Discover the business advantages of setting up a company in Serbia, a pro-business European jurisdiction with low maintenance costs. Explore the reasons to choose Serbia, its tax system, company registration details, and EU passport possibilities. Contact our experts for guidance and assistance in making the most of the Serbian business opportunity.
Serbia is a chance to set up a company in a European jurisdiction with pro-business laws and low company maintenance costs (well, they are at least lower than in other European countries). Serbia has done a great job in recent years to become more attractive for international capital, and it has succeeded in doing so: the country has managed to attract major Asian and European investors to its economy. Belgrade is steadily turning into an international business hub, and this situation is highly likely to continue for years, so you can join in!
Starting a company is an important decision, and you should have enough information before you can finally make it. We would like to invite you to
Serbia Wealth to read more about Serbia, its business and banking, laws, lifestyle, relocation, and so on. You can also book a session with an expert to discuss any questions or doubts related to Serbia. If it turns out that the Balkan country is not the optimal destination for your needs, we will offer other options. And if you want us to help you with any practical matters of Serbian company setup, we can do so at an affordable fee using our local office in Belgrade.
Why Serbia?
Let’s take a look at the reasons why we should prefer Serbia to other popular destinations where we can start our business:
If you are looking for minimal company maintenance costs, Serbia is one of the best options: you can have a company at 200 euros a month, and this amount includes professional accountant’s services and a registered office.
If you are a foreigner and you want to set up a company in Serbia, you can do it online without visiting the country if you provide a power of attorney to our legal representative.
If you are a Serbian company owner, it will be easy for you to obtain a local residence permit. It will simplify dealing with local banks (and we do recommend them as the Serbian banking sector is very good).
Serbia is about to become a member of the European Union. It practically means that you have a chance of obtaining an EU passport one day! If you receive a residence permit as described at the previous stage, you will be able to get the right to permanent residence in several years, and then apply for local citizenship. It will take 5-7 years, and the Serbian passport may equal an EU passport by that time. Given the current situation in the world, it is hard to make long-term predictions. However, you should know that this opportunity exists.
There are a lot of international banks in Serbia, and they will be happy to open multi-currency accounts to serve your Serbian company.
Serbia has a favorable geographic position between the East and the West, which is essential for those who engage in trading activities.
Serbia is not a tax haven, but its taxes are quite affordable, and it has signed a large number of double taxation treaties with different countries.
As you see, Serbia has something to offer. No wonder this is currently one of the most popular business destinations and there are a lot of entrepreneurs from all over the world who wish to establish their companies here.
How to Establish a Serbian Company
The most popular legal form in Serbia is a limited liability company (or doo in Serbian). Let’s look at the reasons why many entrepreneurs opt for it:
You will only need one founder who can be an individual or a legal entity
You will need just one director to set up a company, and this position can be held by the company's owner
You are not required to have local directors or shareholders: these can be residents of any country whatsoever
You can have a professional director (local resident) for your convenience to deal with banks and governmental authorities in person (all these things can be done online, but you may still face more challenges than doing the same personally)
The lower threshold of the company’s authorized capital is not set: you can start with 1 euro if you want
Each Serbian company should have a local registered office, and we can provide this service to you
Limited liability companies have an obvious advantage: the liability of their members is limited by their contributions to the company. And this is one more reason why you may decide to choose this legal form.
Corporate Taxes in Serbia
The corporate tax rate and the dividend tax rate are the same: 15%.
As for the income tax, it varies between 0% and 15% depending on the total annual income.
This seems to be enough to make a decision, but you can find out more by contacting our experts.
Requirements for Financial Reporting
All Serbian companies are required to keep financial records, and this is usually done by a professional accountant at a fixed monthly fee (it usually equals about 100 euros a month, but the cost is set depending on the number of transactions). If you carry out specific operations, you will need a specialist with relevant skills (which will cost more) or you can engage a well-established international accounting/audit company.
Company Registration and Maintenance: Costs
You can incorporate a company in Serbia at 2,200 euros, and this is the basic price that does not include any additional services. We will help you with the collection of documents, payment of state duties, obtaining a Tax Identification Number, and accompany you during your contacts with governmental authorities and a visit to the Registry.
If you want to open not only a company but also a bank account in Serbia, this service will additionally cost 2,500 euros. However, the price may change as it depends on the details: the bank services you need, the industry your company is engaged in, the availability of a local director, and so on.
In addition, you may need to incur the costs of document translation and the cost of flight to Serbia if you intend to personally visit the country.
Interested in the Serbian opportunity? Get in touch with our experts right now to discuss your situation, make sure that Serbia is a suitable jurisdiction for your needs, and use our services if you need to!