Options for registering companies in Slovakia
As a member of the Eurozone and a rapidly developing economy at the heart of Central Europe, Slovakia is known for its strong automotive industry and favourable business environment, offering full access to the European Union (EU) market.
The country's strategic location, skilled workforce and competitive corporate income tax rate make it a highly attractive destination for foreign direct investment, particularly in manufacturing, shared service centres and IT services.
Slovakia offers international companies the following legal structures for establishing a presence:
Limited liability company (Spoločnosť s ručením obmedzeným - S.R.O.)
- The S.R.O. is the most widely chosen and common corporate vehicle for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Slovakia, popular for its operational simplicity and limited liability.
- The minimum required share capital is €5,000. For a single-member S.R.O., the capital must be paid up in full before registration.
- The company must have a General Meeting of shareholders and one or more Managing Directors (Konateľ). Establishing a Supervisory Board is optional unless specified otherwise in the deed of association.
Joint stock company (Akciová spoločnosť - A.S.)
- The A.S. is typically selected for large organisations, major investment projects, or entities planning to raise significant capital through a public offering of shares.
- It requires a substantially higher minimum registered capital of €25,000 and at least 30% of cash contributions must be paid up at the time of incorporation.
- The a.s. has a mandatory three-tier governance structure: the General Meeting, the Board of Directors (Predstavenstvo) and a Supervisory Board (Dozorná rada), which must consist of at least three members.
Representative office (Zastupiteľská kancelária)
- The Slovak representative office is generally not considered a permanent establishment (PE) for tax purposes if its activities are strictly limited to non-commercial, preparatory, or auxiliary functions.
- Its allowed activities include market research, liaison, advertising and information gathering, but it is strictly prohibited from generating any income or conducting direct commercial transactions.
- There is no minimum capital requirement for establishment, making it a cost-effective option for a non-trading presence, but any income-generating activity would necessitate registration as a branch or S.R.O.
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 Slovakia.
Comparison of the common types of companies in Slovakia
Information verified against Slovensko.sk (Slovak Government Portal)