How to Open an s.r.o. Company in Slovakia in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
A foreigner can open a company in Slovakia — neither citizenship nor permanent residence in the country is required. But the procedure has changed noticeably in recent years: registration has become fully electronic, checks on founders have been added, and with them new obligations that start the moment you are registered.
Below is a step-by-step walk-through: what to choose between a živnosť and an s.r.o., what it really costs, what taxes a company pays in 2026 and what reporting you will have to file every year.
Updated: August 2026.
Živnosť or s.r.o. — which to choose
This is the first decision, and it matters more than it seems. You cannot convert one into the other later — you would have to close one and start the other from scratch.
| Criterion | Živnosť | Company (s.r.o.) |
|---|---|---|
| Liability | All of your personal assets | Limited to your contribution to the company |
| Start-up costs | A few dozen euros | A few hundred euros |
| Share capital | Not required | 5 000 euros |
| Accounting | Simplified bookkeeping possible | Double-entry bookkeeping only |
| Contributions | Always payable, with a minimum | Depends on how the income is paid out |
| How it looks to partners | A private individual | A company, seen as more solid |
| Closing down | Quick and cheap | Slow; liquidation takes months |
A simple rule: if you work alone, provide services and do not take on large obligations, start with a živnosť. If you plan to hire people, take on serious contracts or work with risks where major damage is possible, register an s.r.o.
A detailed comparison with calculations is in the article on the živnosť in Slovakia.
Who can open a company in Slovakia
The founder of an s.r.o. can be either an individual or a legal entity, Slovak or foreign. Citizenship is irrelevant. One person can found a company on their own.
There are restrictions worth knowing about in advance. The founder must not owe tax to the Slovak financial administration — this trips up people who already had a živnosť with debts. One person cannot be the sole member of more than three companies at the same time.
For those in Slovakia with temporary refuge status: registering a company is not in itself a problem for the status. But bear in mind that the status is temporary, while a company is a long-term commitment.
Step by step: how registration works
1. Name and registered address
The name is checked for uniqueness in the commercial register. The registered address (sídlo) must be a real one, with the written consent of the owner of the premises. Virtual address services exist — that is legal, but choose a provider with a track record: the address goes into the public register and becomes the face of the company.
2. The founding document
With a single founder this is a deed of foundation; with several, a memorandum of association. The document sets out the scope of business, the size of the contributions and how the company is managed. Signatures are certified by a notary.
3. Trade licences
Before filing with the commercial register you need a živnosť licence for the activities the company will carry out. Free trades are straightforward to arrange; qualified trades require proof of education or a responsible representative.
4. Filing with the commercial register
The application is filed electronically only and must be signed with a qualified electronic signature. Paper filing has been abolished. If you do not have a Slovak chip ID card and a signature, you will need a representative — a lawyer or a specialist firm.
5. Registration with the tax office
Once the entry is made in the register, the company is automatically registered for corporate income tax; the tax number arrives without a separate application.
Share capital: 5 000 euros, but not the way you think
The minimum share capital of an s.r.o. is 5 000 euros, and the minimum contribution of one member is 750 euros. A widespread misconception, however, is that this money has to be put in a bank and frozen.
That has not been true for a long time. Today a written declaration by the administrator of the contributions that the contributions have been paid in is enough. You do not need to open a bank account, put 5 000 euros in it and obtain a statement. The capital remains the company’s money and can be used in the business.
That does not mean there is no obligation. The declaration is a legal document, and the administrator of the contributions is liable for false information.
What it costs and how long it takes
- The court fee for the entry in the commercial register — 220 euros as at 2026. Fees change, so check the current amount before filing.
- The živnosť licence — free trades are cheaper, qualified trades more expensive; fees are lower when you file electronically.
- Notary — certification of signatures; the amount depends on the number of founders.
- Intermediary services — if you do not have an electronic signature. Market prices differ several times over, so compare.
By law the registry court must enter the company in the register within two working days of receiving a complete application and payment. In practice allow three to five days, and two to three weeks for the whole procedure including documents and licences.
The electronic mailbox: the detail people forget
On registration, every company has an electronic mailbox activated for communication with the state (elektronická schránka). Decisions from the courts, the tax office and other authorities arrive through it.
One thing is important to grasp: a document counts as delivered even if you have not opened it. After a certain period it takes effect automatically. People who do not check the mailbox find out about fines and decisions when it is already too late to appeal. Set up email notifications right after registration.
Note also that at registration the founders and directors are screened under the anti-money-laundering rules. That adds time if the members are foreign nationals.
Company taxes in 2026
The corporate income tax rate depends on the company’s turnover for the tax period.
| Taxable income for the period | Corporate income tax rate |
|---|---|
| up to 100 000 euros | 10 % |
| from 100 000 to 5 000 000 euros | 21 % |
| above 5 000 000 euros | 24 % |
There is also a separate minimum tax: a company pays it even at a loss. Its amount is tied to the level of income, and from 2026 the bands have been widened. This is a fundamental difference from a živnosť — a loss-making company still pays the state.
Profit paid out to members as dividends is taxed on top of that. So when working out whether an s.r.o. pays off, count the full chain: profit, corporate income tax, then the tax when you pay yourself. More on this in the article on taxes in Slovakia.
VAT: two thresholds to keep in mind
The rules on VAT registration have changed, and two figures now matter. Turnover is counted per calendar year; it resets to zero on 1 January.
- 50 000 euros. Once you exceed it you must file a registration application within five working days. You become a VAT payer from 1 January of the following year.
- 62 500 euros. If you cross this threshold as well in the same year, you become a VAT payer on the very day of the supply that took you over it. The application is filed within five working days.
The second threshold is the main trap. A company can become a VAT payer retroactively without noticing, and end up having to add the tax to invoices it has already issued. Keeping track of turnover is the entrepreneur’s own job; nobody will remind you.
Financial statements: what to file and when
A company in Slovakia must keep double-entry books — the simplified accounting available to živnosť holders does not apply to an s.r.o. At the end of the year the financial statements (účtovná závierka) are drawn up.
They consist of a balance sheet, a profit and loss account and the notes. The set is filed by the same deadline as the tax return — by 31 March for the previous year. If you notified the tax office that you were postponing the return by three or six months, the statements move with it.
A separate obligation is to file the statements in the register of financial statements, where they become publicly available. Anyone can look at your figures: that is normal in Slovakia, and it is how business partners check their counterparties before a deal.
Something newcomers need to understand: the obligation to file statements exists even if the company did no business all year. A “dormant” s.r.o. still files nil statements and pays the minimum tax. That is exactly why a company you turned out not to need is cheaper to close than to leave lying around.
More on deadlines and return forms in the article on declaring income in Slovakia.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to live in Slovakia to open a company?
No. Neither citizenship nor a residence permit is required to found a company. But you do need a real address in Slovakia and a way of receiving correspondence.
Does opening a company entitle me to a residence permit?
Not in itself. There is a separate type of residence permit for the purpose of doing business, and it requires its own set of documents, a business plan and proof of financial resources. The types of residence are covered in the article on types of residence permit in Slovakia.
Can a company be opened remotely?
Yes, through a representative acting under a power of attorney. But filing with the register is only possible electronically with a qualified signature, so you usually cannot manage without a Slovak intermediary.
How much does it cost to run a company per year?
The main fixed costs are accounting services and the minimum tax. The exact amount depends on the number of transactions, so ask several accountants for quotes before you register, not after.
What happens if I file the statements late?
The financial administration can impose a fine, and systematically failing to meet your obligations leads to more serious consequences, up to the company being struck off the register.
Official sources on this topic: the National Labour Inspectorate and the Slovak trade licensing register.
After registering a company you may become liable for VAT — the 23, 19 and 5 per cent rates and how to calculate them.
A company owner will also find it useful to know how social contributions and pensions work in Slovakia and which rates apply in 2026.
What to read next
- how to set up a živnosť in Slovakia
- Taxes in Slovakia: a complete overview
- Declaring income in Slovakia
- Types of employment contract in Slovakia
- How to open a bank account in Slovakia
The information has been collected from open sources on the internet and is current as at the date of publication. Fee levels, tax rates and thresholds change regularly. Before registering a company, check the current figures and be sure to consult a tax adviser or a lawyer — the price of a mistake here is measured not in hundreds of euros but in thousands.
A separate look at company reporting — deadlines, contents, the public register and what happens if you miss it — is in the article on company financial statements in Slovakia.