European Business Guide
A practical guide for international entrepreneurs considering a Bulgarian EOOD or OOD company, including ownership, registered address, incorporation documents, VAT, accounting, business-account preparation and considerations for remote entrepreneurs and digital nomads.
Bulgarian company formation for international entrepreneurs, including EOOD and OOD registration, company documents and preparation for operating within the European Union.
Bulgaria for International Founders
Bulgaria provides company structures that can be used by international entrepreneurs and foreign investors. The most common limited-liability structures for smaller privately owned businesses are the EOOD and OOD.
A founder living outside Bulgaria should distinguish between ownership of a Bulgarian company and the separate rules governing residence, immigration, employment, taxation and personal social-security obligations.
The Bulgarian company itself requires a registered seat and address of management in Bulgaria and must comply with Bulgarian corporate, accounting and tax requirements.
Contact BR Economy About BulgariaCommon Limited-Liability Structures
The main distinction between these two structures is the number of persons or legal entities owning the company’s capital.
An EOOD is a Bulgarian limited liability company whose entire capital is owned by one person or legal entity.
An OOD is a Bulgarian limited liability company with at least two owners. The owners can be individuals, legal entities or a combination of both.
Key Formation Requirements
The precise documents depend on the ownership structure, registration method and activities of the proposed company.
Information about the sole owner or partners must be prepared and the intended ownership structure clearly documented.
The incorporation documents identify the company’s seat and address of management in Bulgaria.
The company requires an appointed manager or managers and rules describing how the company will be represented.
Typical Formation Process
A Bulgarian EOOD or OOD registration commonly involves the following stages.
Decide whether the company will have one owner or multiple owners. A single owner normally points towards EOOD, while two or more owners use the OOD structure.
Select the proposed company name and check its availability before filing. Name reservation can also be used where appropriate, although it is not always a mandatory preliminary step.
Prepare the company’s registered seat and address of management in Bulgaria. International founders should arrange this before the incorporation documents are finalised.
The EOOD requires an incorporation act for the sole owner, while the OOD uses articles of association between the partners.
The company appoints one or more managers. The manager is a natural person who represents the company and normally signs the required consent, declarations and signature specimen.
The required capital is arranged in accordance with the incorporation documents. A special capital or escrow account may form part of the incorporation process and evidence of paid-in capital may be required for the Commercial Register.
The company is registered through the Bulgarian Commercial Register and Register of Non-Profit Legal Entities. EOOD and OOD registrations use the relevant standard application and supporting incorporation documents.
After registration, the company should organise its accounting, assess VAT obligations, establish its business account arrangements and determine any additional licences, registrations or reporting requirements relevant to its activities.
Company Documentation
The precise documentation depends on the company and its owners, particularly where a foreign legal entity participates as an owner.
Where a shareholder is a foreign legal entity, additional official company-register extracts and evidence identifying its legal existence and authorised representatives may be required.
A well-organised company file is useful not only for statutory compliance but also when opening business accounts, applying to payment providers or responding to future KYC and ownership-verification requests.
VAT, Accounting and Audit
Company registration, VAT registration and statutory audit are separate questions and should be assessed according to the company’s actual activities and financial position.
VAT registration is not automatically compulsory simply because an EOOD or OOD has been incorporated.
From 1 January 2026, the general Bulgarian compulsory VAT registration threshold for a person established in Bulgaria is annual domestic turnover exceeding €51,130.
Other VAT-registration grounds can apply depending on the company’s transactions, including certain cross-border and EU-related activities. Voluntary VAT registration may also be available.
International companies should establish their VAT position before commencing substantial trading rather than assuming that the turnover threshold is the only relevant rule.
Bulgarian companies are subject to bookkeeping and annual financial-reporting requirements. Professional accounting support is therefore an important part of maintaining the company after formation.
A statutory independent audit is not automatically required for every EOOD or OOD. Audit obligations depend on the company’s size, classification and other statutory criteria, with additional rules applying to certain types of businesses.
A company may need ongoing accounting and annual financial statements even when it does not meet the criteria requiring an independent statutory auditor.
Banking and Financial Services
Registration of an EOOD or OOD does not guarantee a business account. Banks, EMIs and fintech providers apply their own eligibility, KYC, ownership and business-verification rules.
A non-resident-owned company should therefore prepare both company documentation and personal identification for the people controlling the business.
A provider may accept Bulgarian companies but still restrict onboarding according to the residence of directors, managers or beneficial owners. Account eligibility should therefore be checked separately from company-formation eligibility.
Remote Business and Lifestyle
Bulgaria has become relevant to many location-independent entrepreneurs who want a European base while operating online, consulting internationally or managing a remote business.
Bulgaria is an EU Member State and is part of the Schengen area. Since 1 January 2026, the euro is also the country’s official currency. These factors can make Bulgaria particularly interesting to entrepreneurs working across European markets.
A Bulgarian company can be one part of an international entrepreneur’s business structure, but company ownership should not be confused with residence or work rights.
Registration Assistance
BR Economy can help international founders understand the practical formation process, identify the information and documents that need to be prepared and coordinate the next steps for an EOOD or OOD registration with appropriate local service providers where required.
The exact requirements can depend on the ownership structure, business activity and the country of residence of the founder. We therefore prefer to understand the intended setup before suggesting a registration route.
Contact BR EconomyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions from international entrepreneurs considering an EOOD or OOD company in Bulgaria.
Yes. Foreign individuals and international entrepreneurs can generally own Bulgarian companies such as an EOOD or OOD without first becoming Bulgarian residents.
Company ownership should, however, be kept separate from immigration, residence, personal taxation and work-right questions. Forming a Bulgarian company does not by itself give the owner an automatic right to live or work in Bulgaria.
An EOOD is a Bulgarian limited liability company with one owner of the company capital.
An OOD is a Bulgarian limited liability company with at least two owners. The partners do not need to hold equal ownership percentages.
Yes. The incorporation information for an EOOD or OOD includes the company’s registered seat and address of management in Bulgaria.
An international founder should therefore arrange an appropriate Bulgarian company address before the incorporation documents are finalised.
The statutory minimum capital for a Bulgarian EOOD or OOD can be very low. Following Bulgaria’s adoption of the euro, the minimum company capital can be €1.
The founders may choose a higher capital amount where this is more appropriate for the intended business and ownership structure.
Common documentation includes founder or shareholder identification, the Bulgarian registered address, company capital information, manager appointment documents and the constitutional document for the company.
An EOOD normally uses an incorporation act for the sole owner, while an OOD uses articles of association between the partners. Manager declarations, consent and a signature specimen may also form part of the filing package.
A legal entity can participate as an owner of a Bulgarian limited liability company.
Where the owner is a foreign company, additional official documents may be required to establish that company’s legal existence, registration and authorised representatives. Translation, certification or other formalities may also apply depending on the documents and country involved.
No. Incorporating an EOOD or OOD does not automatically mean that the company must immediately register for VAT.
From 1 January 2026, the general Bulgarian compulsory VAT registration threshold for a taxable person established in Bulgaria is annual domestic turnover exceeding €51,130.
Other VAT-registration rules can apply earlier depending on the company’s transactions, including certain EU and cross-border activities. Voluntary registration may also be possible.
No. A statutory independent audit is not automatically required simply because a company is registered as an EOOD or OOD.
Audit requirements depend on statutory criteria such as the company’s size, classification and other circumstances. This should not be confused with normal bookkeeping and annual financial-reporting obligations, which can still apply even when an independent audit is not required.
No. Company registration and business-account approval are separate processes.
Banks, EMIs and fintech providers apply their own eligibility, KYC and business-verification procedures. They may consider the company’s activities, ownership, manager, countries of operation, expected transactions and the residence of the beneficial owners.
Requirements vary by provider, but commonly requested documents can include Commercial Register information, the company identification number, incorporation documents, ownership information and details of the manager.
Banks and financial platforms may also request passports, proof of residential address, business activity information, expected turnover, countries and currencies involved, source of funds and supporting commercial evidence such as contracts or invoices.
Bulgaria can be attractive to remote entrepreneurs because it provides an EU business environment and can be used as a base for online and internationally oriented businesses.
The company structure should nevertheless be considered separately from the founder’s personal residence and tax position. Where a person actually lives and works can create obligations that are different from those of the Bulgarian company itself.
Not automatically. Ownership of an EOOD or OOD and the right to reside in Bulgaria are separate legal matters.
EU, EEA and Swiss citizens operate under a different free-movement framework from third-country nationals. Non-EU founders should check the visa and residence rules applicable to their nationality and intended activity.
BR Economy can help international founders understand the practical registration process, the information and documents that should be prepared and the next steps for an EOOD or OOD formation.
Where local professional or registration services are required, the appropriate route can depend on the ownership structure, business activity and circumstances of the founder.
Contact BR Economy if you need practical guidance on EOOD or OOD formation, company documentation, Bulgarian address requirements or preparation for the next stage of registration.
Contact BR EconomyBR Economy provides general business information and practical registration guidance. We do not provide legal, tax, immigration or financial advice. Requirements can depend on the company, ownership structure, activities and individual circumstances.
