People search “how to open a company in Poland” and “how to start a business in Poland” expecting a maze. It is not one. I am Vladislav, and after doing this for foreign founders since 2019, here is the whole path in plain steps, with the real timeline and cost.
To start a business in Poland, most foreigners register a limited liability company (sp. z o.o.) online through the S24 system. You choose the company name and activity codes, sign with an electronic signature, pay a 350 zł court fee, and the company is entered in the register (KRS) in about 10 to 14 days, with its NIP and REGON following automatically. It can be done entirely remotely, and the service starts from 2000 zł. Here is each step.
The six steps at a glance
| Step | What happens | Who does it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Choose the company form (usually sp. z o.o.) | you decide, we advise |
| 2 | Pick the name and PKD activity codes | together |
| 3 | Set up the electronic signature (and PESEL if remote) | we arrange |
| 4 | File the application through S24 | we handle |
| 5 | Company entered in the KRS, NIP and REGON issued | automatic |
| 6 | Bank account, accounting, VAT if needed | we set up |
Step 1: Choose the company form
For almost every foreign founder the right form is the sp. z o.o. (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością), the Polish limited liability company. It limits your liability to the company, can be fully foreign-owned, and can be registered online. A sole proprietorship (JDG) exists too, but it requires a PESEL and ties the business to you personally, so it fits fewer foreign founders. For a company, everything below applies.
Step 2: Pick the name and PKD activity codes
You choose a company name (we check it is available) and the PKD codes, the official activity codes that describe what your business does. Getting these right matters: they define what the company may legally do, and some regulated activities (transport, employment agencies) need specific codes and later licences. We select the codes that fit your real plans and leave room to grow.
Step 3: Set up the electronic signature (and PESEL if remote)
To sign the application online from abroad, each founder needs a qualified electronic signature. If you are not travelling to Poland, we also arrange a PESEL (a personal number used for the signature setup). This is the one part that scales with the number of founders: about 400 € per founder for the PESEL and signature together. If you come to Poland in person, you can skip this and save that amount.
Step 4: File the application through S24
S24 is the government’s online company registration system. We complete the articles of association from the template, fill the forms, attach the electronic signatures, and submit. The court fee is 350 zł for this online route (the alternative notary route costs 600 zł and is only needed for non standard articles). This is where most of the actual work sits, and it is what our service covers.
Step 5: The company is entered in the KRS, with NIP and REGON
Once filed, the court enters your company in the KRS (National Court Register), usually within 10 to 14 days, and often faster. Your NIP (tax number) and REGON (statistical number) are then issued automatically, typically within about a day of the KRS entry, with no separate application. At this point the company legally exists and can act.
Step 6: Bank account, accounting, and VAT
With the company registered, you set up the rest of what it needs to trade: a business bank account (online from about 250 €), an accountant for bookkeeping, and VAT registration if it applies (mandatory once you pass the 240 000 zł threshold or trade within the EU). We hand you to a vetted accountant so VAT and the new KSeF e-invoicing are set up correctly from the first invoice. The detail on each number is in our guide to Polish tax numbers.
How long it takes and what it costs
| Typical | |
|---|---|
| Time to register (S24) | 10 to 14 days |
| Service fee | from 2000 zł |
| Court fee | 350 zł (online) |
| Share capital | 5000 zł, declared, stays your money |
| Remote signature + PESEL | from 400 € per founder |
| Bank account | from 250 € (optional) |
The full, itemised breakdown with a calculator is on our cost page.
Starting a business in Poland as a foreigner
The steps above are the same whether you are in Kyiv, New York, or Delhi. A foreigner can fully own a Polish company with no residency requirement and no need to be an EU citizen, and the whole registration is done remotely. The only foreigner-specific parts are the PESEL and electronic signature in step 3. For the country-by-country detail, including the bank account, see opening a company in Poland as a foreigner.
Common mistakes to avoid
After years of these registrations, these are the errors that cost people time:
- Wrong PKD codes. Too narrow and you cannot do what you planned; picking regulated codes without the licence causes rejections.
- Underestimating the signature step. Each founder needs their own, so a three-founder company needs three setups, not one.
- Chasing a “399 €” headline. These usually exclude the court fee, the address, or accounting, and the real total lands higher.
- Ignoring KSeF and VAT from the start. From 2026 e-invoicing is mandatory in phases, and it is easier to set up correctly at the beginning than to fix later.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a company in Poland?
You open a company in Poland by registering an sp. z o.o. through the online S24 system: choose the name and PKD codes, sign electronically, pay the 350 zł court fee, and the company is entered in the KRS in about 10 to 14 days with its NIP and REGON following automatically.
How do I start a business in Poland as a foreigner?
The same way, done remotely. As a foreigner you additionally set up a PESEL and electronic signature (from 400 € per founder) so you can sign from abroad. You do not need residency or EU citizenship.
How much does it cost to start a business in Poland?
From 2000 zł for the service plus a 350 zł court fee for the online route, plus your declared 5000 zł share capital. Remote setup adds about 400 € per founder. See the cost page for an exact figure.
How long does it take to register a company in Poland?
Usually 10 to 14 days through S24, and often faster. NIP and REGON follow automatically within about a day of the KRS entry.
Do I need to travel to Poland to open a company?
No. The whole process can be done remotely with an electronic signature. Travelling is optional and only saves the signature cost.
Start your business in Poland
Tell us what you plan to do and where you are based, and we will map the exact steps, timeline, and all-in cost for your case, then handle the registration for you. Call or WhatsApp +48 570 832 842.
For the full reference, see our complete company registration guide; if you are abroad, see remote registration without travelling.
Written by Vladislav, who has registered companies in Poland for foreign founders since 2019. To start your company, call or WhatsApp +48 570 832 842. YouTube: @garantgroup2406.