundering Act). We can provide both the address and the contact person; see pricing.
Step by step
- Choose the name, activity, manager and capital.
- We prepare the documents: articles of association, the manager’s consent and specimen signature, and the declarations.
- You sign remotely, by qualified e-signature or through a power of attorney, so you don’t have to travel for the registration.
- Capital deposit: the capital (from €1) is paid into a bank account opened for the new company.
- Filing with the Commercial Register: the company is usually registered in 1–2 business days, and you receive its EIK (company ID).
- After registration: business bank account, VAT registration if needed, and accounting.
Costs
- Our fee for online registration: €280 all-in, with the Commercial Register state fee (~€28 for electronic filing) included. If you sign before a notary instead of with an e-signature, the notary’s fee is paid separately to the notary. See pricing.
- Minimum capital: €1, which stays in the company.
- Not included: if you sign through a power of attorney, the notary, apostille and translation costs in your own country.
A worked example: a remote SaaS founder
Anna lives outside the EU and runs a small software business. She wants an EU company to invoice clients and hold IP. She opens an EOOD remotely: she signs a power of attorney before a notary at home, the capital of €1 is deposited, and the EOOD is entered in the Commercial Register within 1–2 business days of filing, with its own EIK. She then opens a business bank account, registers for VAT because most of her clients are EU businesses, and hands the monthly bookkeeping to an accountant. Her ongoing tax picture is 10% corporate tax on profit and 5% dividend tax when she pays herself. Her start-up cost is the registration fee, the €1 capital and her own notary costs.
Taxes
- 10% flat corporate tax on profit.
- 5% dividend tax on distributions. The first draft of the 2026 budget proposed 10%, but that was dropped, so the rate for 2026 is 5%.
- VAT at 20% (9% only for a few items such as accommodation), mandatory once turnover exceeds €51,130. See VAT registration.
Full detail in the Bulgaria corporate tax guide.
Accounting obligations
A Bulgarian company has monthly and annual obligations: bookkeeping, tax and VAT returns, and annual financial statements. As an owner-manager who works in the company you may also need to register as a self-insured person and pay social contributions. We handle all of this remotely, in English; see accounting services in Bulgaria.
Edge cases for non-residents
- No Bulgarian or EU qualified e-signature? Sign a power of attorney before a notary where you live, have it apostilled (or legalised) and translated into Bulgarian, and we file on your behalf. Allow one to two weeks for that step.
- Foreign company as the owner. Allowed. You provide the parent’s corporate documents, apostilled or legalised, with a certified Bulgarian translation.
- Where the company is run from. The Bulgarian company is taxed in Bulgaria, but if you run it from your home country, check whether that country treats the company as tax resident there too. Your personal tax position depends on where you are resident, so check your home-country rules and any double-tax treaty.
- Banking. Registration needs no visit, but opening the business bank account usually does involve the bank’s own identity check. Most Bulgarian banks want the manager in the branch or through their video identification. Plan for this after the EIK is issued.
- Regulated activities. Some sectors need a licence after registration, so incorporation is only the first step.
Common mistakes
- Assuming you need a local director or partner. You don’t. 100% foreign ownership and management is fine, although a manager living abroad means naming a contact person in Bulgaria.
- Forgetting accounting until a deadline hits. Bulgarian companies file monthly and annually from day one, so set up bookkeeping early.
- Relying on old articles about dividend tax. Some still say it rises to 10% in 2026. That proposal was dropped, and the rate is 5%.
- Ignoring your home-country tax. A low Bulgarian rate doesn’t override reporting duties where you are personally resident.
- Underestimating banking timelines. The company forms in days; the bank account can take longer.
Frequently asked questions
Can a non-resident own 100% of a Bulgarian company? Yes. Both individuals and foreign companies can fully own an EOOD or OOD, with no residency or citizenship requirement.
Do I need to travel to Bulgaria? Not for the registration. You can sign by qualified e-signature or by a notarised and apostilled power of attorney. Opening the business bank account may require a visit to the bank or its video identification.
How long does registration take? Usually 1–2 business days at the Commercial Register once the signed documents are filed.
What are the taxes? 10% flat corporate tax, 5% dividend tax, and VAT at 20% (9% for a few items) once turnover exceeds €51,130.
What’s the minimum capital? €1, which remains in the company.
Why Bulgaria over other EU options
Bulgaria’s corporate and personal income tax rates (10% flat) are among the lowest in the EU. It has been in the eurozone since 2026, so there is no currency risk for euro business, and incorporation is quick with a nominal minimum capital. A Bulgarian company also gives you full access to the EU single market and the EU VAT system.
When you are ready, see company formation in Bulgaria. Once you’re running, our accounting services in Bulgaria keep you compliant in English.