Poland is loyal to entrepreneurs from other countries who wish to start their own business. Register a company in Poland can be done both through a notary and online. The absence of Polish citizenship is not an obstacle to starting a business.
Who is allowed to register a company
Opening a company in Poland for Ukrainians is available under the same conditions as for residents of the country. The main requirement is legal residence in the country and having a PESEL number, the equivalent of a tax identification number. Legality of residence is confirmed by the presence of:
- a Pole's Card;
- a status of temporary refuge due to military actions;
- a stamp in travel documents indicating that the person has started the registration process for legalizing their stay in the country;
- a EU resident card;
- student documents confirming enrollment in a full-time educational institution in the country, but the person's age must exceed 26 years.
The process of obtaining a PESEL number
Before opening a business in Poland, it is necessary to obtain a PESEL number. Foreign citizens are issued a number based on Polish registration, an official employment contract, or a request of intent to open a business in Poland. The application for the assignment of a number is submitted to any gmina office. A mandatory condition is the presence of a trusted profile, similar to an electronic signature. To create a profile, an email address and a contact phone number are required, which must be included in the application for obtaining a PESEL. It is impossible to conduct business or register companies in Poland online without a trusted profile in the Central Register (CEIDG).
Available legal forms of ownership in Poland
Opening a company in Poland is possible in several legal forms:
- Sole proprietorship. This is analogous to the Ukrainian form of individual entrepreneur. It does not require initial capital and provides several options for exempting the owner from VAT. With an income of less than 2 million euros, accounting requirements are lenient.
- Limited liability company (LLC). To register a company in Poland as an LLC, a minimum share capital of 5,000 PLN is required. LLCs are created by several shareholders, and the amounts contributed by co-owners are limited.
- Joint-stock company. This form of ownership is suitable for solid enterprises with a share capital of at least 10,000 zlotys. It is not possible to register a company in Poland of this form online, only through notarial registration.
- Civil society. It is established by several companies or entrepreneurs entering into a joint activity agreement. The advantages of this form include the absence of a precise amount of starting capital, simplified reporting requirements and tax system, and the possibility to change the legal status of the company later.
The simplest way to open a company in Poland is as a sole proprietorship. Registration is free, online registration is possible, no initial funds are needed, profit limits simplify reporting, and the owner has the right to choose the tax form independently.
Stages of business registration
To open a company in Poland, a Ukrainian or a resident of another country must:
- choose the legal status of ownership;
- prepare the charter and monetary asset, if required by the form;
- register the enterprise in the National Court Register;
- obtain a PESEL;
- open an account in any bank in Poland;
- register with the State Treasury Service;
- obtain a NIP (tax number);
- insure the company;
- create a company seal.
For company registration in Poland, the price is calculated based on the amount of the charter capital. If the legal presence of the owner in Poland is lost, the company ceases to function.
