How to Register an EOOD in Bulgaria

What Is an EOOD?

Short answer: An EOOD is a sole-owner limited liability company — the most popular legal form for doing business in Bulgaria. It can be registered with a minimum capital of 1 EUR, one owner, a state fee of 28 EUR (for e-filing), and takes 3–5 business days to be entered in the Trade Register (Търговски регистър).

An EOOD (Еднолично дружество с ограничена отговорност / Single-Member Limited Liability Company) is the most popular legal form for starting a business in Bulgaria. It combines simplicity of management with limited liability, making it an ideal choice for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and small businesses.

Key Characteristics of an EOOD

• One owner — the company is established and managed by a single natural or legal person
• Limited liability — the owner is liable only up to the amount of the contributed capital, not with personal assets
• Minimum capital of 1 EUR — a symbolic amount that makes this form accessible to everyone
• Legal entity — the EOOD is a separate legal entity with an EIK, bank account, and its own assets
• Flexible management — the sole owner makes all decisions independently

Advantages of an EOOD

An EOOD offers many advantages over other legal forms:

1. Protection of personal assets — unlike a sole trader (ET), with an EOOD your personal property is protected from business risks
2. Low initial costs — registration costs approximately ~45–65 EUR in total
3. Tax efficiency — the corporate tax rate in Bulgaria is 10%, one of the lowest in the EU
4. Easy conversion — if needed, an EOOD can be converted into an OOD by admitting a new partner
5. Professional image — a company looks more credible to clients and partners compared to a sole trader

Who Is an EOOD Suitable For?

An EOOD is the right choice if you:

• Are starting a business on your own, without partners
• Want to protect your personal assets from business risks
• Plan to work with companies (B2B) or end customers (B2C)
• Want to benefit from the low 10% corporate tax rate
• Need a professional image and a legal entity

Requirements for Registering an EOOD

To register an EOOD in Bulgaria, you must meet certain legal requirements and prepare the necessary information in advance.

Requirements for the Founder

The founder of an EOOD can be any legally competent person — Bulgarian or foreign, natural or legal. The main requirements are:

• Legal age — at least 18 years old (or 16 with emancipation)
• Legal capacity — the person must not be placed under guardianship
• Valid identity document — national ID card (for Bulgarian citizens) or passport (for foreign nationals)

Capital

The minimum capital for an EOOD is 1 euro (one share of 1 euro). The capital is deposited into an escrow account (набирателна сметка) opened at a Bulgarian bank in the name of the company being incorporated.

Despite the low minimum, you may contribute a higher capital if your business requires it. Higher capital can increase the trust of clients and partners, as well as facilitate obtaining a bank loan.

Registered Address

Every EOOD must have a registered office and address (седалище и адрес на управление) on the territory of Bulgaria. This can be:

• Your own office or shop
• A rented office (a lease agreement or the owner's consent is required)
• The owner's home address
• A virtual office (offered by specialized companies)

Scope of Activity

During registration, you must specify a scope of activity (предмет на дейност) — a brief description of the business activities the company will engage in. The scope of activity can be worded broadly (e.g., "consulting services, trade, intermediation, and any other activities not prohibited by law").

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Registering an EOOD follows a clearly defined sequence of steps. With Firmify, the entire process can be completed online in a single day.

Step 1: Choose a Company Name

Check whether your desired name is available in the Trade Register. You can reserve the name in advance via application D1, but this is not mandatory. Check the current state fee according to the applicable tariff.

The name must:

• Be in Cyrillic
• Be unique (not identical to an already registered company)
• Not be misleading

Step 2: Prepare the Documents

Prepare the full set of documents:

• Articles of Association (Учредителен акт)
• Resolution of the Sole Owner (Протокол-решение)
• Specimen signature of the manager (Спесимен)
• Declarations under Art. 13 of the Commercial Register Act, Art. 141 and Art. 142 of the Commerce Act

Step 3: Open an Escrow Account

Visit a bank of your choice and open an escrow account in the name of "[Name] EOOD in the process of incorporation." Deposit the subscribed capital (min. 1 EUR) and obtain a bank certificate.

Documents required by the bank:

• Resolution for incorporation
• Articles of Association
• Identity document of the founder

Step 4: Sign the Documents

Sign the documents according to each person's role and the method of filing. For electronic filing, the Articles of Association and the resolution are signed by the sole owner, the declaration under Art. 13(4) of the Commercial Register Act and application A4 — by the applicant, and the declarations under Art. 141 and Art. 142 of the Commerce Act — by the manager. The manager's specimen signature requires mandatory notarial certification by a notary.

Step 5: File Application A4

File application A4 with the Trade Register — electronically (28 EUR) or on paper (56 EUR). Attach all prepared and signed documents.

Step 6: Receive Your EIK

After approval (1–3 business days for electronic filing), you receive an EIK (Единен идентификационен код) — the Unified Identification Code of your company.

Documents for EOOD Registration

Here is a detailed list of all required documents for registering an EOOD, with an explanation of each one's purpose.

1. Articles of Association (Учредителен акт)

The Articles of Association is the foundational document of the EOOD. It defines:

• The company name (in Cyrillic and Latin script)
• The registered office and address
• The scope of activity
• The amount of capital and the distribution of shares
• The method of management and representation
• The term of the company (if specified)

The Articles of Association must be signed by the sole owner. For electronic filing, this is done with a QES (Qualified Electronic Signature); for paper filing, the document is signed on paper by the owner.

A copy of the Articles of Association with redacted personal data (personal identification numbers and addresses) — pursuant to Art. 20(1)(b) of Ordinance No. 1.

2. Resolution of the Sole Owner (Протокол-решение)

This is the document by which the owner formally decides to establish the EOOD. It specifies:

• The decision to incorporate
• The adoption of the Articles of Association
• The appointment of a manager (can be the owner or another person)
• The registered address

3. Specimen Signature of the Manager (Спесимен)

A notarially certified sample of the manager's signature. Notarial certification of the specimen is mandatory for both electronic and paper filing — signing with a QES alone is not sufficient.

4. Declaration under Art. 13(4) of the Commercial Register Act

A declaration by which the applicant confirms that the declared circumstances are true and the submitted documents are authentic. Signed by the applicant (the owner or an authorized person).

5. Declaration under Art. 141(8) and (9) of the Commerce Act

A declaration by the manager confirming that they meet the legal requirements for holding this position — no convictions for certain crimes, no declared insolvency, etc.

6. Declaration under Art. 142 of the Commerce Act

A declaration of the absence of a prohibition for the manager to engage in competing activities or participate in other companies with a similar scope of activity (unless the owner has given consent).

7. Bank Certificate (Банково удостоверение)

A certificate from the bank confirming the deposit of capital into an escrow account. Issued by the bank after the capital is deposited.

EOOD Registration Costs

Registering an EOOD in Bulgaria is relatively inexpensive. Here is a complete overview of the costs you can expect.

State Fee

The state fee for entry in the Trade Register depends on the method of filing:

Notary Fees

Regardless of the filing method, the manager's specimen requires notarial certification:

• Certification of the manager's specimen signature — ~3 EUR

For paper filing, you will have additional notary fees for:

• Certification of a signature on the Articles of Association — ~3 EUR
• Total notary fees — ~6-15 EUR (depending on the notary)

Bank Fees

For opening an escrow account and depositing capital, banks typically charge:

• Opening an escrow account — 5-15 EUR
• Depositing capital — free or a nominal fee
• Issuing a certificate — free at most banks

Cost Summary

If you use a lawyer or accountant to prepare the documents, add their fee as well (typically 100-250 EUR). With Firmify, you can reduce some of these costs through automated document preparation.