How to start a business in Croatia from the UK

Foreign direct investment is flowing into sectors such as financial services, manufacturing and real estate, making Croatia an option for UK entrepreneurs. However, the process requires some additional planning after Brexit.¹

This guide covers the main company structures, legal steps, likely costs, tax points and hiring basics.

We’ll also touch on how Wise Business can be a powerful option for managing GBP and EUR, even before your company is up and running - helping you keep FX costs low.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

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.

Can a UK citizen start a business in Croatia?

Yes. Invest in Croatia says foreign investors can establish a Croatian company under the same conditions as domestic investors, and profits and invested capital can be transferred out again.¹

After Brexit, UK nationals are treated as third-country nationals, so some steps may need to be done in person or through an agent. Croatian government guidance shows that the main e-services are aimed at Croatian and EU or EEA users, while foreign citizens can still register in person.²

Owning a company isn't the same as having the right to live and work in Croatia. If you plan to relocate, you may need a separate residence or work route.

Why start a business in Croatia?

Croatia offers UK founders several potential advantages:

• EU base: access to the EU single market
• Strategic location: a base on the Adriatic with access to European markets
• Investor support: invest in Croatia highlights government support for business setup and expansion¹
• Growing investment: foreign direct investment has been concentrated in sectors including financial services, manufacturing and real estate¹

What are the main company structures in Croatia?

Croatia recognises ten main business structures, each with different capital requirements, liability rules, and use cases. Most UK founders will need local advice before choosing one, but the DOO and JDOO are often the most practical starting points, as they offer limited liability and suit standard trading activity.³

What are the legal requirements to start a business in Croatia?

Before incorporating a company in Croatia, UK founders will need to prepare a few key requirements.

• A Croatian OIB: the personal identification number used for tax and registration purposes
• A registered office in Croatia
• The required share capital: this varies by company structure.
• Incorporation documents: these may need to be notarised and translated if required²^,³
• Management members: as required by the chosen company structure²

What is the company registration process in Croatia? (Step-by-step)

UK founders may need to complete some incorporation steps in person. Hitro.HR can help with company name checks and other registration steps.⁴

Here’s the general steps, at top-level:^5,6

1. Check your company name using the Court Registry
2. Prepare and notarise the incorporation documents, using a court-approved interpreter if required
3. Pay the relevant fees and share capital
4. Register the company in the Court Register
5. Open a business bank account after incorporation
6. Complete the required pension, health insurance and tax registrations

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

The final cost depends on your entity type, translation needs and whether you use an agent.

Another often hidden cost to consider is converting setup funds from GBP to EUR. Always use the mid-market exchange rate as your reference point when assessing costs, which is a guarantee with Wise Business.

💡 Learn more about Wise Business

Tax considerations when starting a business in Croatia

This section is for general information only and doesn't constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax adviser before making decisions.

The key question isn't just what rates exist, but which taxes apply to your entity, your salary, your turnover and any money you send back to the UK.

If you remain a UK tax resident, you may have tax obligations in both Croatia and the UK. The UK and Croatia have a double taxation agreement, which provides mechanisms to help prevent the same income from being taxed twice.¹¹

What is hiring like in Croatia?

Hiring costs can include salary, employer social contributions and other payroll obligations⁹

• Management board members and executive directors have specific minimum contribution bases. For full-time directors, the 2026 minimum monthly contribution base is €1,295.45¹²
• Employment contracts must be in writing and include key terms such as salary, working hours and notice periods¹³
• Employer social contributions add to the total cost of employing someone beyond their net salary⁹

Top tips for starting a business in Croatia

Starting a business in Croatia can involve several registrations and documents, so planning ahead can help avoid delays:

• Get your OIB early, as you will need it for several business and tax procedures
• Allow extra time for paperwork, particularly if you need documents translated or notarised
• Consider local professional support A Croatian accountant, lawyer or business-formation adviser can help you choose the appropriate structure and manage registration, tax and employment obligations.
• Understand personal tax implications, if you operate as an obrt or receive income personally, check how the income may be treated for individual tax purposes.³
• Keep copies of every submission: save your application forms, translated or notarised documents, registration decisions and tax correspondence in one place so they are easy to retrieve.

Go global in Croatia the smart way, with Wise Business

Once your company is live, the challenge shifts from incorporation to handling day-to-day money between the UK and Croatia.With Wise Business, you can pay overseas suppliers and receive payments from customers in Croatia, as well as hold, send and convert 40+ currencies, including GBP and EUR.

This can be useful if your business needs to move money between Croatia, the UK and other markets in Europe and beyond. Whether you're paying a salary, reimbursing expenses or managing cross-border business payments, keeping clear records and understanding the costs involved can help your business stay organised as it grows.

You can see fees upfront, use the mid-market exchange rate for conversions and, with Wise Business Advanced, you’ll get access to local account details in 8+ major currencies, including EUR. This enables you to trade as if you were a local business, getting paid by customers in their home currency - helping you keep more of your earnings with no conversion fees.

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.

Get started with Wise Business

And that's not all.

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 (Growth not guaranteed. Your balance will go down in the event of a government default or interest rates going negative.)
• 🔗 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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Wise Interest disclaimer: Growth not guaranteed. Your balance will go down in the event of a government default or interest rates going negative. Taxes may apply. 3.32% variable rate on GBP is based on 7 day performance as of 05 Aug 2026. For full 5-year past performance and fund information, visit https://wise.com/interest. Investments are offered by Wise Assets UK Ltd. (FRN 839689)

FAQs

Can a UK citizen start a business in Croatia?

Yes. UK founders can own Croatian companies, but post-Brexit they're treated as third-country nationals, so some setup steps may need to be handled in person or through an agent.

How much does it cost to register a company in Croatia?

There is no single total, because notary, translation, registration and agent fees all vary. Your legal form matters too, because a JDOO is designed for lower capital than a DOO.

How long does it take to register a company in Croatia?

If the paperwork is correct and complete, registration can be quick, often within a handful of working days. Foreign founder setups can still take longer in practice, especially if documents need translation or physical filing.

Do I need to be in Croatia to register a company?

Not always for every step, but UK founders should assume that some in-person actions may be needed. Many use a local agent to handle paperwork and communication with notaries, HITRO.HR and the commercial court.

Is Croatia a good country in which to start a business?

It can be if you want an EU base and understand the local admin upfront. The real test is whether your sector, budget and timeline still work once you add incorporation, tax and payroll costs.

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Sources

1. Invest in Croatia
2. Croatian Government — Registration and starting a business in Croatia
3. Relocation Croatia: Business Structures (DOO, JDOO, OBRT, DD, branch, representative office)
4. HITRO.HR: Registration in the Register of Business Entities
5. Court Registry (sudreg)
6. Establishment of a Limited Liability Company
7. Narodne Novine: Official Gazette Regulation
8. PwC Tax Summaries: Croatia Taxes on Corporate Income
9. PwC Tax Summaries: Croatia Other Taxes
10. PwC Tax Summaries: Croatia Individual Income Determination
11. GOV.UK: Croatia Tax Treaties
12. Employment Contract Guidelines
13. Narodne Novine: Official Gazette Legislation (2025/12)

Sources last checked 18/08/2026