Want to Start a Business in Poland? 5 Things to Check Before Registration

You have a business idea in Poland. You want to provide services, open a restaurant or work with clients as an independent specialist. You start looking for information and questions quickly appear: can you set up a sole proprietorship (JDG), would a company be better, and how much paperwork is involved?

Registration is only one of the stages. Before you file an application, it is worth checking whether the chosen form suits your residence situation, budget and hiring plans. This makes it easier to prepare your company’s launch and reduces the need for changes later on.

1. Check which business form you are entitled to

Legal residence in Poland does not automatically mean the right to set up a sole proprietorship (JDG – jednoosobowa działalność gospodarcza).

EU and EEA citizens can run a business on the same terms as Polish citizens. For people from other countries, factors such as citizenship, the basis of residence and specific regulations matter. Groups entitled to run a JDG include, among others, holders of a permanent residence permit or an EU long-term resident permit, as well as holders of certain temporary residence permits. The list also includes the permit for highly qualified employment – the EU Blue Card. [1]

That is why, before registering, you should prepare your residence decision, not just a photo of your card. You need to establish the exact legal basis of the permit and its validity.

Do you have a Blue Card? Whether you can set up a JDG must be assessed together with the conditions of your permit. An entry in CEIDG (the Polish business register) does not replace the basis of your residence. Before you end your current employment or switch to running only your own business, check the consequences for your residence status.

People who are not entitled to run a JDG can, as a rule, consider certain types of companies, including a limited liability company (sp. z o.o.). However, holding shares, working in the company and legal residence are separate matters. [1][2]

2. Choose the business form based on your plans

“A JDG is simpler” or “a company is safer” is not enough to make a decision.

When choosing, it is worth establishing:

• whether you will operate alone or with a partner;
• what risk is associated with your service or product;
• whether you plan to hire employees;
• how you will use the money earned by the business;
• what financing and accounting support you need.

A specialist providing online services may need different solutions than the owner of a restaurant with employees, equipment and a lease agreement.

A JDG is a business run by a natural person. A limited liability company (sp. z o.o.) has its own assets, and the money in its account belongs to the company. Paying funds out to the owner requires an appropriate legal basis. The limited liability of shareholders also does not mean that management board members are exempt from liability in every situation. [3]

Worried about the paperwork in a company? Start by learning the specific obligations and scope of support. Establish which data and decisions you prepare yourself, and which documents and settlements can be handled by the firm supporting you.

3. Calculate the start-up costs and the first months

The cost of registration does not show how much money you need to launch a business.

Prepare a budget in two parts:

For a limited liability company, the minimum share capital is PLN 5,000. This is a contribution to the company, separate from registration fees and service fees. It should not be treated as a fee paid to an authority. [3]

Tax and social security rules must be assessed individually. Relevant factors include the type of business, the way you are paid, other employment and the ownership structure.

Also calculate a cautious scenario: what happens if your first revenues are lower than expected or a client pays later? Decide how you will cover your obligations until you receive regular income.

4. Check your hiring options before you register the business

If your business needs employees, hiring them should be part of the plan from the very beginning.

When employing a foreigner, you need to check both their basis of residence and their right to work. Legal residence alone does not determine whether a person may work in every position and for every employer. [4]

The employer’s situation also matters. Under the rules in force since 1 June 2025, the ability of a foreigner running a JDG to apply for work permits is linked, among other things, to having a place of permanent residence in Poland. Official explanations point to the link between this condition and registration for permanent residence (zameldowanie) and the documents allowing such registration. [5]

This means that the owner’s right to run a JDG and the possibility of obtaining a work permit for their employee must be checked separately. This is not a general ban on all foreigners being employed by a JDG – some employees may rely on other grounds for access to the labour market.

5. Plan your accounting and document flow

It is worth arranging your accounting before your first sale, equipment purchase and salary payment.

A limited liability company keeps full accounting books and has obligations related to financial statements. In a JDG, the way records are kept depends on the entrepreneur’s situation and the chosen settlement rules.

Before starting your business, agree with your accountant on:

• the form of taxation and VAT obligations;
• the rules for issuing invoices and any obligation to use a cash register;
• how invoices, contracts and bank statements will be submitted;
• accounting for purchases, salaries and foreign transactions;
• the division of tasks and deadlines for submitting documents.

Well-organised accounting support should give you a clear answer: what to provide, by when, and which changes to report.

Checklist: are you ready to register?

Frequently asked questions

Does every residence card allow you to set up a JDG?
No. What matters is the basis of residence and other conditions set out in the regulations. Before registration, the decision and the individual situation of the person must be checked. [1]

Does setting up a company guarantee a residence card?
No. Registering a company does not automatically give you the right to stay. A permit related to running a business requires meeting separate conditions, including ones concerning the business itself. [2]

Do I have to handle all the documents myself?
You can use support with registration and ongoing services. It is worth agreeing on the scope in advance. Some decisions, signatures and obligations still require the participation of the owner or the management board.

Can a business launch be prepared remotely?
Many steps can be prepared remotely. The registration method, required signatures and any involvement of a notary depend on the chosen procedure and documents. We establish this before starting our service.

Next article in the series: “JDG or a Limited Liability Company? How to Choose a Business Form as a Foreigner” – published on 9 October.

Information verified on 2 October 2026. The application of the rules described depends on the documents and situation of the individual person.

Sources

1. Starting a business by foreigners – Powroty.gov.pl and Foreigner’s business – Biznes.gov.pl.
2. Business activity – Podlaskie Voivodeship Office.
3. Commercial Companies Code – Articles 151, 154 and 299.
4. Work permit – Case Handling Module (MOS).
5. Official explanations on employing foreigners – slide 18.