Opening my own, one-person company in Warsaw, Poland

sobieskiThreads: 82 Posts: 1,141 Joined: Jun 1, 08 ♂	Jun 4, 10, 10:34 #1
I want to start my own one-person company here in Warsaw. How long would it approx. take to fullfill the formalities and what is the cost price for that? I was thinking of following things to do - Regon - Nip (what comes first? I guess NIP ?) Any other bureaucratic hurdles to overcome? I already live six years here (EU citizen, pobyt na stale) but this company stuff is new to me..

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07 ♂	Edited by: plk123 Jun 4, 10, 11:10 #2
sobieski: Any other bureaucratic hurdles to overcome? lots and lots.. search the forums.. i think there used to be a lot of info that is related to all this.. you will definitely need an attorney, for starters.. polish bureaucracy is a bltch. good luck and keep us posted.

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Jun 4, 10, 12:13 #3

plk123:

lots and lots

Nonsense.

plk123:

you will definitely need an attorney, for starters.. polish bureaucracy is a bltch.

Don't be ridiculous. An attorney, for a sole trader? You must be joking!

sobieski:

How long would it approx. take to fullfill the formalities and what is the cost price for that?

About 2-4 weeks for everything to come through, cost - nothing.

sobieski:

- Regon
- Nip (what comes first? I guess NIP ?)
Any other bureaucratic hurdles to overcome?
I already live six years here (EU citizen, pobyt na stale) but this company stuff is new to me..

It's pretty simple -

If you don't have a NIP, go to the Urzad Skarbowy and apply for one.
Go to the relevant place in Warsaw where they register new sole traders.
Fill in the form, then hand it in. You'll be told when to come back (usually within a few days)
Go back and they will give you some documents. You'll be told to wait for the REGON to come through the post. When that arrives, go to a friendly accountant (you'll need one, but you can get a good one for 150zl a month easily) who can handle everything with ZUS.
You'll also have to go to the Urzad Skarbowy to fill out some basic form about how you want to pay taxes and which tax scheme you want to use. An accountant will advise you on this if you don't know what to do :)

It is very, very painless - but I advise the use of an accountant to deal with ZUS as the accountant should take responsibility.

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Jun 4, 10, 12:33 #4

Is there no longer the need to apply for permission to open a company? I certainly had to do that when I opened my company. The application was made at the gmina offices and I think the permission was issued by the mayor of Warsaw (but I'd need to check that). Another thing needed is to decide on your corporate purposes (in Poland 'making money' is not considered a sufficient purpose for companies).

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Jun 4, 10, 12:37 #5

Harry:

Is there no longer the need to apply for permission to open a company? I certainly had to do that when I opened my company. The application was made at the gmina offices and I think the permission was issued by the mayor of Warsaw (but I'd need to check that).

As far as I know, a lot of the bureaucratic nonsense went out of the window with the move to the "one window" scheme.

Harry:

Another thing needed is to decide on your corporate purposes (in Poland 'making money' is not considered a sufficient purpose for companies).

Aha, yes - the infamous PKD codes. When registering, you need to decide just what your business is doing - and it's well advised to list every single thing that you might possibly be interested in doing at a later date. I even have beer and cider production listed!

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Edited by: SeanBM Jun 4, 10, 12:37 #6

Harry:

Is there no longer the need to apply for permission to open a company?

No.
The Polish government has changed quite a bit on how to open companies, it is much easier now.

delphiandomine:

the infamous PKD codes. When registering, you need to decide just what your business is doing - and it's well advised to list every single thing that you might possibly be interested in doing at a later date. I even have beer and cider production listed!

Yes.
Because if you change the function of the company later you have to do it through the courts and it costs money, whereas if you list most of the possibilities you have the ability to use the company for other functions, at no added cost.

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Edited by: sobieski Jun 4, 10, 13:14 #7

Thanks everybody :). I already have a "friendly accountant". She is really cute by the way :)
Hope to get started latest end of June, will keep your guys posted.
Btw does it make a difference in this process if you are EU and have a KP na staly or not?

Concerning NIP - I have one, as every private taxpaying person in Poland has - but not a company one. Would it mean my "private" NIP would be transfered to my company, or will I get a completely new one?

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended]	Jun 4, 10, 13:20 #8
sobieski: Btw does it make a difference in this process if you are EU and have a KP na staly or not? Nope, EU citizens are treated on exactly the same basis as Polish nationals. It's well worth giving them a copy of the residence document just in case of any problems, but it's not strictly needed.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	Jun 4, 10, 13:22 #9
SeanBM: if you change the function of the company later you have to do it through the courts and it costs money, Not with one-person companies. Last year I added teaching to the list of things my company can do: it cost me nothing to add that and was done at the gmina office.

SeanBMThreads: 41 Posts: 8,727 Joined: Mar 10, 08 ♂	Jun 4, 10, 13:30 #10
Harry: Not with one-person companies. Good point.

sobieskiThreads: 82 Posts: 1,141 Joined: Jun 1, 08 ♂	Jun 11, 10, 06:33 #11
So... It is going ahead..I will start as from Monday running around doing all formalities...One thing though. Quite a few here have their own business. Which bank would you say is the best for small businesses? Privately I have an account with Kredyt Bank but I am not terribly impressed with them. Private people and small businesses have different needs...

delphiandomineThreads: 42 Posts: 9,954 Joined: Nov 25, 08 ♂ [Suspended]	Jun 11, 10, 11:48 #12
sobieski: Quite a few here have their own business. Which bank would you say is the best for small businesses? mBank is perfect for me - it's no good for businesses which need to handle lots of cash, but it's very very good for small businesses that rarely deal with physical cash.

sobieskiThreads: 82 Posts: 1,141 Joined: Jun 1, 08 ♂	Jun 11, 10, 14:48 #13
Thanks :) The kind of cash I would be deal with is the taxi to the airport and that kind of things:) Do you have an E-account or a "normal" one with them? I have to say a few friends have accounts with them and are very satisfied, be it on a personal level. How are they businesswise for us small entrepeneurs?

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Jun 11, 10, 15:36 #14

sobieski:

Do you have an E-account or a "normal" one with them? I have to say a few friends have accounts with them and are very satisfied, be it on a personal level. How are they businesswise for us small entrepeneurs?

mBank are solely electronic, are they not?

They are fantastic if you don't expect anything of them - for instance, their system works, I don't have problems and it's generally reliable. There's also always an English speaking advisor on the phone if you have any questions.

But if you have anything more than quite simple requirements, I'd give them a miss - my impression is that they are fantastic at providing basic facilities, but not so great with providing advice in English about overdrafts/etc.

MoonlightingThreads: 60 Posts: 308 Joined: Apr 28, 07 ♂	Edited by: Moonlighting Jun 11, 10, 15:46 #15
sobieski: I want to start my own one-person company You can listen to the good advise from Delphiandomine. I also recommend this official website, full of interesting economical data about Poland. The "Polish Law" section will also tell you everything you must know about starting and running a business. http://www.paiz.gov.pl/en

vndunneThreads: 72 Posts: 340 Joined: Jan 12, 07 ♂	Edited by: vndunne Jun 15, 10, 10:37 #16
sobieski: I already have a "friendly accountant". Hi. i am just wondering if she is also reasonably priced and knows her stuff as i am looking to change my accountant.

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Jun 16, 10, 15:52 #17

Hi guys,

I am considering to set up a one-person company too and work as a self-employed..
for this reason I need to find out loads of info.... one of my polish colleague already explained me what categories and options you have here in Poland in terms of taxation.
I am looking for an english speaking accountant to get started and make things clear...

sobieski:

Thanks everybody :). I already have a "friendly accountant".

@Sobieski: can you please tell me about the accountant you found? I need someone speaking english, can explain the tax types and procedures....

Cheers

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Jun 16, 10, 16:01 #18

delphiandomine:

not so great with providing advice in English about overdrafts/etc.

The advice I got from Citibank about an overdraft was very simple: you can't have one. Not unless I gave them documents proving my income and that I paid my tax on time. I did point out that they know my income because they know how much is paid into my Citibank account every month and they know I pay my taxes because I pay them from my Citibank account but they were having none of it.

warszawskiThreads: 60 Posts: 2,385 Joined: May 21, 10 ♂	Jun 16, 10, 16:10 #19
sobieski: I want to start my own one-person company here in Warsaw. How long would it approx. take to fullfill the formalities and what is the cost price for that? There are two or three different types of structure you can use as a non limited company.

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Jun 16, 10, 20:35 #20

marcopol:

sobieski:
Thanks everybody :). I already have a "friendly accountant".

@Sobieski: can you please tell me about the accountant you found? I need someone speaking english, can explain the tax types and procedures....

Hi, I found them through my wife (actually through her company accountant). I think they speak only Polish though - anyway I think so because I talk with them in Polish all the time.
I will ask them. They are based in Raszyn, just out of Warsaw.

I also do know another accountant who does speak very well English. I will ask her if he is willing to take on more clients.

sobieskiThreads: 82 Posts: 1,141 Joined: Jun 1, 08 ♂	Jun 16, 10, 21:13 #21
So I just spoke to her. Yes she is interested. Send me a PM and I will send you her contact details. Rest - up to you both I guess :)

marcopolThreads: - Posts: 5 Joined: Jun 16, 10 ♂	Jun 17, 10, 09:47 #22
here's my PM: lemarqo@gmail.com thanks, appreciate it.

sobieskiThreads: 82 Posts: 1,141 Joined: Jun 1, 08 ♂	Jun 21, 10, 07:49 #23
sobieski Hi, I have just mailed you with her contact info.

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Jul 17, 10, 10:45 #24

Hi Everybody. I am an architect from Lebanon, willing to move to Poland and open my company there. In general, architects need a license to sign and build in poland, but still they can do design and hire local architects to sign, and this is what i am actually planing to do for the first 3 to 4 years (it takes 3 to 4 years to get the architecture license).
But as far as this forum is concerned, i am writing to inquire about the status of a Lebanese who wants to open a one person company in Poland (Warsaw of Krakow): will it be better to open as one person company? or to open a sister company,as i have my office registered back home in Lebanon? which is better for taxation/easy processing?
Ah, my partner/future wife is Polish, and i think this will help as well. Any advices are welcome. Thanks. Ma
PS:we are targetting a small size company at the begining,so the simplest structure is the best for us now.

brzszcz	Jul 20, 10, 22:49 #25
as for accounting services in Poland pls see VATTAX (accounting office) page - there English is no problem and they will help you for sure

master shakeThreads: 3 Posts: 6 Joined: Jul 26, 10 ♂	Jul 26, 10, 21:28 #26
sobieski, does your accountant have time for one more? I'm in Warsaw, need to open a business and could use a friendly accountant myself. BTW, what is a decent monthly fee for accounting services for a small, one-person business with less than ten clients? I heard 150zl/month somewhere...

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Edited by: delphiandomine Jul 26, 10, 21:39 #27

master shake:

BTW, what is a decent monthly fee for accounting services for a small, one-person business with less than ten clients? I heard 150zl/month somewhere..

I pay 100zl+VAT a month in Poznan for an accountant who deals with ZUS and the tax office, handles up to 50 documents a month (incoming/outgoing, doesn't matter) and provides advice on an ad-hoc basis. Given that it's Warsaw - then I'd be inclined to say that 150zl+VAT is a fair price. For someone English speaking and competent, then 200zl+VAT.

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Aug 11, 10, 11:28 #28

Thanks for the advice, delphiandomine.

I did find an accountant in Warsaw - a former student of a teacher friend of mine. He agreed to help me for 200 zł/mo. including VAT. I think this is a fair price as his English is at least upper-int and he's doing most of the legwork to start the company himself.

I needed to start this company in order to work at the British Council. As of this Fall, the BC require all teachers to have their own companies.

HarryThreads: 62 Posts: 8,508 Joined: May 2, 07 ♂ [Suspended]	Aug 11, 10, 14:52 #29
master shake: As of this Fall, the BC require all teachers to have their own companies. They are legally forbidden from doing that.

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Aug 11, 10, 17:10 #30

master shake:

I did find an accountant in Warsaw - a former student of a teacher friend of mine. He agreed to help me for 200 zł/mo. including VAT. I think this is a fair price as his English is at least upper-int and he's doing most of the legwork to start the company himself.

Yup, that's a fair deal. He should save you more than he costs - especially if he's always open for phonee calls/visits about what you can and can't get away with.

master shake:

I needed to start this company in order to work at the British Council. As of this Fall, the BC require all teachers to have their own companies.

And no doubt they'll get away with it despite it being illegal to do so. I'm just sitting and waiting for the day that the taxman takes a very close look at the ESL industry here - I wouldn't be surprised if many schools are hit with a massive bill.

One bit of advice in this respect - if you can, try and get some private lessons to run through the books as well as the work at the BC. It'll save your ass in case of future problems :)

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