How to start a business in Poland in 2026: a step-by-step guide

Poland is one of the few EU countries where a foreigner without a residence card can legally register their own company in literally a few days. You don't need large share capital, citizenship, or a residence permit — a PESEL number and a qualified electronic signature are enough. That's why every year thousands of Ukrainians choose to register a business as a way not only to earn money in the EU, but also to legalize their stay in Poland.

In this article, we'll cover who has the right to open a company in Poland, which business form to choose, what documents you'll need, how much the process costs and how long it takes, and the mistakes that most often cost entrepreneurs time and money.

Why Poland is attractive for starting a business

Poland has led the EU in economic growth for several years running and remains the top destination for Ukrainian labor and business migration. The reasons for its popularity are simple and practical:

1. Fast registration. The process of opening a company takes up to 3 business days.
2. No residency requirements. You can set up a company even without a residence card.
3. Low starting capital. For the most common business form (JDG), no share capital is required at all.
4. Moderate taxation, with several tax systems to choose from.
5. Access to government support programs and business development grants.
6. Legal status in the EU. Owning a company is one of the routes to a legal basis for residence and further legalization in Poland.

Which foreigners are entitled to start a business in Poland

Not every foreigner is automatically entitled to run a business in Poland. The right to open a company belongs to:

1. Ukrainian citizens with a legal basis for residence in Poland;
2. holders of the Karta Polaka (Pole's Card);
3. holders of a permanent residence card or an EU long-term resident permit;
4. people with a residence permit granted through family reunification.

If you're not sure whether your current status entitles you to register a company, it's best to check before submitting your documents — a mistake at this stage means lost time and another trip to the relevant offices.

What business forms are available in Poland

Before registering, you need to decide on a legal form — this determines your level of liability, taxation, and administrative burden.

Jednoosobowa Działalność Gospodarcza (JDG) — a sole proprietorship, the equivalent of the Ukrainian "FOP." The simplest and fastest form: registered free of charge through CEIDG, requires no share capital, and suits freelancers, IT specialists, construction workers, transport operators, and small business owners.

Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością (Sp. z o.o.) — a limited liability company, the most popular form for medium and large businesses. Minimum share capital is 5,000 PLN, owners aren't personally liable for the company's debts with their own assets, and registration goes through the KRS (National Court Register).

Other forms exist too — civil law partnerships, limited partnerships, joint-stock companies — but for most foreigners starting a business in Poland, the choice usually comes down to JDG or Sp. z o.o. The form you choose directly affects your tax burden and your level of personal liability, so this step is best left to a specialist rather than decided at random.

Step-by-step company registration procedure in Poland

1. Obtain a PESEL number. This is the basic requirement for registering a business and signing documents online.
2. Set up a qualified electronic signature (Profil Zaufany or ePUAP) — needed to submit applications through government portals.
3. Choose your business form and tax system — general rules, a flat 19% tax, or the simplified "ryczałt" rate, depending on your type of activity.
4. Select PKD codes — the codes for the types of economic activity that define exactly what your company will do.
5. Register the company's legal address.
6. Submit an application to CEIDG (for JDG) or the KRS (for Sp. z o.o.).
7. Obtain your NIP and REGON numbers — the tax identification number and statistical identifier.
8. File the CRBR, PCC-3, and NIP-8 reports — mandatory declarations after registration.
9. Open a business bank account.

In theory, you can go through the whole process yourself, since the documents are submitted online. In practice, though, every step has its nuances: an incorrectly chosen PKD code, an error in the articles of association, a declaration filed late — and you may have to start the registration over or pay a fine. That's why most foreigners turn to specialists who know the process inside out.

How much does it cost and how long does it take to start a business

Registering a company in Poland is one of the fastest procedures in the EU: on average, it takes up to 3 business days, provided the documents are prepared correctly. The cost depends on the business form you choose: JDG is registered free of state fees, while Sp. z o.o. requires share capital of at least 5,000 PLN plus notary costs (unless registered through the S24 electronic system).

Can a foreigner own a company while living in another country?

Yes. A registered company doesn't require the owner to stay in Poland permanently. This makes the Polish jurisdiction convenient for those running a business remotely too.

At the same time, keep in mind: a foreigner can own a company without an additional permit for 180 days. After that period, you'll need either a type B work permit or a temporary residence permit based on running a business — and this detail is often overlooked, which later causes problems with legalization.

The most common mistakes when starting a business in Poland

1. Incorrectly chosen PKD codes, which prevent the company from legally offering some of its services.
2. Choosing the wrong tax system, which later results in overpaying taxes.
3. Missed deadlines for the CRBR, PCC-3, and NIP-8 filings, which carry fines.
4. Overlooking the need to legalize your stay after the 180-day period ends.
5. Submitting documents yourself without review, leading to a refusal and having to repeat the process.

Each of these mistakes costs time, nerves, and sometimes money — far more than the cost of professional registration support.

How Legalis Company Polska helps you start a business in Poland "turnkey"

We support foreigners in Poland through every step of starting a business, from beginning to end, taking on the entire administrative burden:

1. advice on choosing your business form and the optimal tax system;
2. registering your PESEL number;
3. setting up an ePUAP electronic signature;
4. drafting the company's articles of association;
5. correctly selecting PKD codes;
6. registering the legal address;
7. registering the company with the KRS or CEIDG;
8. obtaining NIP and REGON numbers;
9. filing the CRBR, PCC-3, and NIP-8 reports;
10. preparing the documents needed to open a bank account;
11. advice on further legalizing your stay based on running a business.

With over 5,300 satisfied clients, we've seen it firsthand: when specialists who work with Polish law every day handle your documents, company registration goes through without refusals, repeat submissions, or lost weeks. You focus on growing your business — we take care of the paperwork.

Start a business in Poland without the stress or wasted time

Registering a company in Poland is a real opportunity to start working legally in the EU in just a few days. But every overlooked detail — the wrong activity code, a late declaration, the wrong choice of tax form — can turn into a refusal, a fine, or weeks of red tape.

Trust the process to a team that supports foreigners in Poland every day and takes full responsibility for the outcome.

Leave a request for a free consultation, and we'll help you choose the best business form for your situation, prepare all the documents, and register your company turnkey.

📞 Phone: +48 530 800 090 (Łódź) / +48 574 800 012 (Katowice) ✉️ Email: biuro.legaliscompany@gmail.com 📍 Offices: Łódź and Katowice

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