Company formation in Poland step-by-step

Starting a business in Poland can be a great opportunity, but the process of company formation can be complex and time-consuming. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to form a company in Poland, from choosing the right legal structure to registering your business with the proper authorities.

Step 1: Choose a Legal Structure
Step 2: Register Your Company with the National Court Register
Step 3: Obtain a Business License
Step 4: Register for Taxes
Step 5: Hire Employees
Step 6: Open a Bank Account
Company formation in Poland step-by-step. Conclusion

Step 1: Choose a Legal Structure

The first step in forming a company in Poland is to choose the right legal structure for your business. There are seven types of commercial companies in the Polish legal system. Every future entrepreneur can decide which form of business best suits their needs as well as their business profile. The most common types of companies in Poland are limited liability companies (LLCs) and joint-stock companies (JSCs). LLCs are suitable for small and medium-sized businesses, while JSCs are better suited for larger, publicly traded companies.

If you want to know more about the possible forms of doing business in Poland check out our article on types of companies in Poland.

Step 2: Register Your Company with the National Court Register

Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your company with the National Court Register (NCR). You can do this online or in person at the appropriate court.

In order to get familiar with the formalities related to registration of a company in Poland read our article on registering a company in Poland.

Step 3: Obtain a Business License

After registering your company with the NCR, you will need to obtain a business license from the local government. You can do this by submitting the necessary paperwork, such as articles of association, to the appropriate authorities.

Step 4: Register for Taxes

All companies in Poland have to register for taxes with the appropriate government agencies. This includes registering for VAT. This part is usually performed by a specialized accounting firm. You should consider up to 3 weeks for completing this task.

Step 5: Hire Employees

If you plan to hire employees, you will need to register with the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) and obtain a statistical number (REGON). When the employer wants to hire an employee in Poland within the scope of his business activity, he or she must fulfil a number of duties. Their scope depends, among others, on the form of the contract and individual tax and contribution rights. It is also important whether the employee is a Polish citizen, a foreigner from a European Union country or from outside the European Union.

If you want to know how to hire an employee in Poland check out our article here.

Step 6: Open a Bank Account

Finally, you will need to open a bank account for your company. Nowadays it is not an easy task, in particular when the company’s ownership is complex. Banks perform thorough AML and compliance check. It may take even up to three months to set up a bank account for a Polish company.