Company Registration in Serbia

Company Registration in Serbia: Procedure, Documents, Taxes and Legal Support for Businesses from Ukraine and the EU

Company registration in Serbia has become a practical option for entrepreneurs who want to open a business in a country with affordable administration costs, a clear corporate structure and a convenient location between the EU and the Balkan markets. Serbia is not a member of the European Union, but it has the status of an EU candidate country, and its tax system is often considered competitive for small, medium-sized and international businesses. According to PwC, corporate income tax in Serbia is 15%, the standard VAT rate is 20%, and the reduced VAT rate is 10% for certain categories of goods and services.

Why Entrepreneurs Choose Serbia for Company Formation

Both residents and foreign founders can open a company in Serbia. Most often, businesses choose the D.O.O. form – a limited liability company, as it is suitable for trade, IT, consulting, logistics, manufacturing, export, online business and service companies.

The main reasons why company registration in Serbia is of interest to entrepreneurs from Ukraine and the EU are related not only to taxes, but also to simple administration. Before making a decision, it is worth assessing the following factors:

• relatively low corporate income tax – 15%;
• possibility to work with international counterparties;
• convenient jurisdiction for trade, IT, logistics and service businesses;
• official company register in Serbia with open business data;
• electronic registration procedure through the Serbian Business Registers Agency;
• possibility of further accounting services and tax support;
• availability of nominee service, provided that the business structure is legal and transparent;

These advantages make Serbia attractive for entrepreneurs who want to open a company abroad without an overly complicated administrative model. At the same time, every project requires analysis of tax residency, banking compliance, ownership structure and future business operations.

Company Register in Serbia and the Role of APR

The commercial register of Serbia, trade register of Serbia and business register of Serbia are in practice connected with the activity of the Serbian Business Registers Agency – APR or SBRA. It is the Serbian Business Registers Agency that maintains the Business Entities Register and provides state registration of companies, entrepreneurs and other business entities.

Since May 17, 2023, registration of company formation in the SBRA Business Entities Register for limited liability companies, joint-stock companies, general partnerships and limited partnerships has been carried out exclusively in electronic form. Electronic registration requires a qualified electronic certificate, technical means for signing and a payment card for paying the registration fee.

Main Business Forms in Serbia

Before opening a business, it is important to choose the correct legal form. For a foreign entrepreneur, the most common solution is D.O.O., although other models may also be used in specific cases.

The following forms are most often used for registration:

1. D.O.O. – Limited liability company, the optimal form for most commercial projects.
2. A.D. – Joint-stock company, suitable for large structures, investment projects and corporate governance involving shares.
3. Preduzetnik – Sole entrepreneur, which may be convenient for small-scale activity but involves a different level of liability.
4. O.D. or K.D. – Partnership forms, used less frequently and requiring careful legal analysis.

After choosing the business form, it is necessary to determine the founders, director, address, business activities and management model. Mistakes at this stage may lead to refusal of registration or problems with the bank, tax authority or counterparties.

Documents for Company Registration in Serbia

The required documents depend on who the founder is – an individual, a Ukrainian company, an EU company or a foreign legal entity from another jurisdiction. If the structure includes a foreign company, official documents from the country of origin may require legalization, translation, notarization or lawyer certification.

For standard D.O.O. registration, the following documents are usually prepared:

• memorandum of association or decision on company formation;
• details of the founder or founders;
• details of the company director;
• confirmation of the registered office address in Serbia;
• selected business activities;
• information on share capital;
• documents regarding the ultimate beneficial owner;
• power of attorney for a lawyer or representative, if the procedure is carried out through an authorized person;

Proper preparation of documents is especially important for entrepreneurs from Ukraine and the EU who plan to open a company in Serbia remotely. Bank requirements should also be checked separately, as opening a bank account often requires a broader set of documents than state registration itself.

Procedure and Stages of Company Registration

The company registration procedure in Serbia has a clear logic. An application for LLC registration is submitted electronically through the Business Registers Agency system, and through the «one-stop-shop» system it is possible to receive an identification number, statistical number and tax identification number together with the decision on company formation. It is also possible to apply for VAT registration through a single application.

The typical procedure includes the following stages:

1. Conduct an initial consultation and define the purpose of opening the company.
2. Choose the legal form, company name and business activities.
3. Check the company name through the company register in Serbia.
4. Prepare incorporation documents, power of attorney and founder documents.
5. Submit the electronic application to the Serbian Business Registers Agency.
6. Receive the registration decision, company number and tax number.
7. Register the beneficial owner and set up the tax account.
8. Open a bank account and arrange accounting services.

After registration is completed, the company is not yet fully ready to operate unless banking, accounting, tax reporting, contracts and compliance are properly arranged. That is why legal support is often combined with accounting and tax support.

Taxes and Accounting Services

Taxes in Serbia are one of the reasons why entrepreneurs consider this jurisdiction. According to PwC, resident companies are taxed on income received in Serbia and abroad, while non-residents are taxed on income related to a permanent establishment in Serbia. The corporate income tax rate is 15%, and there are no local or municipal income taxes.

A company should take into account the following tax and reporting issues:

• corporate income tax – 15%;
• standard VAT – 20%;
• reduced VAT – 10% for certain goods and services;
• 0% VAT for exports and certain international transactions;
• payroll taxes and contributions when hiring employees;
• annual financial statements and tax returns;
• accounting of contracts, invoices, expenses, transfer pricing and currency operations;

For companies with international payments, accounting services should not be a formality, but a part of business protection. A competent accountant and lawyer will help avoid mistakes in VAT, corporate income tax, payroll calculations and reporting to state authorities.

Learn more about the tax system in Serbia in this article. Book an accounting consultation here.

Buying a Ready-Made Company in Serbia or Registering a New One

In some cases, an entrepreneur may consider the option to buy a ready-made company in Serbia. This may be relevant if a company with history, an already opened bank account or a faster start of operations is required. However, this model always requires thorough due diligence.

Before buying a ready-made company, it is necessary to assess the following:

1. Check the company through the commercial register of Serbia.
2. Analyze financial statements, debts, tax risks and court disputes.
3. Identify the real owner and the history of corporate changes.
4. Check the bank account, contracts, counterparties and reputation.
5. Prepare the share purchase agreement and change of director or owner.

A ready-made company may save time, but the risks of hidden debts or compliance problems may sometimes outweigh the advantages. Therefore, the purchase of a ready-made company should be carried out only after legal, tax and accounting audit.

You can choose a ready-made company or get advice on purchasing a company here.

Nominee Service, Director and Legal Support

Nominee service in Serbia may be part of business structuring, but it should be used only legally and transparently. Banks, tax authorities and counterparties pay attention to the real beneficial owner, the economic purpose of the company and confirmation of the origin of funds.

For a safe business launch, it is advisable to prepare in advance:

• description of the business model and sources of income;
• documents confirming the origin of funds;
• corporate ownership structure;
• contracts with clients and suppliers;
• accounting service plan;
• tax model for Ukraine, the EU and Serbia;

This approach helps not just to open a company, but to create an operating business that can pass bank checks, enter into contracts and conduct international transactions.

You can order a nominal service for business in this section.

How Poshuk.info Helps Find Specialists

On Poshuk.info, you can view a list of legal and law firms that are leaders in the field of company registration in Serbia. You can also create a consultation request that will be received by legal and law firms that meet the professional requirements in this service category.

The client does not need to visit the websites of different legal and law firms, submit separate applications or call each company individually. After submitting a consultation request on Poshuk.info, it is received by verified companies that meet professional criteria. This way, You save time, receive several consultations on the service at once and can choose the most favorable conditions for yourself.

Conclusion

Company registration in Serbia is a practical tool for entrepreneurs from Ukraine and the EU who want to open a business in a clear European-Balkan jurisdiction. At the same time, success depends not only on quickly entering data into the Serbian business register, but also on proper document preparation, tax planning, banking compliance, choice of director, beneficial owner verification and high-quality accounting services.