My name is Vladislav, and I have been registering companies in Poland since 2019. This is the guide I wish my clients had before they called me: what a Polish company actually is, which type to pick, what it costs, how long it takes, and every step from decision to a live company with a tax number.
Registering a company in Poland means, in most cases, setting up a sp. z o.o. (the Polish limited liability company). It needs a minimum share capital of 5000 zł (declared, not paid in), takes 10 to 14 days online through the S24 system, costs from 2000 zł for the service plus about 350 zł in court fees, and can be done fully remotely without travelling to Poland. That is the short answer. The rest of this page is the detail behind it.
What is a Polish sp. z o.o.?
A sp. z o.o. (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością) is the Polish equivalent of an LLC or GmbH. It is a separate legal person, so your personal assets are protected: shareholders risk only what they put into the company, not their home or savings. It is the default choice for foreigners because, unlike a sole proprietorship, it does not require you to be a Polish tax resident and it can be registered online with a standard template.
Once registered, the company is entered into the KRS (Krajowy Rejestr Sądowy, the National Court Register), receives a NIP (tax number) and a REGON (statistical number) automatically, and can open a bank account, sign contracts, hire staff, and apply for licences.
Which company type should you choose?
Poland has four main forms. For 95% of foreign founders the honest answer is sp. z o.o., but here is the full comparison so you can see why.
| Criteria | Sp. z o.o. (LLC) | JDG (sole trader) | S.A. (joint-stock) | P.S.A. (simple joint-stock) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum capital | 5000 zł (declared) | none | 100 000 zł | 1 zł |
| Liability | limited | unlimited, personal | limited | limited |
| Good for foreigners | yes | limited, needs PESEL | rarely | sometimes, for startups |
| Registration time | 10 to 14 days (S24) | 1 to 2 days, but needs PESEL | 1 to 2 months | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Accounting | full, mandatory | simplified below threshold | full | full |
| Best use | most businesses, trade, services, transport | freelancers already resident | large capital raises | VC-backed startups |
The two forms people actually weigh are sp. z o.o. and JDG. The sole proprietorship (JDG) is cheaper and faster, but it needs a PESEL number and, in practice, tax residency, which most non-residents do not have yet. It also exposes your personal assets. We break the decision down in detail in our guide on the difference between the two forms. For anyone registering from abroad, sp. z o.o. is almost always the right tool.
How to register a sp. z o.o. step by step (S24, online)
The fast, standard route is S24, the government online portal. Here is the actual sequence.
- Agree the company details. Name, business activity (PKD codes), share split between partners, management board, and registered address.
- Get identification and a signature for each founder. To sign online, every founder needs a way to identify themselves electronically. Residents use a Profil Zaufany; those registering from abroad get a PESEL and a qualified electronic signature (this is the part we handle remotely).
- Prepare the articles of association from the S24 template and sign them electronically.
- File with the KRS court. The application goes to the registration court for your company’s address.
- Wait for the decision, 10 to 14 days. The court reviews and registers the company.
- Receive NIP and REGON automatically, then open a bank account and, if you work with VAT, register for it through an accountant.
The alternative to S24 is the notarial route: articles signed before a notary. It is needed only for non-standard articles (special share classes, unusual partner terms), costs about twice as much, and takes 1 to 2 months instead of 10 to 14 days.
Timeline and cost
Here is what the money looks like in practice. The service fee is ours; the other lines are third-party or government costs.
| Item | Price | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Our service (S24, online, turnkey) | from 2000 zł | yes |
| Our service (via notary) | 4000 zł | alternative to S24 |
| Court registration fee | ~350 zł | yes |
| Share capital | from 5000 zł (declared, not frozen) | yes |
| Remote: PESEL + electronic signature | 400 € per founder | if not travelling |
| Registered / legal address | 32 € / month | if you have none |
| Bank account (online / in branch) | 250 € / 300 € | optional |
| VAT registration | with accountant, separately | if you work with VAT |
One founder, registering remotely, works out to around 2350 zł plus about 432 € for the first month (PESEL, signature, address). The single biggest variable is the number of founders, because PESEL and the electronic signature are per person, while the address and the bank account are one per company. For an exact figure for your case, use our company registration cost calculator.
Registering from abroad, as a foreigner
You do not need to be in Poland, and you do not need to be an EU citizen. We register companies for clients in Ukraine, Belarus, the US, the UK, India, and across the CIS, almost always without them setting foot in the country. The two things that trip foreigners up are (1) getting a PESEL and electronic signature and (2) opening a bank account, where approval depends on your country of origin.
Because these questions are specific to non-residents, we cover them on dedicated pages:
- Opening a company in Poland as a foreigner, with a country-by-country breakdown
- Remote company registration without travelling
- Opening a Polish bank account for a foreign-owned company
- Polish tax numbers explained: PESEL, NIP, REGON, VAT-EU
After registration: taxes and obligations
Registering the company is the start, not the finish. The first months bring a fixed set of obligations.
- Corporate income tax (CIT). The standard rate is 19%, with a reduced 9% rate for small taxpayers and new companies within the qualifying revenue limit.
- VAT. Registration is separate from company setup and is handled by an accountant. Poland’s VAT exemption threshold for small taxpayers rose to 240 000 zł with effect from January 2026.
- KSeF (the National e-Invoicing System). Poland is making structured e-invoicing through KSeF mandatory in 2026, phased by company size. If you invoice in Poland, this now affects how you issue every invoice, so build it into your accounting from day one.
- ZUS (social insurance) registration within the statutory deadline after the company is formed.
- CRBR (beneficial owners register) filing, plus the ongoing duties of bookkeeping and annual financial statements.
We keep a full post-registration checklist and hand every client over to a vetted accountant, so none of these deadlines are missed.
If you need a company faster: ready-made companies
If you have a deal closing in under 30 days, registering from scratch may be too slow. A ready-made (shelf) company is already incorporated and can change hands in days. We compare the ready-made and new-formation routes, with a cost and timeline table, on our ready-made company page. For most founders new formation is cheaper and cleaner; ready-made is a speed tool for specific situations.
Why founders work with us
- Registering Polish companies since 2019, hundreds formed, mostly remotely.
- One team for the whole chain: company, PESEL, signature, legal address, bank account, accountant handover.
- Real prices up front, no “call us for a quote”, no surprise filing or support fees.
- We show the work: watch real registrations on our YouTube channel, garantgroup2406.
Legal entity: BUSINESS ADAPTER Sp. z o.o., KRS 0000658639, NIP 7010656094, Siedmiogrodzka 1, 01-204 Warszawa.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to register a company in Poland? Online through S24, usually 10 to 14 days from filing. The notarial route takes 1 to 2 months.
Do I have to travel to Poland? No. We arrange the PESEL and electronic signature remotely, you sign the articles electronically from your own country, and we provide the registered address.
Do I need to pay in the 5000 zł share capital? No. The 5000 zł minimum for a sp. z o.o. is declared at registration, not frozen in an account.
Do I need a PESEL to register a company? Not for a sp. z o.o. registered online with an electronic signature, which is why it is the route we use for foreigners. A JDG (sole proprietorship) does require a PESEL.
Can a non-EU citizen own a Polish company? Yes. Ownership of a sp. z o.o. is open to founders of any nationality. Residence and visas are a separate question, only relevant if you plan to move.
What is the difference between NIP, REGON, and PESEL? NIP is the company tax number, REGON is its statistical number (both issued automatically on registration), and PESEL is a personal ID number for an individual. See our tax numbers guide.
How much does it cost, all in? From 2000 zł for the service plus about 350 zł court fee. For one founder registering remotely with an address, around 2350 zł plus about 432 € for the first month. The calculator gives your exact figure.
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Related: Cost breakdown · For foreigners · Remote registration · Bank account
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