How much does it cost to register a company in Bulgaria? To register a standard limited company (EOOD/OOD) in 2025, you should budget around 820–950 EUR one-off for clean, straightforward cases, plus 120–200 EUR per month for ongoing accounting and compliance. Joint-stock companies (EAD/AD) cost more mainly due to the higher share capital and governance paperwork.
Company Registration Costs in Bulgaria: The Complete Breakdown
You pay a few unavoidable items (drafting, state fee, address, bank step), then choose optional extras depending on your plan (translation, apostille, VAT, payroll). If you want the mechanics of each step, scan the incorporation steps for Bulgaria and how they map to your budget.
| Item | What It Covers | Founder Pays | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal drafting & filing | Articles/Founding Act, resolutions, registry submission | 450 | Ensures clean, fast approval |
| Registered address (annual) | Compliant address for registry, mail handling | 120 | Required for filing and bank KYC |
| State & registry fees | Official portal charges for incorporation | 60 | Processing your application |
| Certified translations (if needed) | Foreign docs → Bulgarian | 150 | Avoids rejections for non-Bulgarian docs |
| Notary & apostille (remote) | Power of Attorney, specimens | 120 | Makes remote setup legally valid |
| Courier of originals (remote) | Tracked shipping to Bulgaria | 40 | Deliver originals on time |
| Share capital (EOOD/OOD) | Nominal injection into capital account | 1 | Required before filing; usable post-registration |
Official filings go through the Bulgarian Commercial Register & Registry Agency. E-services and step help are also outlined at the Bulgarian e-Government portal.
How Monthly Running Costs Stack Up After Registration
Once live, your company has recurring costs. You tailor these to your activity—consulting only, e-commerce, or hiring.
| Service | Typical Fee | When You Need It | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bookkeeping & compliance | 120 | Always | Base package for small volume |
| VAT compliance | +40–80 | When VAT-registered | EU rules via the European Commission |
| Payroll (per employee) | +40–80 | If employing | Includes payslips & submissions |
| Registered address renewal | 10 | Annual fee averaged monthly | Some providers bill yearly |
Bulgarian tax and VAT registrations are handled by the National Revenue Agency. If you want an end-to-end team to handle bookkeeping and filings, see our accounting services in Bulgaria.
How Company Type Changes Your Budget (EOOD, OOD, EAD, AD)
Limited companies (EOOD/OOD) keep upfront costs low. Joint-stock (EAD/AD) adds share capital and governance. You can start lean and transform later if fundraising or boards become relevant.
| Type | Min. Share Capital | Drafting Intensity | Likely One-Off Range | Who Picks It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOOD | ~1 | Low | 820–950 | Solo consultants, freelancers, SaaS |
| OOD | ~1 (total) | Low–Medium | 850–980 | Two or more co-founders |
| EAD | 25,000 | Medium–High | 1,100–1,400 (legal/filing only) | Investor-ready single owner |
| AD | 25,000 | High | 1,300–1,700 (legal/filing only) | Boards, larger teams, fundraising |
Remote Setup vs In-Person: Which Is Cheaper?
Remote founders avoid flights and hotels. The trade-off is notarisation, apostilles, and courier. With clean PoA wording and pre-booked bank steps, the total spend stays predictable.
| Aspect | Remote Setup | In-Person Setup | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel & accommodation | 0 | Varies (flights/hotel) | Remote usually cheaper overall |
| Notary & apostille | ~120 | 0–40 | Adds cost but saves travel |
| Courier of originals | ~40 | 0 | Predictable fixed fee |
| Bank appointments | Agent-assisted | On-site visit | Time cost vs out-of-pocket |
Address Requirement & Options (Cost & Compliance)
A valid registered address is mandatory for filings and banking. You can use a virtual-office plan, your own lease, or a provider’s legal address service.
| Option | Typical Cost | Pros | Cons | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virtual office | 120–240/year | Fast, mail handling, low cost | No meeting room by default | Remote-first founders |
| Provider’s legal address | 120–200/year | Turnkey, compliance baked in | Usage limits vary | Hands-off setup |
| Own leased office | Market-dependent | Brand presence, team space | Commitment & higher fixed cost | Local hiring & client visits |
Bank Account & Capital Deposit Costs
For EOOD/OOD and JSCs, you fund share capital into a temporary account and receive a certificate. After registration, the bank converts it to an operating account. Banking oversight and prudential rules are published by the Bulgarian National Bank.
| Step | Cost | Deliverable | Tip to Save Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open temporary capital account | 0–20 | IBAN + acceptance | Pre-book, bring full ID set |
| Deposit share capital | 1 (EOOD/OOD) / 25,000 (EAD/AD) | Capital deposit certificate | Match Articles and bank letter |
| Account conversion | 0 | Operating account live | Schedule conversion right after registry decision |
Time Is Money: How Faster Filings Reduce Cost
Every additional day means more admin, more rescheduling, and sometimes extra fees. If deadlines are tight, map your sequence against a realistic schedule. For benchmarks, here’s the registration timeline you can expect in Bulgaria.
| Lever | What to Do | Cost Impact | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Names & drafts ready | Prepare 2–3 name variants | Prevents extra drafting rounds | Avoids rejected names and delays |
| Address proof clean | Signed contract/consent with full address | Fewer registry queries | Keeps filing same-day |
| Bank KYC prep | All IDs & spellings aligned | No re-visits to the bank | Immediate capital deposit |
| Remote documents | Notarise + apostille at once | Lower courier repeats | Documents accepted first time |
Branches & Trade Representative Offices: Different Cost Curves
If you already run a foreign company, a Branch or a Trade Representative Office (TRO) may be cheaper upfront because there’s no local share capital. A Branch can trade; a TRO cannot. Public trade and chamber resources are available via the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
| Structure | Share Capital | Likely One-Off Range | Pros | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EOOD/OOD | ~1 | 820–950 | Full control, EU credibility | New local presence |
| EAD/AD | 25,000 | 1,100–1,700 (legal/filing) | Investor-ready governance | Scale-ups, fundraising |
| Branch | 0 (local) | 700–900 | Leverage parent reputation | Short-to-mid market entry |
| Trade Representative Office | 0 | 600–800 | Non-trading presence | Research, pre-launch |
Avoid Expensive Mistakes (They Add Time & Fees)
The fastest way to overspend is to ping-pong between the bank and the registry fixing avoidable issues. Use this punch-list, and read the common mistakes to avoid when forming a Bulgarian company so you don’t pay for rework.
| Pitfall | What It Costs You | Prevention |
|---|---|---|
| Name/ID spelling mismatch | Extra drafting, bank revisits | Copy passport spellings exactly everywhere |
| Weak address evidence | Registry queries and delays | Use a compliant virtual office or lease |
| Articles vs bank certificate mismatch | Refiling or rejection | Align capital amounts before filing |
| Apostille missing (remote) | Courier repeats & time cost | Notarise + apostille together |
Where Your Money Actually Goes (Step-By-Step)
It helps to see who charges what and when. This map keeps surprises away.
| Moment | Who You Pay | Typical Amount | Document You Receive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 (kick-off) | Legal provider | 450 | Engagement + draft pack |
| Day 1 (address) | Address provider | 120 | Address contract/consent |
| Day 1–2 (translations/remote) | Translator / notary / courier | 150 + 120 + 40 | Certified translations, PoA, tracking |
| Bank visit | Bank | 1 (EOOD/OOD) | Capital deposit certificate |
| Filing day | Registry Agency | 60 | Payment receipt |
| Go-live | Accounting provider | From 120/month | Engagement & onboarding |
Plan Your Budget with Confidence
Want the bigger “why Bulgaria” picture as you budget? See the top reasons Bulgaria is a strong base for company formation, and if you like step-by-step visuals, here is how to register your company in six steps. For a broader birds-eye view on total setup items, check how much it costs to set up a company. When you’re ready to move, we deliver fast, secure and tax-optimized company registration in Bulgaria with predictable pricing.
Talk to a Specialist—Free 30-Minute Cost Review
Tell us your business model and we’ll pencil a precise budget: unavoidable items, nice-to-haves, and what to delay until revenue. Book your free 30-minute consultation and get a clean, line-by-line cost plan for 2025.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bulgaria really one of the lowest-cost places to incorporate in the EU?
Yes, Bulgaria is really one of the lowest-cost places to incorporate in the EU, because state fees are modest and service pricing for drafting, address, and translations remains founder-friendly.
Do I need a big share capital to keep costs low?
No, you do not need a big share capital to keep costs low, because an EOOD/OOD can start with about 1 EUR and the money becomes usable after registration.
Will a remote setup increase my total budget a lot?
No, a remote setup will not increase your total budget a lot, because you mainly add notary, apostille, and courier (roughly a couple of hundred euros) while saving travel and hotel costs.
Can I register fast without paying “express” premiums?
Yes, you can register fast without paying “express” premiums, by preparing clean documents, aligning spellings, and pre-booking the bank step to avoid rework and rescheduling costs.
Should I budget extra for VAT and payroll from day one?
No, you should not budget extra for VAT and payroll from day one unless your activity requires it, because you can add VAT and payroll later once revenue or hiring starts.
