Sofia is not only Bulgaria's administrative capital — more than half of the country's active companies are registered here. If you plan an EOOD or OOD with a seat in the capital, you will file into the busiest Commercial Register workload, but you also get the densest network of notaries, banks and accounting firms. For IT, fintech, consulting and trade, a Sofia address is often a credibility signal for clients and investors.

The legal process matches the rest of the country: founding documents, escrow account, notarised specimen signature and application A4. The difference is logistics — you can usually finish the specimen around the Palace of Justice or Sofia Business Park in one working day, and escrow accounts open at dozens of branches on Vitosha Blvd., Tsarigradsko Shose and near the NDK. E-filing with a QES remains the fastest path; paper filing is slower and more expensive.

The registered office must have a legal basis for use (lease, ownership or owner consent). Office rents in Sofia are higher than elsewhere, so many startups begin in co-working or compliant virtual offices. After the UIC, NAP notification, an operating bank account and optional VAT registration are easier thanks to the concentration of institutions and partners in the capital.

Local cost notes:

• High TR volume can extend review when attachments are incomplete — double-check name and ID numbers before filing
• The management address must be genuinely usable; a mailbox without a use right leads to refusal
• Peak periods (month-end) overload notaries near the Palace of Justice — book an appointment

Below is the cost breakdown for starting and running a company in Sofia. Average office rents are €8–20/sq.m..

Sofia (over 1.3 million residents) is the capital and largest business hub in Bulgaria, home to over 60% of all registered companies in the country. The city has over 180,000 registered companies, making it an active business centre.

Key Industries:

• IT & Outsourcing
• Finance & Insurance
• Wholesale Trade
• Consulting Services

Office Rents: Average office rents in Sofia are €8–20/sq.m., which is competitive compared to other cities in the region.

Bank Branches: UniCredit Bulbank, DSK Bank, Postbank and UBB have central branches on Vitosha Blvd., Tsarigradsko Shose Blvd. and near the National Palace of Culture.

Notary Offices: The highest concentration of notary offices is around the Palace of Justice on Vitosha Blvd., along Dondukov Blvd. and in Sofia Business Park.

Automated document preparation can reduce the time and cost of external preparation.

After registration, a company in Sofia has the following ongoing costs:

Companies in Sofia have the following annual obligations:

• Annual tax return — free when filed electronically
• Annual financial statements in the CR — government fee per current tariff; a declaration of inactivity typically carries no fee
• Corporate income tax — 10% of profit
• Dividend tax — 5% upon distribution

Tips for reducing company costs in Sofia:

• File electronically — save €28.12 on the government fee
• Use Firmify — save €100–250 on lawyer fees
• Choose the right accounting package — don't overpay for services you don't use
• Compare bank fees — the difference can be €50+ per year
• Keep your records up to date — avoid fines and penalties