COREDO > Company Formation in Croatia

Company Formation in Croatia

Why Register a Company in Croatia

Croatia is a developing EU jurisdiction with access to the eurozone, a strategic Balkan location, and a favourable environment for international business.

The country offers foreign investors a stable banking system, competitive taxation, developed infrastructure, and access to the EU market. Croatia is especially attractive for projects in tourism, IT, logistics, manufacturing, and international trade.

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Cost of the service
from EUR 4,500

Company Types in Croatia

Foreign entrepreneurs can register a company in Croatia in one of the following legal forms.

d.o.o. (Društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću)

Limited liability company. The most common form of doing business in Croatia and the standard vehicle for foreign investors. At least one founder (individual or legal entity) is required, with no limit on the number of participants. The minimum share capital is EUR 2,500, with at least one quarter paid in before registration and the remainder within one year. There are no nationality or residency requirements for directors or shareholders.

d.d. (Dioničko društvo)

Joint-stock company. Suitable for large projects and companies planning to attract significant investment. May be founded by a single shareholder. The minimum share capital is EUR 25,000, with the nominal value of a single share no less than EUR 1.

j.d.o.o. (Jednostavno društvo s ograničenom odgovornošću)

Simplified limited liability company. An option for small businesses and startups. The minimum share capital is from EUR 1 (up to EUR 2,500). May be founded by a maximum of five participants with one director. Once the capital reaches EUR 2,500, the company is converted into a standard d.o.o.

Branch of a foreign company

A foreign company may open a branch in Croatia without any share capital requirements. The branch is not a separate legal entity and operates on behalf of the parent company.

Certain restrictions apply to non-EU nationals: they may not operate as sole traders or establish partnerships. These restrictions do not extend to participation in a d.o.o. — directors and shareholders may be of any nationality and reside anywhere in the world. Special employment requirements (the non-EU director must be employed in the company, and the company must employ a minimum of 3 EU citizens full-time) apply only when obtaining a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP) based on company ownership.

Registration Procedure

Company registration in Croatia is carried out in accordance with the Companies Act (Zakon o trgovačkim društvima, OG 111/93, latest amendment OG 136/24). The process includes the following steps:

Obtaining an OIB (Osobni identifikacijski broj)

a personal identification number for each founder through the Ministry of Finance.

01

Preparation of the memorandum of association

and articles of incorporation, followed by notarisation before a Croatian notary.

02

Opening a temporary bank account

and depositing the share capital.

03

Filing documents with the Commercial Court (Trgovački sud)

for entry into the Court Register.

04

Registration with the Tax Administration (Porezna uprava)

and the Croatian Chamber of Economy (HGK).

05

With a complete set of documents, the Commercial Court registers the company within 5 business days. The entire process — from document signing to corporate bank account opening — can be completed fully remotely via power of attorney, without a personal visit to Croatia.

Required Documents

To launch the procedure, the client provides:

a scanned copy of a valid passport or ID card of each future shareholder and director;

proof of address (utility bill or bank statement not older than 3 months);

a description of the planned business activities;

and a signed power of attorney for remote registration (template provided by COREDO).

Based on this information, the memorandum of association and articles of incorporation are prepared, specifying the company name, registered office, share capital amount and founder details, together with the resolution on director appointment. All documents in foreign languages must be translated into Croatian and notarised. Foreign documents may require apostille in accordance with the Hague Convention of 1961.

Capital Requirements

Company Type	Min. Share Capital	Details
d.o.o. (LLC)	EUR 2,500	Min. one quarter paid in before registration; no nationality or residency requirements
d.d. (JSC)	EUR 25,000	Min. nominal share value EUR 1
j.d.o.o. (simplified LLC)	EUR 1 (up to EUR 2,500)	Max. 5 founders, 1 director
Branch	Not required	Not a separate legal entity

A separate requirement applies when a non-EU director seeks a TRP: the company’s share capital must be at least EUR 27,000, and these funds may be used as working capital.

Tax System in Croatia

Croatia offers a competitive and transparent tax system. The standard corporate income tax (CIT) rate is 18%. Companies with annual revenue up to EUR 995,000 benefit from a reduced rate of 10%, making the jurisdiction particularly attractive for small and medium-sized businesses.

The standard value added tax (VAT, PDV) rate in Croatia is 25%, with reduced rates of 13% and 5% applying to specific categories of goods and services. Dividend withholding tax is 12%, with reduced or zero rates available under applicable EU Directives and double taxation treaties. From 1 January 2026, Croatia introduced a mandatory electronic invoicing system (e-invoicing) for B2B and B2G transactions.

Opening a Bank Account

To conduct business activities in Croatia, a company needs a corporate account with a local bank. The Croatian banking system is well-developed and reliable, with major banks forming part of international banking groups. COREDO coordinates account opening in parallel with the company registration process; the timing depends on the specific bank. The account can be opened fully remotely via power of attorney. The all-inclusive fee is EUR 1,450 per account. To open an account, the following documents are required: extract from the Court Register, founding documents, documents of directors and beneficial owners.

Annual Obligations and Reporting

After registration, a company in Croatia must maintain accounting records in accordance with Croatian Financial Reporting Standards (HSFI) or International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) — depending on the company’s size. Annual financial statements must be filed with the Financial Agency (FINA) within four months after the end of the financial year. The corporate income tax return is submitted to the Tax Administration (Porezna uprava) by 30 April of the year following the reporting period. Companies registered as VAT payers must file periodic VAT returns — monthly or quarterly, depending on the volume of operations. COREDO provides full accounting support for Croatian companies: the start package is EUR 530 + VAT per month, with the final fee depending on business activity and transaction volume.

Compliance and AML Requirements

As a member of the European Union, Croatia applies European standards in the area of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT). Companies must comply with requirements regarding beneficial owner identification, maintaining client transaction records and reporting suspicious transactions. With the entry into force of the new EU AML Regulation (AMLR, Regulation (EU) 2024/1624), applicable from 10 July 2027, compliance requirements in Croatia will be further tightened. Prior to the commencement of the registration procedure, COREDO conducts a standard client due diligence (KYC/AML) check in accordance with applicable compliance and regulatory requirements.

Registration Timeline

Company registration in Croatia takes 15–20 working days from the date of document signing. With a complete set of documents, the Commercial Court itself enters the company into the Court Register within 5 business days; the remaining time is taken up by obtaining OIBs, notarial procedures and translations. Corporate bank account opening is coordinated by COREDO in parallel with the registration process — its timing varies by bank.

Service Costs

Company formation in Croatia (d.o.o.)

EUR 4,500

All-inclusive package: the price includes all court fees, notary fees, administrative fees, translation fees and banking fees — no hidden costs.
Corporate bank account opening is EUR 1,450 per account (also all-inclusive).

Additional services

from EUR 300 + VAT per month

Virtual office / registered address — EUR 300 + VAT per month, including the registered company seat address, mail collection and package handling.
Accounting — start package EUR 530 + VAT per month, with the fee depending on business activity and transaction volume.

Company formation with TRP (Temporary Residence Permit) support

EUR 10,300 per client

All material costs included.
To obtain a TRP based on company ownership, the following requirements must be met: minimum share capital of EUR 27,000 (may be used as working capital), the non-EU director must be employed in the company, and the company must employ a minimum of 3 EU citizens full-time.

All prices are net of VAT unless stated otherwise; the final cost may vary depending on the specific case. To obtain an individual estimate, contact our specialists — we will prepare a detailed proposal tailored to your specific situation and business objectives.

Our Experts

The COREDO team has been operating since 2016 and possesses deep expertise in company formation across various European jurisdictions.

Nikita Veremeev

Founder & NED. Founded COREDO in November 2016 and personally oversees the strategic development of the business across dozens of jurisdictions.

Pavel Kos

Head of Legal. Part of the COREDO team since June 2017, responsible for legal support of corporate projects and company formation across European jurisdictions.

Basang Ungunov

Lawyer. Part of the COREDO team since June 2022, specialises in legal support for company formation and structuring.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does a founder need to be a resident of Croatia to register a company?

No. There are no nationality or residency requirements for directors or shareholders of a Croatian d.o.o. — the company can be established and managed from anywhere in the world, and the entire process, including bank account opening, is completed remotely via power of attorney. Restrictions apply only to certain forms: non-EU nationals may not operate as sole traders or establish partnerships. If a non-EU director plans to obtain a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP), special conditions apply: share capital of at least EUR 27,000, employment of the director in the company, and a minimum of 3 EU citizens employed full-time.

What is the minimum share capital for an LLC (d.o.o.) in Croatia?

The minimum share capital of a standard d.o.o. is EUR 2,500 (at least one quarter paid in before registration). For the simplified j.d.o.o., the threshold starts from EUR 1. A separate requirement applies when a non-EU director plans to obtain a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP): the share capital must be at least EUR 27,000, and these funds may be used as working capital.

How long does it take to register a company in Croatia?

Company registration takes 15–20 working days from the date of document signing. Corporate bank account opening is coordinated in parallel with the registration; its timing depends on the chosen bank. The entire process is completed fully remotely via power of attorney.

What tax advantages are available for small businesses in Croatia?

Companies with annual revenue up to EUR 995,000 in Croatia pay corporate income tax at a reduced rate of 10% instead of the standard 18%. In addition, the simplified j.d.o.o. allows starting a business with share capital from EUR 1, significantly reducing startup costs for entrepreneurs.

What currency does Croatia use?

Since 1 January 2023, the official currency of Croatia is the euro. The previously used Croatian kuna was replaced at a fixed rate of 1 EUR = 7.53450 HRK.

Contact Us

COREDO specialists provide full support for the company formation process in Croatia — from document preparation and obtaining an OIB to registration with the Commercial Court and Tax Administration. We have been operating since 2016, helping entrepreneurs from dozens of countries successfully build business structures in Europe.