Serbia company structures: at a glance

Options for registering companies in Serbia

Positioned at the geographical and cultural crossroads of Central and South-East Europe, Serbia offers a strong base with one of the lowest corporate tax rates on the continent (15%) and full free trade access to the EU market and the EFTA states.

The country benefits from a strategic location, a highly simplified one-stop-shop registration process managed by the Business Registers Agency (APR) and a competitive environment for manufacturing, IT, and shared service centres.

Serbia offers international companies the following legal structures for establishing a presence:

Limited liability company (Društvo sa ograničenom odgovornošću - D.O.O.)

• The D.O.O. is the preferred and most commonly established corporate vehicle for foreign investors and local enterprises due to its simplicity and flexibility.
• The liability of members is limited to their capital contribution. The legal minimum registered capital is only 100 Serbian dinars (RSD) (less than €1), which can be paid up within five years of registration.
• The entity can be founded by a single member and requires at least one director, who does not need to be a resident or a Serbian national.

Joint stock company (Akcionarsko društvo - A.D.)

• The A.D. is typically chosen for large-scale ventures, businesses seeking to raise substantial capital, or those intending to issue shares publicly or list on the Belgrade Stock Exchange.
• The minimum required share capital is significantly higher: RSD 3,000,000 (approximately €25,600), with at least 25% required to be paid up before registration.
• The a.d. is subject to stricter regulation, requires a more complex corporate governance structure (either a one-tier or two-tier board system) and mandates a statutory audit of its annual financial statements.

Branch office (Ogranak / Podružnica)

• A Serbian branch office is a registered organisational part of the foreign parent company and does not constitute a separate legal entity.
• The branch can fully engage in commercial activities on behalf of the parent company and is treated as a permanent establishment, liable for corporate tax on its local profit.
• The foreign head office assumes full legal and financial liability for all the branch's operations and debts within Serbia. It must appoint a legal representative and register with the APR.

To help you choose the right structure, we have created an ‘at a glance’ summary table for the common company types that outlines key differences in formation processes, requirements and timelines. It serves as a valuable resource for foreign companies looking to set up or expand a business in Serbia.

Comparison of the common types of companies in Serbia

Information verified against Serbian Business Registers Agency (APR)

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