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Where to open a business in Poland or Bulgaria. Profitable business in Bulgaria for Russians. Benefits of doing business in Bulgaria

Bulgaria is a small country with a large number of resort towns. The annually growing flow of tourists, low taxes and economic stability are good factors for starting a business in the republic.

Starting your own business is a reliable way to stay in the country for a long time. The Bulgarian government encourages foreign entrepreneurs: you can open a company without even being present on the territory of the state.

To conduct business, a foreigner will need to obtain an appropriate visa and residence permit. The successful development of the business will give an opportunity to obtain Bulgarian citizenship, but not earlier than 5 years after the opening of the company.

A significant plus for Russian entrepreneurs is the close mentality of the Bulgarians and the ability to hire employees with a good education among the local population who will not claim high wages. The level of knowledge at universities here is high, and getting a job in the republic is not easy.

Business immigration: what is it

Business immigration is an opportunity to move your business, open a new one or buy ready-made company in a foreign country. Most European countries are ready to provide a residence permit, and later citizenship, to entrepreneurs from other countries.

Mandatory conditions for this:

The company must pay taxes on time;
Opening vacancies for local residents.

Russian business immigrants in Europe have certain advantages:

Loans on favorable terms;
tax incentives;
Opportunity to obtain citizenship in the country where the company is opened.

Business visa to Bulgaria

A business visa is required for persons who have opened new company or planning to develop an already existing business.

You can apply for a single, double or multiple entry visa C - it allows you to stay in the republic for 90 days out of 180. You will not be able to apply for a residence permit by choosing this method of entry into Bulgaria.

It is preferable for a foreign entrepreneur to apply for a national visa category D: the applicant will have the opportunity to stay in the country for six months and receive a residence permit during this time.

Types of business in Bulgaria

The country has one tenth of the most large companies Southeast Europe, they work mainly in the energy and heavy industries. Doing big business in the republic - a profitable occupation, only very wealthy people can organize a new company.

Russians in Bulgaria are usually engaged in small or medium-sized businesses. The competition is quite high, but with a successful organization, the company will bring a stable income.

There are three business immigration options:

Open a representative office of a Russian company in the republic;
Organize new business or buy ready;
Become an investor.

Citizens of Russia usually choose to organize a business in Bulgaria: the option makes it possible to obtain citizenship of the country over time (when opening a representative office, this is difficult) and does not require large investments.

The easiest way is to become an investor, but it is also the most costly. It will be necessary to invest 512 thousand euros in government bonds of the republic.

Conditions for immigration to Bulgaria for entrepreneurs

Opening a company only formally, as is permissible in some other countries, will not work in Bulgaria. Business must be profitable, taxes must be paid on time. The entrepreneur himself will have to live in the republic for at least 184 days out of 365. Obtaining a business visa obliges the applicant to organize at least 10 jobs for Bulgarian citizens.

An exception is the opening of a representative office that does not require hiring a large number employees and making a profit in the country. But it is also more difficult to obtain permanent residence in this way: you will have to wait at least 5 years and make sure that the time spent in the state is at least 6 months a year.

Choosing a visa, conditions for obtaining

Those planning to do business in Bulgaria will need to apply for a long-term (for a year) visa D. This can only be done in person at the Consulate of the Republic.

List of required documents:

Passport, which must expire 3 or more months after returning to Russia;
Questionnaire in Russian;
Photo 3.5x4.5 cm;
Confirmation of financial well-being (information from the bank);
Health insurance valid in the EU.

The consulate has the right to require other additional documents. The term for consideration of papers is 4-35 days, if necessary, the applicant may be called for an interview.

Residence permit, permanent residence, citizenship: conditions for obtaining

Foreign entrepreneurs who have opened a representative office of their company in Bulgaria are given a temporary residence permit for 5 years from annual renewal. After this period, you can apply for permanent residence status. The opportunity to obtain citizenship of the republic will appear only after 10 years through naturalization.

A significant shortcoming for the owners of a foreign representative office is that they are prohibited from selling goods or services, it is only possible to attract customers or provide them with information support.

Russians who have opened a new company or bought a ready-made business can apply for permanent residence after 6 months. Owners profitable business, which regularly pays taxes and provides Bulgarians with jobs, registration of the country's citizenship is available 5 years after the registration of the company.

Opening a new company, buying a ready-made business

The state encourages foreign entrepreneurs who have organized a company or bought a ready-made one.

For such citizens are provided:

tax incentives;
Low cost of renting premises;
Entering the European market;
Purchase of land or real estate;
Possibility to purchase the necessary products in installments.

You can buy a ready-made business in Bulgaria at a relatively low price. The cost will depend on the company's annual revenue, the final amount may be affected by:

Availability of long-term lease of premises (business will be more expensive);
Ending rental period (in this case, the price will decrease).

Organization new company obliges the entrepreneur to give the business a unique name and open an account with an authorized capital, the minimum amount of which is 10 leva (approximately 5 euros). The enterprise must have a legal address, it is allowed to register at the address of private property or rented premises.

The procedure for opening or buying a company takes an average of 3 weeks.

Popular business options in Bulgaria for Russians

An entrepreneur from Russia, when determining the target audience, can focus on compatriots or local citizens.

Russian-speaking emigrants who have recently moved to Bulgaria are often afraid of being deceived by the natives of the republic.

Therefore, citizens of the post-Soviet space can be offered:

Consulting services;
Assistance in paperwork, buying or selling real estate.

Another option for earning on the needs of former compatriots:

Organization of tourism or hotel business;
Transfer services;
Shops and cafes specially "for Russians".

It is better to focus on local citizens if the entrepreneur has the opportunity to engage in traditional business with low cost for the consumer: hairdressers, shops, hotels. The fact is that the purchasing power in the country is low, and the Bulgarians are very conservative, it is difficult to interest them in new products.

The most common types of business among Russians:

Stores oriented towards Russians;
Car services;
Construction and repair;
Hotel business;
Production of certain products rare in the republic: dumplings, pies, cottage cheese;
Transfer;
Enterprises Catering;
Real estate agency.

If a novice entrepreneur has little experience, or there are doubts about the possibility of organizing a profitable company, it is better to purchase a ready-made business, the prices for it in Bulgaria are relatively low. The cost of a working cafe is 70 thousand €, a small hotel - 600 thousand €.

Pays for itself quickly in Bulgaria catering business, auto business (cargo transportation, car service) - approximately within a year. The funds invested in the purchase of a hotel can only be returned after 8-10 years due to high competition.

The income from the business will depend mainly on the successful location of the company and proper organization. On average, the monthly profit of a novice entrepreneur is 2500-5500 €.

Business ideas with minimal investment

A small but stable source of income in Bulgaria can provide the following activities:

Production and sale of souvenirs to tourists;
Guide services;
Babysitting for children of tourists.

Examples of opening a business in Bulgaria by Russians

Enterprising compatriots find original ways earnings:

A family of 7 people organized a workshop for making dumplings in one of the rooms of a pre-purchased apartment. Relatives live in other rooms. Opening a business in your own home does not contradict the laws of the country;
A man living in a resort town bought about 20 bicycles and set up a rental shop. The business turned out to be profitable: bicycles in Bulgaria are expensive, such a purchase is unprofitable for tourists.

Legal nuances

The new company will need to be registered. Before that, you will need to select the form of ownership.

For assistance in calculating estimated taxes, it is best to contact your local accountants. Such services are valued inexpensively.

Business registration

Registration of a company takes place in 5 stages:

Title reservation;
Organization of a constituent meeting of shareholders with the presence of a notary to certify the charter;
Depositing the amount of the authorized capital to the bank account;
Registration in the commercial register of the National Trade Agency;
Providing information to the tax office.

Russian entrepreneurs are popular with 2 forms of ownership for business:

Society with limited liability with a minimum authorized capital of 1 euro - suitable for small businesses;
A joint stock company with an authorized capital of 25,500 € - it is preferable to choose the owners of large companies.

Taxation

The tax policy in Bulgaria is one of the most forgiving in Europe. Foreign entrepreneurs are required to pay the following taxes:

For profit - 10%;
VAT - 20%;
Income - 10%;
For dividends - 5%.

Tax incentives up to 100% are provided for foreigners doing business in countryside or providing jobs for people with disabilities.

Immigrants who decide to open a company in Bulgaria will need 2 main tips:

Do only what you have experience or good theoretical knowledge;
Carefully understand the laws of the country.

Often, Russian entrepreneurs fail because they chose the wrong niche or used the services of the local population at a price that was 5-10 times too high.

At the beginning of 2019, a Russian with extensive business experience opened a restaurant and a strip club in the republic at the same time. The catering business turned out to be completely unprofitable only because the owner overpaid the staff and suppliers. The striptease club brought a good profit due to its good location and the predilection of the Bulgarians for this type of leisure.

Opening a business in Bulgaria is real: over 300 Russian owners of successful companies in the country confirm this. Difficulties on initial stage are inevitable in any state, but the owners of a profitable enterprise in the republic have access to the European sales market - and these are new, even more attractive prospects.

Thanks to the investment policy of the state, a transparent legislative system and a European standard of living, business in Bulgaria is of interest to many citizens of Europe and the CIS. Entrepreneurs with a minimum start-up capital dream of starting their own business and earning money on the territory of the Balkan Peninsula. However, in order to achieve this goal, you need to know the banking sector in Bulgaria well, tax rules and mentality of the local population.

The main nuances of doing business in Bulgaria

A simple and understandable taxation system, currency stability and a favorable geographical position open up great opportunities for business in Bulgaria. Having on hand from 2000 euros, you can open your own restaurant here, consulting company or a company selling used cars in just a month.

If a foreign citizen has invested more than 250,000 euros in the economy, he is guaranteed to receive a residence permit in this country (Law "On Foreign Investments").

Private entrepreneurs in without fail pay tax on business income. The tax rate is the smallest among all EU countries and is only 10%. Corporate tax is also set at 10% and VAT at 20%. Therefore, it is not surprising that business in Bulgaria with minimum investment is very popular.

To clearly demonstrate how attractive Bulgaria is for doing business, let's analyze the ranking of European countries in terms of income tax. The rating is based on data provided by the statistical and fiscal authorities of these countries and Eurostat. Here are the maximum, average and minimum values.

Country	Maximum income tax rate (%), 2014
Sweden	56,9
Denmark	55,6
Spain	52
France	50,3
Cyprus	35
Poland	32
Ukraine	25
Czech	22
Lithuania	15
Belarus	12
Kazakhstan	10
	10

It must be said that the potential of Bulgaria is simply huge! There is an active development of tourism and Building bussiness, textile and chemical industry, transport industry. And the most attractive cities for citizens wishing to organize successful business in Bulgaria, are Burgas and Varna.

Territorial and economic features of doing business in Bulgaria

The Valley of Roses, as Bulgaria is also called, is famous primarily for its resorts. In summer, lovers of warm water and bright sun, and in winter, when the air temperature drops to minus, the palm is intercepted by areas located near the ski slopes. Every year, new restaurants, hotels, new places for a comfortable stay, amusement parks, beauty salons, offices appear in the resort areas of Bulgaria. travel companies, focused on both budget and wealthy tourists. Such entrepreneurial activity is explained by the fact that the financial service and maintenance of the company in Bulgaria is quite inexpensive.

If we consider the more "deaf" areas of Bulgaria, then they are very popular there farms. Importing vegetables and fruits grown in an ideal climate is a fairly profitable business. Of no small importance is the fact that all merchants whose turnover is less than 50,000 leva (about 25,000 euros) for the reporting period (year) are exempt from paying VAT.

How to organize a business in Bulgaria legally

The country's authorities have created fairly loyal conditions for doing business. Particularly impressive is the work of supervisory, judicial and executive bodies authorities that protect entrepreneurs from unscrupulous competitors by pursuing a nationwide investment policy.

Few of the residents of the CIS who have decided to do business know exactly what to do in Bulgaria and what kind of business to open. Therefore, most of our fellow citizens are interested in how much money they need for this and what documents should be prepared. To answer these questions, it is necessary to consider in more detail the legislative norms relating to the organization of business.

Thus, the legislation of Bulgaria provides for several forms of ownership of enterprises (organizational-legal) allowed for establishment by foreigners:

Collective society (collective friendship - SD). It is created, as a rule, by co-founders who are well acquainted with each other (from 2 people). Working relationships are regulated by the charter agreement. The founders bear the same responsibility for the obligations. Minimum size start-up capital not regulated by law.
Joint-Stock Company (Joint-Stock Friendship - AD). The founders of AD can be both legal entities and individuals. To establish an AD, you need to have at least 50,000 leva (about 25,000 euros). Managed by the shareholders' meeting. The shareholder with the most shares has the most weight. Shares can be freely bought and sold.
Limited society (commandite friendship - KD). It is created by the founders, who bear the same responsibility for obligations, and some are unlimited, while others are responsible only for the amount of their own contribution. The responsible co-founder has unlimited managerial rights.
Limited company with shares (Commandite partnership with shares - KDA). It is formed by signing an agreement between the co-founders. An act-charter is necessarily created, which contains a description of the powers, information on the amount of capital, as well as the type and number of shares. The minimum capital to set up a company is BGN 50,000 (about EUR 25,000).
Limited Liability Company (Friendship with Limited Excuses - OOD / EOOD). The most demanded form of activity, since the minimum amount of capital is 2 leva (about 1 euro). Co-founders, who are liable for obligations only with the amounts paid, do not have to participate in the management of the company. Minimum changes in founding documents registered in court.
Private entrepreneur (Single-person trader - ET). By law, it is established by a foreigner with permanent residence status, or a citizen of Bulgaria. The amount of capital does not matter. ET is only liable for personal property. The name of the company must consist of the name and surname of the founder.

The founders of firms can be citizens of Bulgaria or other countries who have passed the procedure for registering an enterprise in the commercial register (by decision of the district court) or who have bought a ready-made business.

After registration in the register, you need to be registered with the statistical office, the pension service and the tax office. In addition, a bank account must be opened for financial and economic activities.

Bulgarian banking system: a brief overview

According to the Bulgarian People's Bank, there are currently 30 banks operating in Bulgaria, including 24 licensed banks and 6 branches of foreign banks. 73.3% of assets are controlled by international financial institutions, which indicates a favorable environment for doing business.

Now the banking system in Bulgaria is slowly recovering from the recession. According to the analytical department of Raiffeisen Bank International, economic growth remains weak, but the outlook is positive.

Bulgarian banks are willing to issue loans for up to 30 years and offer a wide range of business services.

What type of business is most attractive for CIS citizens in Bulgaria

As evidenced by the reviews of immigrants from the CIS, in Bulgaria you can "unwind" absolutely any idea and create a stable, highly profitable business. The main thing is to show a little imagination, attract qualified consultants, invest money correctly and take into account the needs of potential customers.

The similarity of the Slavic mentality, as well as the absence of a language barrier, greatly simplifies doing business. In Bulgaria, the Cyrillic alphabet is used, so all the inscriptions are applied in the usual Russian letters. Quite often there are signs in Russian, because the lion's share of local residents and tourists understand Russian.

Market research will help you choose the right business niche. Until the 2000s, CIS citizens sought to open their own cafe, beauty salon or family hotel on the Balkan Peninsula, usually focusing on the needs of vacationers. However, over time, companies engaged in real estate, consulting and other types of business have become more popular.

Often, immigrants from the CIS open bakeries, provide logistics services, perform repairs and decoration of apartments, develop and maintain websites. Quite often, the owners of shops, car services, dental clinics and kindergartens in Bulgaria are our compatriots.

Now many entrepreneurs are striving to open a company in Bulgaria to buy a car, because this type of business requires practically no costs, but it brings solid benefits. As you know, in Bulgaria you can buy a good used car for several thousand euros (almost three to four times cheaper than in Western Europe). Therefore, the scheme, according to which a car is bought for a Bulgarian company, and then this vehicle is operated on the territory of another state (by proxy), has become very popular.

As practice shows, registration of a company in Bulgaria by a citizen of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus or a native of another CIS country takes up to a month. If paperwork and other organizational matters a competent employee is engaged, you just need to present a foreign passport and deposit funds into the company's account (authorized capital).

The number of co-founders of the company is not limited by law (there may be 15, or 35, or even more), and dishonest intermediaries take advantage of this. At the same time, all co-founders receive the legal right to drive a vehicle that is the property of the company. Therefore, becoming a co-founder of a Bulgarian company is unprofitable, because when you try to sell a car, you will need to gather all the owners and obtain official permission to carry out a sale and purchase transaction. And collecting all the signatures is often simply not impossible.

How to register a business in Bulgaria

According to statistics, investments in Bulgaria in 2019 should exceed the figures for investments in 2018. And all because the attractiveness of the region is growing, increasing financial opportunities citizens, an active campaigning policy is being carried out, aimed at increasing the inflow of foreign capital.

In order to quickly and without unnecessary hassle to create their own company, some citizens use the services of legal organizations. However, there are people who seek to open a company in Bulgaria on their own. And in part they are doing the right thing, taking the situation into their own hands.

To open a company on your own, it is enough to study the legal aspects of this issue and follow the instructions developed by experienced specialists:

first, you need to come up with and register a unique name;
secondly, to choose a suitable organizational and legal form of doing business, in order to simplify its process and taxation later.
thirdly, get a legal address, register a company in all instances, choose seals and stamps, open a bank account.

The process of organizing a business abroad is quite long and tedious, so if you are too busy or just want to get rid of unnecessary troubles and worries, it is better to use the services of specialists who, for a small fee, will help you register a new company, buy or sell a ready-made business.

Buying and selling a business in Bulgaria: pros and cons

Sometimes it is much more profitable to acquire a ready-made business in Bulgaria than to create your own company from scratch. After all, an already established mechanism is much easier to keep afloat than to experiment every day, trying to win a certain market share.

The company must be chosen carefully and slowly, since the price of a ready-made business varies quite seriously and depends on the field of activity. For example, small shop will cost about 20,000 euros, a villa in the resort - 70,000 euros, and a modest bar - 50,000 euros.

Of course, the sale of a business in Bulgaria is fraught with many "pitfalls" - for example, if the owner significantly underestimates the value of the company. In this case, you need to analyze the business reputation of the company, check for debts, and also read the recently adopted laws - perhaps this type of business has been banned or artificial restrictions have been created for it by the state.

Experts recommend acquiring young promising companies that were created specifically for resale. Heads or managers of such companies often provide legal, financial and advisory support, helping Ukrainians, Russians, Belarusians to buy a business in Bulgaria at an affordable price.

Features of obtaining a business visa

To carry out commercial activities in the territory of another country, you will need to apply for a business visa by providing the embassy with a full package of documents, the main of which is an invitation foreign organization or business partner.

It should be clearly understood that business visas are single, double and multiple (multivisas). Documents for obtaining a visa can be submitted personally by the applicant, the applicant's authorized representative (if there is a power of attorney on company letterhead) and a third person who has received the right to officially represent the interests of the applicant.

A business visa allows you to stay in Bulgaria for up to 90 days (every 6 months), so it cannot be considered as one of the options to enter the country for permanent residence.

What documents are needed to obtain a visa

In order to enter the territory of Bulgaria, it is necessary to obtain a visa. To do this, it is necessary to prepare documents in Russian or Bulgarian in advance in order to subsequently submit them for consideration to the responsible person.

Be sure that obtaining a visa will give you only positive emotions if you submit the full package of documents indicated on the consulate website, namely:

a completed visa application form (surname and name - as in the passport);
copies of purchased tickets, hotel reservations;
1 color photograph 35x45 mm, fingerprints;
original passport and a copy of the first page;
an invitation from a business partner (issued in accordance with all the rules);
medical insurance covering costs in the amount of 30,000 euros;
documents confirming the existence Money(certificate of employment, bank statement, etc.).

Business in Bulgaria with a residence permit

If you are planning a trip to Bulgaria for a long time in order to obtain a residence permit and organize a business without any restrictions, it is better for you to apply for a category “D” visa. In this case, you can independently register a company and do what you love without resorting to the services of intermediaries. Remember: a residence permit is issued within a month and is valid for exactly 1 year (extension for a similar period is possible).

To feel comfortable in a foreign land, it is better to buy an apartment or a villa in this country, but for this you need to know the features legal registration guest house in Bulgaria. By law, foreigners can freely acquire any real estate without land (for example, apartments, apartments), however, in order to obtain ownership rights to a private house with land required compulsory registration legal entity. You already know exactly how to do this by carefully reading our article and drawing the appropriate conclusions.

Residence permit in Bulgaria. Obtaining a residence permit in Bulgaria: Video

Evgeny Malyar

# Business nuances

Features of business in Bulgaria

Development Agriculture is a priority direction of the Bulgarian economy. At least that's what government officials say all the time.

Article navigation

Benefits of doing business in Bulgaria
What kind of business should a Russian citizen do in Bulgaria?
Ideas and market niches for small businesses in Bulgaria
Business in Bulgaria with minimal investment
Buy a ready-made business or create your own?
How to get citizenship
Documents required for obtaining a business visa to Bulgaria in 2019
How to open a company in Bulgaria
Legal forms of ownership in Bulgaria
Procedure and cost of registering a company in Bulgaria
Taxes in Bulgaria in 2019

Bulgaria is not the richest country in the European Union, but there are many Russians who want to open their own business in it. An article on how to do it.

Benefits of doing business in Bulgaria

The countries of Central and Eastern Europe are mentally close to the Russians in many ways. A long joint stay in the socialist community, and sometimes centuries-old historical traditions, is having an effect. Bulgaria in this sense can serve as one of the clearest examples. The similarity of languages, writing and culture create comfortable conditions for the Slavs.

At the same time, EU membership entitles Bulgarian citizens to freely move their goods and services within Europe, and, of course, to travel themselves. Access to favorable loans from European banks is opened.

To find your place in the business world of countries such as Germany, France or Italy, you need a solid initial capital. In Bulgaria, without money, it will also be difficult, but the order of amounts is different, more modest. There are other important benefits as well:

high economic potential of the tourism and service industry;
favorable tax climate;
European legal standards;
developed infrastructure;
relatively low staff salaries;
cost of living commensurate with Russian conditions;
benevolent attitude of the authorities towards investors;
favorable geographical and logistical position of the country;
choice of possibilities of legalization of residence and economic activity;
the presence of a free economic trade zone "Burgas".

To the disadvantages of the system state regulation businesses, people who have experience in Bulgaria refer to the bureaucracy. But where is she not?

What kind of business should a Russian citizen do in Bulgaria?

The man who did not find effective way earnings at home, in a foreign land will not be easier. No matter how close the mentalities of the Bulgarians and Russians are, there is a difference between them.

There is nothing surprising in the fact that local businessmen are engaged in the most profitable industries. Visitors get destinations that citizens of the country for some reason cannot or do not want to deal with. Work best unique offers. The second option is to serve the same foreigners as the entrepreneurs themselves.

Ideas and market niches for small businesses in Bulgaria

Main activities Russian entrepreneurs operating in Bulgaria, there are only two:

positioning for local consumers;
Russian language service target audience(visiting tourists and migrants).

Both options have advantages and disadvantages.

It is advisable to offer Bulgarian consumers goods and services that are scarce or non-existent on the market. national market. Entering into open competition with local businessmen "in their field" is not the best idea, and most often it is obviously losing. It is advisable to open enterprises of the following profiles:

Public catering establishment. This service sector in Bulgaria is well developed. In addition to a very rich national cuisine, there are Turkish and other oriental cafes and restaurants on the market. Offering something “original” (you don’t need to go into subtleties) can give good results: dumplings, chebureks, borscht, fish soup, dumplings and other dishes widely known as Russian. The main thing to ensure - high quality and affordable prices.
Store type "Birch". The assortment consists of handicrafts ("hand-made"), souvenirs and objects of applied art of the peoples inhabiting Russia. The selection of goods should be treated very carefully, experimentally determining the most liquid positions.
Mini IT-center. Russian specialists in programming and maintenance of electronic computing equipment are rightly considered highly qualified. Demand for services is steadily growing, and not only from outside large corporations. An ordinary citizen also often needs to repair a laptop, reinstall the system, clean the computer from viruses, etc.
Auto repair shop. A small enterprise can be opened by a high-class specialist who knows many types of machines. There are such craftsmen in Russia. Plus - relatively low tariffs for services. Of course, there are service stations of the leading brands in Bulgaria, but the prices there are quite European, even for an oil change. Difficult economic realities encourage savings. In addition, some Bulgarians drive Russian and even Soviet cars.
Car washes, coffee shops, candy bars (a kind of small bistro that sells cakes and coffee), popcorn stands, and similar small businesses have nothing "spicy-national." However, in tourist regions they are almost never superfluous - there is enough space on the market for everyone. Income such outlets bring not gigantic, but stable.

The listed lines of business are focused mainly on Bulgarian citizens or visitors from other EU countries. The list can be continued, and fantasy in this case will not be superfluous. But there is another significant sector of the market in which the Russians feel at ease. This is work with compatriots in a broad sense: with all those who arrived in the country from the former republics of the USSR. This business is difficult to attribute to a large one (a story about it ahead). For the most part, it does not require large-scale investments - only skills, activities and initiatives.

Real estate. Wanting to buy or rent an apartment, house or business premises, an entrepreneur from the CIS can contact a Bulgarian real estate company. However, in this case, he may have a language problem, and psychologically it is easier to cooperate with “friends”.
Tour service. The reasons why a Russian-speaking guide is preferable for tourists from the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Belarus and other post-Soviet countries are the same, but a price advantage can be added to them if it can be provided.
Beach service. A foreigner from far abroad does not care which company will provide him with a trestle bed, an umbrella or a table with drinks. Tourists who come from the CIS will be satisfied, having received all this from their compatriots. The same applies to water bikes, scooters, bananas, etc.
Legal mediation in obtaining a residence permit, citizenship, business residence permit, hiring employees, customs clearance, etc. Many Russians who arrived in Bulgaria for various reasons need legal assistance. A great opportunity for those who know how and love to learn. Local accreditation is required to be officially authorized to provide services.
Advertising and business promotion in Bulgaria. Competent marketing assumes an individual approach to each client. It is hardly possible to do without Bulgarian specialists, but ensuring contact and mutual understanding between agencies and customers is also a matter.
adaptation courses. Migrants, including ethnic Bulgarians who came from the CIS, experience natural discomfort at first, including due to not always perfect language skills. Assistance in the rapid assimilation of local customs and laws is also, as a rule, in demand.
Design. There is competition, but a talented specialist will have clients.
Copyright and journalism. There is a need for texts addressed to tourists in Bulgaria, including in Russian.

Business in Bulgaria with minimal investment

If it's really about minimal cost for registration, in Bulgaria they often formally amount to a symbolic sum of two leva. It is in such money that the authorized capital is valued individual entrepreneur(ET - "sole trader"), paying 10% of monthly profits.

Requirements for investing funds for a limited partnership (CA) are not established at all, that is, in fact, they may not exist. Minimum initial capital full partnership- the same 2 leva.

Despite these democratic conditions, one should take into account their formal nature. Money is needed anyway. The smallest amount that the registration of a legal entity will cost will be the equivalent of €800 at the exchange rate (the country, despite its membership in the EU, is not part of the eurozone, the national currency is the lev), not counting the founding capital.

The peculiarity of the Bulgarian economic realities is relatively low acquisition prices with high current costs. Utility bills and other unavoidable payments are expensive.

Starting a business in Bulgaria can be cheap (no more expensive than in Russia), but if it turns out to be not profitable enough, it will end quickly.

Buy a ready-made business or create your own?

Prices for an already operating business in Bulgaria may seem very attractive to a Russian. $80,000 for a cafe in Sofia, a dairy plant in the suburbs of the capital for only $3 million, or a small hotel for $700,000 are real offers. Having made such an acquisition, the entrepreneur receives not only the possibility of a stable income, but also a residence permit in one of the EU countries with the prospect of citizenship. There are two things stopping:

firstly, not every entrepreneur has that kind of money;
secondly, there is natural doubt about the reasons motivating the sale of a "cash cow" that brings a stable profit.

Therefore, before concluding a transaction for the purchase of a ready-made business in Bulgaria, it is necessary to carefully study the financial situation of the enterprise. It is also highly desirable to understand the intricacies of profile production.

More troublesome, but more reliable - to create your own company.

How to get citizenship

A foreigner who lives in the country for legal grounds. To obtain citizenship, an applicant must meet one of the following two criteria:

be a Bulgarian by nationality or marry a representative of this ethnic group;
be of interest to the country as an outstanding and recognized figure in the sciences, arts or other fields of activity.

In other cases, you cannot count on a quick receipt of a Bulgarian passport.

After five years of stay in the country with a residence permit (a residence permit is issued for a year with an extension), a foreigner can apply for the status of permanent residence (permanent resident). It is available to the following categories:

ethnic Bulgarians;
to the adoptive parents of Bulgarian orphans;
investors for a total amount of $500,000;
wealthy pensioners.

Ethnic Bulgarians living in other countries prove their national identity. The relevant verification is carried out by the Immigration Service (office in Sofia) after the following documents are submitted:

an application (petition, in Bulgarian “pleas”) for citizenship;
general civil and foreign passport (plus copies);
color photographs (for documents, format 3.5x4.5, 4 pcs.);
birth certificate (a copy is certified by the immigration service) of the applicant and his Bulgarian relatives;
certificate of no criminal record (original);
autobiographies;
details of family members and immediate relatives;
medical certificates (form 286, stating that the applicant does not suffer from AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and is mentally healthy).

So, an ethnic Bulgarian, having gone through a number of instances, can obtain permanent residence, and later citizenship. Everyone else will have to act according to the scheme: residence permit - permanent residence - citizenship (if such a task is set).

Submission of an application for a residence permit is possible after the registration of an enterprise of any form of ownership, except for an individual entrepreneur (sole trader, ET, in Bulgarian - sole trader).

But for this, you must first enter the country on a special business visa issued on the basis of an invitation from business partners. Her conditions require a short stay. Allotted time should be used as efficiently as possible own business. After that, you should get an immigrant visa type "D", which allows you to stay in Bulgaria for a long time.

The next stage is the status of a resident, that is, a permanent resident. Permanent residence gives almost the same rights as a citizen, with some exceptions (participation in elections, military service, etc.) that do not affect the conduct of business.

Documents required for obtaining a business visa to Bulgaria in 2019

To obtain a business visa, a Russian citizen must submit the following package of documents to the Consulate of the Republic of Bulgaria:

completed application form;
questionnaire;
international passport (original and copy);
a list of the latest Schengen and Bulgarian visas received earlier (if any);
color photos for documents (3.5 x 4.5, 4 pcs.);
proof of sufficient funds to live in Bulgaria;
a health insurance policy worth €30,000 or more;
certificate of good conduct;
information about the place of residence in Bulgaria;
the confirmation business activity In Bulgaria.

In case of difficulty, consular employees provide assistance and assistance. A visa after passing a mandatory interview is usually opened within a month.

How to open a company in Bulgaria

Registration of a business entity (or change of ownership upon acquisition) by a resident of Bulgaria is a technical task that can be solved in the most common ways. For this, the usual package of documents is submitted, approximately the same as in Russia.

It is important to decide on other questions: legal form property and taxation.

Legal forms of ownership in Bulgaria

There is some difference between Russian and Bulgarian organizational and legal forms of entrepreneurship. It manifests itself in a greater variety and unusual names. For convenience, Bulgarian terms are summarized in a table with explanations.

Organizational and legal form of management	Description	A responsibility	Authorized capital (minimum)
ET (sole trader - sole trader)	Almost a complete analogue of the Russian IP. The name of the entity must match the name of the sole founder	Complete	Not required
SL (collective friendship - full partnership)	Formed by at least two founders	Complete	2 leva
KD (commandite friendship - limited partnership)	Established and managed by the so-called. commander, attracting limited partners (shareholders)		No restrictions
AD (joint stock friendship - joint stock company)	Non-residents can act as founders	Within the ownership of AD	50 thousand lev
KDA (partnership with shares - LLC with shares)	Founders - one main (commander, he is also a manager) and three limited shareholders	Full for commanders, limited for limited partners	50 thousand lev (immediately - half)
OOD or EOOD (single-handed friendship with limited excuses)	The main requirement is the creation of at least ten vacancies for citizens of Bulgaria	Within company ownership	2 leva

Add to this table the following factors, influencing the choice of organizational and legal form:

A foreigner who has received permanent residence can register as a sole trader. He pays 10% of his profits.
Limited forms of partnerships are most often used when registering a family business of Bulgarian citizens.

AD and EOOD are considered the most preferable for foreigners, since the founders of such enterprises can immediately apply for permanent residence.

Procedure and cost of registering a company in Bulgaria

There are firms in Bulgaria that offer to set up a turnkey company, and they do not charge very much. It probably makes sense to use the services of intermediaries, especially if the founder is not fluent in the language and has little knowledge of the intricacies of the local bureaucracy. However, the question arises as to what to do next. The best way business acclimatization - do everything yourself.

Regardless of the form of ownership of the enterprise being opened, the sequence of actions will be as follows:

Generation of a unique name. In the commercial register of the Republic of Bulgaria there is a complete list of already operating companies, with which you should check the invented name, which (who knows?) Can also become a brand. It would not be superfluous to consult with a familiar Bulgarian on the subject of euphony.
Formation of authorized capital. As it is already clear, in order to register AD and CDA, you need to have fifty thousand leva (for reference: 1 lev is approximately equal to 37 rubles at the rate). This, of course, does not mean that you can open an OOD or EOOD with two levs in your pocket. Formally, this is so, but you still can’t do without a large sum.
It is understood that the composition of the founders has already been determined, as well as their share in the business. If there are ambiguities about this, then it's time to eliminate them.
Choice of legal address. Usually this is the place of residence of the founder.
Create a list of activities. Listing of lines of business activity future company cannot be infinite. The option “everything that is not prohibited by law” does not work in Bulgaria and in the EU as a whole. Need more specifics.

This completes the preparations. It's time to prepare a package of documents.

Documents for registration of EOOD and OOD

Notarization requires only the signature card of the head of the company. All other documents are provided in originals and copies as follows:

Declaration indicating the full name of the applicant, his citizenship, date and place of birth, passport details and his address of residence. Compiled in accordance with the requirements of § 4 article 13 of the Bulgarian Commercial Register Law.
Declaration that the future founder has not been in a state of bankruptcy in the last two years and has not been involved in enterprises caught in dubious transactions with petroleum products (art. 141 § 9 of the Law on Trade and art. 313 of the Criminal Code of Bulgaria).
Declaration that the founder is familiar with Article 142 of the Law on Trade, according to which the director makes all decisions with the consent of the Company.
The charter of the EOOD (it is also the constituent act). Printed in duplicate. It contains all the main details of the company, the personal data of the founder, the order to appoint the head and other provisions on the work of the future enterprise.
Agreement with the appointed leader. It is drawn up as a regular employment agreement.
The decision of the sole proprietor on the establishment of the company (protocol).
Manager's signature sample card (as director is called in Bulgarian). Notaries have forms of this document with all the necessary columns.

Now that the package of documents is ready, you should open a savings account with a bank and put authorized capital on it. This procedure is simple and quite inexpensive - 10 leva. The receipt must be kept.

The same bank pays the fee of the Trade Register, in which each Bulgarian company is registered (110 leva). With this receipt, you need to go to the Register office (available in almost all major cities) and fill out the A4 form. This is an application for registration, on the basis of which a UIC (enterprise identification number) is assigned within about a week and a half.

The process is completed by a certificate of the current state, which is issued by the Commercial Register after paying a fee (7 leva). It remains only to order a print and open a current account, and you can start working.

Documents for registering an LLC are the same as for opening an EOOD.

Taxes in Bulgaria in 2019

The country operates international system GAAP reporting. Foreigners with the status of a legal entity are supposed to pay the following basic taxes:

Tax	Bid, %	Explanation
At a profit	10	It is charged on the difference between gross profit and expenses. Paid annually, deadline is April 1 (for the past reporting period)
VAT	20	Reimbursed for export operations. With a turnover of more than 50 thousand leva, registration of a VAT payer is required. It is paid monthly, the deadline is the 10th.
FOT	40	Charged to payroll
Income	10	Paid by individuals
For dividends	5	Paid on income from holding securities

In addition to taxes, enterprises bear an additional fiscal burden in the form of mandatory contributions and fees:

social and pension insurance (DOO) at rates of 16–35.5% of wages. Partially paid by the employee, the rest - by the employer;
health insurance (ZO), at a rate of 8% (3.2% from the employee and 4.8% from the employer).

Outsourcing is widespread in Bulgaria accounting in which all the cares are taken over by specialized firms. The cost of this service is low (about 100 leva per month).

The conditions in Bulgaria for starting and developing your own business are improving every year. After the accession of the Republic of Belarus to the European Union, economic indicators continue to grow, attracting more and more foreign investors to the state. A new flow of investments to the Republic was provided by changes in the Bulgarian legislation in 2013, thanks to which it became possible for investments in business.

Are you thinking about opening a European business? Register a company in Bulgaria with us and become a citizen of the European Union.

Benefits of doing business in Bulgaria

Opportunity to practice commercial activities and work as a manager

Low level of taxation

Governmental support and encouragement to foreign investors

Obtaining the right to acquire land plots

Absence of religious and racial conflicts

Possibility to register a car for a company

Use of banking services, including the right to obtain a loan or mortgage for an enterprise at favorable interest rates

Economic and political stability

Getting a business visa to live in Bulgaria

Close language and mentality to citizens of the CIS countries

Keeping your original passport

Opportunity to move to Europe for the whole family

Ways to obtain Bulgarian citizenship through business investment

Foreigners can obtain Bulgarian citizenship through permanent residence by investing in a Bulgarian business. To do this, use one of 3 possible options:

Buy shares of one or more companies on the Bulgarian stock exchange for a value of more than 1 million leva (approximately 512,000 euros). After obtaining permanent residence in Bulgaria, you need to re-invest the above amount in a Bulgarian company - a "certified investment project". By fulfilling these conditions, you will receive Bulgarian citizenship.

The investment mechanism is exactly the same as option 1, however, the minimum required investment amount is BGN 6 million (approximately EUR 3,070,000) and the company's shares cannot be traded on the stock exchange.

Become the owner of at least 50% of the shares of a Bulgarian company or register as a managing director of a certified investment project. After obtaining Bulgarian permanent residence, you need to invest 20 million leva (approximately 10,260,000 euros) or more over 1 year to obtain Bulgarian citizenship.

What kind of business to open in Bulgaria?

Foreign entrepreneurs and investors often ask themselves the question: “what kind of business to open in Bulgaria?” The legislation of the Republic does not restrict foreigners in choosing directions for doing business - it all depends on your plans and the amount of investment. For individuals it is quite easy to organize a small or medium-sized business (for example, a hotel, restaurant). In turn, large foreign companies prefer to open their representative offices or buy a ready-made Bulgarian business (for example, construction, transport, tourism).

The main list of documents for starting a business in Bulgaria

Statement

original company name

Copy of your foreign passport (or co-founders of your company)

Founding act/protocol

Legal address of the company

Director's declaration

Certified consent of the director and a sample of his signature

Statements on opening an account in a Bulgarian bank and depositing the authorized capital

Receipts for payment of registration fees

How to buy a ready-made business in Bulgaria?

Ready business in Bulgaria is very popular among foreign investors from Russia, Ukraine and other CIS countries. This is due to the affordable pricing policy and a wide selection of existing business facilities for sale. To buy a ready-made business in Bulgaria, you should decide on an object corresponding to the type of activity you have chosen. You can contact us - we will advise you and select you in Bulgarian investment market an option worth the investment.

Having decided on the object, it is necessary to study the state of affairs of the company and the process of doing business in as much detail as possible. Our qualified lawyers can conduct a legal examination of the documentation. Along with a legal analysis, it will be useful to do an economic one: to assess the assets and business reputation, predict prospects further development companies.

The final stage of buying a ready-made business in Bulgaria is determining the price. To do this, it is necessary to draw up an appraisal report: clearly justify the cost that the business owner is asking for, and assess the validity of the asking price.

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Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia, Hungary attract Russian-speaking emigrants with a common culture and ease of adaptation. And besides, in these countries it is often easier to open a business and get a residence permit, as the government is doing its best to develop market economy and needs investment.

Why Eastern Europe?

These countries traditionally belong to Central and Eastern Europe, although the principles of division are very conditional. Nevertheless, it is they who are closest in mentality to the Russian-speaking population of the planet. It cannot be said that the immigration policy here is soft and loyal, but all roads are open for those who want to create and develop their business in the EU countries. It is better for the lazy to look for other ways.

Business in Bulgaria, Poland, Latvia or Hungary will open wide opportunities for integration into world economy, will allow you to find wider markets and take a successful start.

When considering where to emigrate from Ukraine or Russia in 2014-2015, consider this option.

How to open a business in Bulgaria and get a residence permit

Registration of your own company is an opportunity, and subsequently apply for citizenship. The easiest way is to buy a ready-made business in Bulgaria. Prices may vary. For example, in the city of Sofia it is realistic to buy a small cafe for $80,000, and for $3,000,000 you can buy a dairy plant in the same city. A small hotel will cost between $700,000 and $1,000,000.

This is not to say that registering your own company will cost less. That is, the procedure itself is not so complicated and costly, but the subsequent maintenance of the company will cost a pretty penny. Everyone who decides to open his own business, in order to obtain a residence permit, is obliged to provide a minimum of jobs to citizens of Bulgaria. However, you can just use a Russian company, then you won't have to create jobs.

Let's explore the options organizational form your future business. Each of them has advantages and disadvantages. On average, the cost of registering a company will cost you 800 euros, and this amount does not include the authorized capital.

Although Bulgaria has been a member of the European Union since 2007, its own currency, the Bulgarian lev, is used on its territory.

Individual entrepreneur (sole trader, or ET)

This is the most simple form an organization similar to a Russian IP. The name of the company must contain the full name of the owner.

Peculiarities:

No authorized capital;
The founder may be a non-resident who already has permission to permanent residence in the country;
Bears full responsibility with all his property;
Tax - 10% of the profit.

This option is not suitable for emigration, as the risk of being left without money and property is too great, and, in addition, you must already have a residence permit in Bulgaria in order to register an ET.

By registering an enterprise of a different form of ownership, you can apply for a residence permit.

General partnership (collective friendship, or SD)

Peculiarities:

There is an authorized capital, but it is not regulated by law, while it must be at least 2 leva;
The organizers can be at least two people;
Founders are responsible for all their own;
The relationship of the founders is regulated by the memorandum of association;
Participants have the right to conclude transactions only with the full consent of other members of the partnership.

This very specific option is also not suitable for organizing a business by a non-resident. It is quite risky and requires complete trust in partners.

Limited partnership (Command partnership, or KD)

Peculiarities:

The founders are limited partners who can lead the community, and limited partners who initially make a contribution to the authorized capital (kind of shareholders);
Only limited partners bear full responsibility with their property, and limited partners are liable only according to the contribution to the authorized capital;
The authorized capital can be any.

This form of enterprise is used mainly in the family business among the Bulgarians themselves. For immigration, it is risky.

Joint-Stock Company (aka Joint Stock Friendship, or AD)

Peculiarities:

The authorized capital is at least 50,000 leva, which is equivalent to approximately 1,350,000 rubles;
Founders may be non-residents, including legal entities;
The authorized capital of any financial institutions regulated at the state level;
The founder is at least one person;
The Founders bear full responsibility with all the property of the Society (not personal, unlike CD, SD or ET).

The minimum value of each share is at least 1 lev, and the Company is managed by a meeting of shareholders. This option is more preferable and allows you to hope for a residence permit. True, first you will need to obtain a special visa, and only after that deal with the issue of obtaining a residence permit.

Please note that a business visa to Bulgaria is one of the short-term visas provided for entry into the country at the invitation of business partners. Organizing a business in Bulgaria, you must obtain the so-called (type D), it is also an immigrant visa.

Limited liability company with shares (Commandite partnership with shares, or KDA)

Peculiarities:

The authorized capital is at least 50,000 leva, but here you can initially deposit only half, and only then start raising the remaining funds;
The founder is at least one commander (manager) and three limited partners (shareholder);
Commanders bear full responsibility with all their property, including personal, and commanders - only in proportion to the share of each in the authorized capital.

Limited Liability Company (Limited Partnership or Solely Limited Partnership)

Peculiarities:

The minimum authorized capital is 2 leva;
At least one founder, including a legal entity;
Full responsibility with all property of the Company.

This option is most preferable for non-residents, as it does not require large financial costs at the initial stage. However, it should be remembered that in order to obtain a residence permit, it is required to create 10 jobs for Bulgarians.

There is another opportunity to obtain permanent residence in Bulgaria immediately. To do this, you should invest in the economy at least $500,000 at a time.

Don't forget about the taxes you have to pay. Income tax is 10%, corporate tax is 10%, and VAT is 20%, which should be taken into account when forming a pricing policy.

The most promising niches for your business in Bulgaria

Burgas can become the most attractive area for organizing your own business. It is here that a special economic zone was founded with the possibility of duty-free movement of goods to the countries of Europe and the Middle East. And the city itself is a major commercial and cultural center of the country.

In Burgas it is advantageous to organize enterprises of the following direction:

Tourism;
Transport and transportation;
Real estate.

Sunny Beach, one of the most popular resorts on the Black Sea, is located in the Burgas region. This allows you to make good money on renting out real estate, cargo transportation, and tourism in general.

Varna is another paradise on the Bulgarian coast, where tourists from all over the world flock. And although the cost of real estate here is quite high, it can quickly pay off due to the large flow of people who want to rent or buy housing. It is also profitable to open hotels, restaurants and cafes, entertainment venues here.

Bulgarian citizenship - how to get and where to start (plus video "How to get a residence permit in Bulgaria")

This is not to say that the procedure for obtaining citizenship is very simple. Citizenship can be claimed by persons of interest to the government in the fields of science, art, sports or economics, as well as ethnicity.

The rest of the foreigners can, which is actually equivalent to citizenship. To obtain permanent residence in the Republic of Belarus, you must meet one of the following requirements:

Live in the country for at least 5 years on the basis of a residence permit (initially it is issued for 1 year with a subsequent extension);
Be of Bulgarian origin;
Adopt a child who is a citizen of Bulgaria;
Invest in the economy at least $500,000;
Marry a citizen of this country;
Have Bulgarian parents (only for minors).

The Bulgarian Republic gladly accepts wealthy pensioners. To do this, they just need to provide documents on the availability of a high pension or buy residential property.

Every foreign citizen who has ancestors (usually parents or grandparents) of Bulgarian origin can obtain citizenship on the basis of ethnicity. To do this, you need to provide the following documents to the immigration office in Sofia:

Passport and its copy certified by a notary;
Passport and copy;
4 color photos 3.5x4.5 cm;
Birth certificate (the original document is submitted for consideration, which is then returned to the owner);
Original certificate of non-conviction;
Autobiography;
Information about spouses, children, parents and other close relatives, including their names and birth data;
Formal application for citizenship ("plea");
Medical certificate in form 286, information about the absence of AIDS, venereal and mental diseases.

Such applications are considered within two months.

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