How to Start a Business in Romania from the UK

Romania is a popular choice for UK entrepreneurs because it combines EU market access with relatively low operating costs, skilled workers and a tax system that can be attractive for smaller companies.¹ If you're researching how to start a business in Romania, the key question isn't just how to register a company, but which structure, tax route and hiring plan fit the way you want to trade.

This guide covers the main company structures, the registration process, typical setup costs, tax points to check and what hiring looks like on the ground. It also explains where UK founders need separate immigration advice if they plan to relocate and run the company from Romania.

We'll also touch on how Wise Business can help if you need to manage business finances across the UK and Romania, making international payments more simple and cost-effective.

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The contents of this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Decisions related to tax should be made after thorough research, consultation and verification from a qualified financial and legal advisor.

Doing business in Romania

Romania gives UK businesses a foothold in the EU single market and is often chosen for technology, agribusiness, energy, health and other export-led sectors, helped by its location and skilled workforce.² Operating costs are often lower than in many Western European markets, but the overall cost of doing business will still depend on your location, industry and compliance requirements.

If you're planning sales meetings or local partnerships, this guide to Business culture in Romania can help with day-to-day expectations.

Can a UK citizen start a business in Romania?

Yes. Romania allows 100% foreign ownership, and non-residents can usually set up and own a company without appointing a local shareholder or director.³ You'llstill need a registered office in Romania, and the company documents must meet local filing requirements.³

Company ownership and immigration are separate matters. Since the UK is no longer in the EU, a UK national can own a Romanian company without residency. However, if you plan to live in Romania and actively run the business there, you'll likely need the appropriate long-stay visa and, depending on your circumstances, a work or residence permit through the General Inspectorate for Immigration.²

Corporate structures in Romania

Romania recognises several company types, but most foreign founders choose an SRL because it's flexible and designed for small and medium-sized businesses.³

The capital rules above reflect 2026 guidance used by advisers, but if you're choosing an SA or SCA, confirm the latest filing requirements before you submit.^1,2 For many UK founders, the SRL is the simplest route because it can have 1 to 50 shareholders and the minimum capital is relatively low.^1,3

The company registration process in Romania: step by step

Registration is handled through the National Trade Register Office (ONRC), and your company name must be reserved before you submit your application.³ From there, the usual sequence looks like this:³

1. Choose your legal form and reserve the company name
2. Prepare the articles of association, identification documents for shareholders and directors, proof of the registered office and ownership declarations
3. If you're applying from the UK, some documents may need certified translations, notarisation or an apostille
4. Submit your application to the Trade Register, either directly or through a legal representative with power of attorney. Remote registration is possible if the paperwork is prepared correctly
5. After incorporation, deal with VAT registration if needed and open the local account the company must maintain with a Romanian bank or the State Treasury¹
6. If you plan to hire staff or move to Romania yourself, allow extra time for employment filings, VAT review or immigration approvals^2,4

Once the paperwork is complete, incorporating an SRL often takes around 5 to 10 working days, but VAT registration and work permit steps can stretch the overall timeline by a few weeks.^2,3

How much does it cost to start a business in Romania?

Romania isn't a high capital jurisdiction for an SRL, but actual setup costs depend whether you're filing clean local documents or translating and legalising foreign paperwork.^2,3

Avoid outdated guides that quote one fixed total. Exact fees change, so get fresh quotes before you submit anything. If you need to convert setup funds from GBP to RON, use the mid-market exchange rate as your reference point when assessing costs.

Tax considerations in Romania

Tax is one of the main reasons founders look at Romania, but the low headline number is only part of the story. The right regime depends on revenue, margins, salary plans and whether you expect to distribute dividends.^1,5

Standard corporate income tax is 16%.⁵ A micro-enterprise can pay 1% tax on turnover if annual revenue stays within €100,000 and the business has at least one employee; that revenue threshold was reduced from €250,000 on 1 January 2026.^1,5

Romania's standard VAT rate is 21%, with a reduced 11% rate for certain supplies, and compulsory VAT registration starts once turnover reaches RON 300,000.¹ Dividend tax is 16% from 1 January 2026.¹

Tax treatment can change with your structure and treaty position, so speak to a Romanian accountant or tax adviser before choosing between the micro regime and standard CIT.

What is hiring like in Romania?

Romania is often attractive to employers because it combines a skilled, multilingual workforce with competitive hiring costs, especially in technical and business services roles.^2,4 If you hire locally, employment contracts need to be in writing, drafted in Romanian and registered in the electronic employee registry, ReGes, before the employee starts work.⁴

Employers also need to budget for social security contributions, comply with minimum wage rules and provide mandatory health and safety training.⁴ Before the first hire, make sure you can handle:

• Payroll and employer contributions
• ReGes registration and contract records
• Internal rules and workplace policies where required
• Onboarding and health and safety training

Top tips for starting a business in Romania

A few early decisions can make the setup smoother and reduce rework later.

• Choose your business structure based on your first 12 months of activity, not just today's filing cost
• Set up the registered office, name reservation and document translations early, because foreign paperwork can slow the process³
• Treat accounting as part of setup, not an afterthought, because ongoing accounting is mandatory^2,3
• If you plan to move to Romania, separate company registration from your visa or residence steps^2,3
• Map your currency flows before launch so you know how you'll fund capital, pay suppliers and collect revenue between GBP and RON

Go global and trade in Romania the smart way, with Wise Business

If your business sends or receives money between the UK and Romania, Wise Business can help simplify international payments. Even if you need to maintain a local Romanian payment account to meet legal requirements, Wise Business can sit alongside it and help you manage the international side of your operations.

With Wise Business, you can hold and convert RON, GBP, EUR and many other currencies, send business payments internationally, and keep cross-border business money separate from your personal finances. And with EUR local account details, you can receive like you were a local business - with no transaction or conversion fees when customers pay you in euros. This helps you keep more of your earnings.

Wise Business offers a free Essential plan for basic spending and transferring. If you need to receive money, set up direct debits, or generate invoices, you'll pay a one-time £50 setup fee to unlock the Advanced features.

With Wise Business, you can:

• 🌍 Send money to 70+ countries and pay overseas invoices at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees and no hidden exchange rate markups (product availability varies by region)
• 📥 Receive payments in 24 currencies and counting
• 💵 Get local account details for 8+ currencies, including USD and EUR, to let your customers pay in a currency they know and trust - convenience for them and peace of mind for you
• 💰 Hold money in 40+ currencies
• 🔁 Convert currencies anytime at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees
• ⚡ Use the batch payments tool to create and send up to 1,000 payments in a single transfer
• 👥 Run payroll and make international payments for up to 1,000 employees all over the world - including paying suppliers using local payment methods like ACH, SEPA, and Faster Payments
• 💳 Get business debit cards with 0.5% cashback for you and your team to keep track of team expenses and spend all over the world, with real-time visibility and categorisation. See full cashback terms and conditions
• 🏢 Manage cash in 55+ currencies across international offices from a single business account and move money between business accounts in seconds (exact speeds can vary depending on individual circumstances and may not be the same for all transactions)
• 🧾 Connect and sync every business transaction to your favourite accounting software, including Xero, Quickbooks, and more
• 🔐 Create your own payment approvals process to manage your team better with customised access for different team members, roles and permissions
• 📑 Create custom professional invoices and schedule invoice payments for future dates
• 📈 Earn variable returns on GBP, USD and EUR with Wise Interest (Capital at risk, growth not guaranteed. Your money is at risk if governments default or interest rates go negative. Rates vary by country and currency. Rates are variable. Visit Wise Interest to find out more)
• 🔗 Create payment links and QR codes to get paid easily (Card payment acceptance for new Wise Business customers is currently unavailable. Payment methods subject to eligibility and availability.)
• ⚙️ Automate payouts with the Wise API (comes with 24/7 customer support, a sandbox account to test integrations, API tokens, and clear documents on how to implement and make the most of our API)

Make the wise choice when selecting a business account for your domestic and global needs.

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FAQ

Can I register a Romanian company without travelling there?

Yes. Remote registration is possible through a legal representative with power of attorney, although some documents may still need translating, notarising or apostilling before filing.³

How long does an SRL usually take to register?

Once your documents are ready, an SRL can often be incorporated in around 5 to 10 working days. VAT registration, work permits and banking checks can take longer.^2,3

Do I still need a Romanian bank account if I already use an international business account?

Current 2026 guidance says Romanian companies should maintain an account with a Romanian bank or the State Treasury.¹ A cross border business account can still be useful for conversions and payments, but it doesn't remove local filing or banking obligations.

Sources

Sources last checked 04/08/26