Opening a limited liability company (d.o.o.) offers several advantages:
- Limited liability – founders are liable only up to the amount of capital they have invested;
- Easier transfer of ownership – shares in a d.o.o. can be sold or transferred;
- Professional image – a d.o.o. often creates greater trust with business partners.
Prepare the Initial Capital
The minimum share capital required to start a d.o.o. in Croatia is €2,500. You can deposit this capital in a bank, which will issue a confirmation of payment - an important document needed for the registration process.
Check the Company Name
The name of your d.o.o. must be unique and cannot resemble the names of existing companies. You can verify its availability through the Court Register or the Court Register website.
Register with the Court Register
After preparing all documents, the next step is to submit an application for registration in the Court Register. This step includes:
- Submission of the founding act or declaration of establishment;
- Confirmation of share capital payment;
- Proof of the company’s registered office address.
When submitting the registration application, a court fee must be paid, which varies depending on the complexity of the process but generally ranges between €300 and €400.
Open a Business Bank Account
Once your d.o.o. is registered, you need to open a business bank account in the company’s name. All capital contributions should be deposited into this account, and it will be used for all business transactions.
Register with the Tax Administration
After successfully registering with the Court Register and opening a bank account, you must register your company with the competent Tax Administration. This registration includes corporate income tax and, if applicable, VAT, depending on your planned business activities.
Register with the Croatian Pension Insurance Fund (HZMO) and the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO)
All owners and employees of a d.o.o. must be enrolled in mandatory pension and health insurance with HZMO and HZZO. This registration is usually completed after opening the business bank account.
The costs of establishing a limited liability company (d.o.o.) depend on several factors:
- Share capital: minimum €2,500;
- Notary fees: notarization of the founding act ranges from €50 to €100;
- Court fees: approximately €300 to €400;
- Additional costs: expenses for opening a business bank account and issuing a company stamp (if required).
The process of opening a d.o.o. in Croatia takes between 7 and 15 days, depending on the processing speed at the Court Register and the Tax Administration. Digitalization of the process allows for faster registration, but timing also depends on the availability of documents and the notary’s schedule.
