How to register a company online — step by step
Online registration of an EOOD or OOD in Bulgaria is standard practice in 2026: you file with the Commercial Register over the internet using a QES (Qualified Electronic Signature), pay a lower state fee than with paper filing and receive your UIC usually within a few business days. You can track the status of your application in the electronic cabinet and respond to queries without a physical visit. Below is a step-by-step description of the process — from the name to the registration.
Prerequisites Before You Start
QES (Qualified Electronic Signature)
For the Commercial Register portal you need a valid QES issued by a licensed provider. Without it you cannot electronically sign the application and its attachments. For more on signature types and timelines see What Is a QES and How to Get One?.
Escrow Account
The company's capital is deposited in an escrow account at a bank of your choice. After successful registration the funds are transferred to the new company's current account. Approximate fees and required documents are summarised in Escrow Account — What You Need to Know.
Step 1: Company Name and Availability Check
Choose a company name that is not confusingly similar to already registered traders and complies with the rules on uniqueness and correctness. You can check availability and prepare a reservation application via the new-name service: D1 — new application. This reduces the risk of rejection by the registrar due to a similar name.
Step 2: Preparation of Founding Documents
For an EOOD you need Articles of Incorporation, an application for registration and the applicable declarations (including declarations on the truthfulness of the stated facts and on the absence of statutory impediments, as required at the time of filing), a specimen signature of the manager and documents for the contributed capital. For an OOD the main founding document is the Company Agreement between the partners; the remaining categories of attachments to the registration are analogous but must reflect the share participation and management agreed between the partners.
This is the step that most often wastes time when done manually — a mismatch between the Articles of Incorporation and the application, a misspelled company name or registered address leads to rejection or a request for rectification. Firmify generates compatible templates and the required fields so that no gaps or contradictions remain between the individual files.
Tip
Before uploading to the portal, check whether all pages are signed where the law requires and whether the name matches the reservation from step 1 literally. More on the advantages of electronic filing: 5 Advantages of Electronic Filing When Registering a Company.
Step 3: Opening an Escrow Account and Depositing Capital
With the founding documents and company data you go to a bank, open an escrow account and deposit the statutory minimum capital (as of 2026 typically 1 EUR under the applicable rules). You receive proof of the deposit — these are attached to the filing.
Step 4: Notarial Certification of the Specimen Signature
The manager's specimen signature is certified by a notary. Without this the application is not accepted. Keep electronic copies in the format required by the portal.
Step 5: Sign With QES and File With the Commercial Register
Log into the electronic services of the Commercial Register, upload the document package in the required formats (usually PDF), sign with your QES and pay the state fee to the budget. After successful submission you receive an electronic image of the application — save it along with the payment receipt.
Electronic filing carries an approximately 50% lower state fee compared to paper — a real saving on every registration and faster online status tracking without visiting a counter.
Step 6: Waiting for Registration
After filing, the registrar reviews the materials. With a complete and correct package you can often expect registration within 1–3 business days (timelines may vary during busy periods or when clarification is requested). You receive a UIC — your identifier as a trader.
After registration don't forget: BULSTAT registration (if you need statistical codes), a bank account for operations, disclosure to the NRA and choosing an accountant or accounting software. These steps are not part of the incorporation itself but are critical during the first week.
Common Reasons for Delays
- A mismatched name relative to the reservation or an already taken name.
- An incomplete set — missing deposit document, invalid specimen signature or missing QES signature.
- Incorrect manager details or registered address.
For more examples see 7 Common Mistakes When Registering a Company.
How Firmify Makes the Process Easier
- Step 2: automatic generation of founding documents and forms based on your data — no copying from outdated files.
- Step 5: the prepared files are structured for electronic filing; you save time and reduce errors that lead to rejection or additional requests.
The full context for starting in Bulgaria is in How to Start a Company in Bulgaria — Complete Guide. For specifics on online filing also see Online Company Registration.
Summary: Online registration goes through a QES (Qualified Electronic Signature), an escrow account, a notary for the specimen and electronic filing with a lower state fee. With prepared documents and a verified name the process is predictable and fast.
Start at register a company with Firmify — prepare the document package in minutes and follow clear steps toward the Commercial Register without unnecessary delays.
City Guides
The procedure is the same everywhere in Bulgaria, but each city has its specifics for notaries, banks and office rents. Read the specialised guide for your city: