Opening a business in Poland remains an attractive option for both local entrepreneurs and foreigners, including citizens of CIS countries. However, before making a decision, it is important to soberly assess the total costs of starting a company: from state fees and notary services to the cost of accounting support and maintaining a legal address.
In this article, we will analyze the main items that make up the budget for opening a company in Poland, provide approximate amounts, and show how initial investments can vary depending on the chosen legal form, method of registration, and scale of planned activities. Such an overview will help to plan expenses in advance and avoid unexpected financial surprises at the start.
The main block of expenses is related to mandatory payments to government bodies and payment for accompanying services. When registering LLC. through the S24 system, the entrepreneur pays a relatively low state fee and a fee for publication in the court register, while with the traditional paper procedure, the rates are higher, but the possibilities for customizing the charter are more flexible. For convenience in budget planning, it makes sense to categorize expenses in advance:
| Expense item | Estimated amount | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| S24 state fee | from 350–400 PLN | Online registration, standard charter |
| State fee for paper submission | about 600 PLN | More flexible content of the charter |
| Publication in MSiG | about 100 PLN | Mandatory publication of data |
| Notary | from 500 PLN | Depends on the size of the authorized capital |
| Lawyer / consultant | from 800 PLN | «Turnkey» package, document preparation |
When involving a notary and a lawyer, it is important to understand that their work can save not only time but also money, especially with a complex structure of founders or the participation of foreigners. Professional support helps avoid mistakes in the charter, incorrect choice of types of activities (PKD), or improper registration of shares, which can subsequently lead to additional judicial and administrative costs. The optimal approach is to compare the offers of several notary offices and law firms in advance, paying attention not so much to the minimum price as to the transparency of the tariff, the availability of service packages, and experience working specifically with foreign entrepreneurs.
The amount of starting capital in Poland directly depends on the chosen organizational and legal form and the level of responsibility of the founders to creditors. For an individual entrepreneur (JDG), there are no formal requirements for authorized capital and reserves, but banks and counterparties often expect a real financial «safety margin.» In contrast, when creating LLC. the law establishes a minimum authorized capital — starting from 5,000 PLN, and for a simple joint-stock company (PSA) — from a symbolic 1 PLN, which makes it a flexible tool for startups. The classic joint-stock company (S.A.) requires a significantly more serious financial foundation, so it is suitable for large projects involving investors and going public.
| Form | Min. capital | Reserves and features |
|---|---|---|
| JDG (individual entrepreneur) | 0 PLN | No formal reserves, liability with personal property |
| Sp. z o.o. | 5,000 PLN | The possibility to create reserve capital to cover losses |
| PSA | 1 PLN | Flexible capital structure, contributions of know-how and rights are possible |
| S.A. | 100,000 PLN | Mandatory formation of reserve capital from profits |
When designing the budget for opening a company, it is important to consider not only the minimum amounts established by law but also the actual market and regulatory expectations. Banks, investors, and large counterparties pay attention to whether the firm has a financial cushion and how its reserve capital is formed. Depending on the development strategy, the creation of internal funds may be required:
After registering the company, the entrepreneur faces regular expenses that directly affect financial planning. Initially, these include services accounting, office or coworking space rental, bank account and basic mandatory payments to ZUS (for individual forms of activity) or contributions related to employment contracts of employees. In Poland, the minimum package of accounting support for small businesses starts from 250–400 PLN per month and increases depending on the number of documents and the specifics of the industry. Renting a space can be fully optimized: many entrepreneurs use a virtual office or coworking, which allows keeping monthly expenses in the range of 100–800 PLN without overpaying for a classic office.
| Cost article | Approximately per month |
|---|---|
| Accounting for small businesses | 250–600 PLN |
| Virtual office / address | 100–300 PLN |
| Company bank account | 0–80 PLN |
| ZUS (for individual activity) | minimum 300–1,600 PLN |
The amount depends on the preferential period, tax form, and type of activity.
The first thing that allows you to reduce startup costs is a clear separation of mandatory and optional expenses. Reserve a budget only for what the business cannot function without in the legal field: registration of the form of activity, accounting, minimum share capital, cash register or payment terminal (if required by the profile). Everything else — office, brand design, premium equipment — can be postponed or implemented in a “light version.” It is useful to compare the cost of services in different voivodeships and cities in advance: rent, legal support, and accounting in large agglomerations are often significantly more expensive.
| Expense item | Standard approach | Economical option |
|---|---|---|
| Office | Classic rental for 12 months. | Virtual address or coworking by the hour |
| Accounting | In-house accountant | Online accountant or outsourcing firm |
| IT and equipment | Full purchase of new equipment | Leasing, used equipment, software subscription |
| Marketing | Advertising agency and large campaigns | Targeted ads, SEO minimum, own content |
In summary, the costs of opening a company in Poland depend on the chosen legal form, scale of operations, and volume of professional support. A preliminary calculation of key expense items — registration fees, services of lawyers and accountants, rent, mandatory contributions, and taxes — helps avoid unforeseen expenses and optimally plan the startup budget.
Thorough preparation, comparison of several scenarios, and the use of available legal and consulting tools make the registration process more predictable and manageable. This, in turn, helps focus on the main goal — sustainable business development in the Polish market.
