Company formation in Poland

The costs of setting up a company differs depending in particular on the type of the company and its share capital or, for partnerships, the amount of contribution brought. 

If we refer to setting up the limited liability company (which is the most common and recommended form for entering the Polish market), the most relevant costs are:
 

1. Remuneration for the notarial activity for the preparation of the company’s articles of association – which depends on the amount of the share capital,
2. Tax on civil law transactions – 0,5% of the amount of the share capital of the company, reduced by the amount of VAT for the notarial activity and costs of company’s registration indicated in point 4. below,
3. Cost(s) of the extract(s) of a notarial deed including the company’s articles of association – approximately PLN 60 for one extract,
4. Court fee for registering the company in the National Court Register (KRS) and mandatory announcement in the Court and Economic Gazette – PLN 600. 
    

To provide a more accurate estimation, if the share capital of the company being set up in Poland is PLN 5,000, which is the minimal amount required, the abovementioned costs shall amount in total to approximately PLN 900-1,000. 

Additionally, if the Polish company is to be formed and registered by the plenipotentiary, the abovementioned costs shall be increased by the stamp duty for granting the power of attorney for the company’s registration (PLN 17) and costs related to granting the power of attorney to conclude the articles of association of the company – that power of attorney shall be granted in the form of a notarial deed or other form equivalent in each country. 

However, it is significant to emphasise that if the abovementioned costs of setting up a business seem to be too excessive and/or you are looking for a more simplified solution, at least for entering the Polish market, it is possible to set up a company online, through the dedicated platform called S24. 

In such a case the notarial activity is not required and the registration fee is lowered, which reduces the total costs significantly – at this point however, you should be also aware that for those purposes the founders of the Polish Company are required to use a relevant electronic signature.

If a foreigner who wants to open a business in Poland is a private individual, then, for the purposes of the setting up a company, they only need a relevant identity document (passport or identity card). On the other hand, if the company is to be set up by another company, it is required to present the relevant excerpt from the foreign companies register, potentially accompanied by other foreign corporate documents proving authorisation of the person forming the company in Poland or granting power of attorney for that action. 

Then, for the purposes of registering the company in the Polish register called the National Court Register, it is required to submit the relevant application online together with attachments referring to each type of company pursuant to the provisions of the Polish Commercial Companies Code and the National Court Register Act. Those documents, for the limited liability company being set up by a notarial deed, are:

• articles of association,
• list of shareholders,
• declaration of the Management Board regarding the share capital coverage (bringing relevant contributions by the shareholders),
• declaration of each representative of the company regarding his/her consent for being appointed, including information regarding the address for deliveries,
• list of all persons authorised to appoint the Management Board of the company.