How to Open a Business in Romania: 2026 Guide
Opening a business in Romania involves more than registering a company name. Founders need to decide what type of business structure fits their activity, establish a registered office, define the activities the business will carry out, prepare the incorporation documents and complete registration with the Romanian Trade Register.
The National Trade Register Office, known as ONRC, is the authority responsible for the Romanian Trade Register. Romania also provides online services for company registration and other Trade Register procedures.
For many entrepreneurs, a limited liability company, commonly known as an SRL, is a practical structure to consider. However, the right option depends on the proposed business activity, ownership structure, number of founders and long-term plans.
Foreign entrepreneurs can also establish businesses in Romania. ONRC's framework expressly covers companies with foreign participation, and the registration process can accommodate foreign shareholders and administrators subject to the applicable documentation requirements.
The important point is to plan the business structure before starting the registration process. A company that is easy to register but poorly structured for its actual operations can create unnecessary problems later.
Key Highlights
- Romania provides a formal Trade Register system administered by ONRC.
- Entrepreneurs should select the legal structure before registration.
- SRL is one of the main structures considered by small and medium-sized businesses.
- Foreign individuals and companies can participate in Romanian companies.
- A Romanian registered office is required for a Romanian company.
- Company name availability should be checked before filing.
- Articles of Association form part of the incorporation documentation.
- Business activities need to be identified correctly.
- Registration can be handled through ONRC's online services where the requirements are met.
- Registration is only the beginning; accounting, tax and corporate obligations continue after incorporation.
Who Can Open a Business in Romania?
Romania is open to both domestic and foreign entrepreneurs.
A business may be established by:
- Romanian individuals
- Romanian companies
- EU entrepreneurs
- Non-EU entrepreneurs
- Foreign companies
- Multiple shareholders
- Corporate investors
The structure becomes particularly important for foreign founders because the business may need to coordinate Romanian operations with an existing company abroad.
For example, an Indian entrepreneur planning to sell software services to European customers could establish a Romanian company as the operating entity. A foreign parent company could also establish a Romanian subsidiary or branch depending on its expansion strategy.
The correct route depends on the intended commercial relationship between the Romanian operation and the foreign owner.
Choose the Right Business Structure
Before filing with ONRC, determine what legal structure is appropriate.
For many founders, the SRL is the structure that deserves initial consideration because it is designed for limited-liability business operations.
Other structures may be relevant depending on the circumstances, including:
- Joint-stock company
- General partnership
- Limited partnership
- Branch of a foreign company
- Other forms recognised under Romanian law
A branch is different from a Romanian subsidiary. A subsidiary is a separate Romanian legal entity, while a branch represents an extension of the foreign company.
This distinction can affect governance, documentation, accounting and the way the foreign parent interacts with the Romanian operation.
Step-by-Step Process to Open a Business in Romania
Define the business model
Start by identifying what the business will actually do.
Consider:
- Products or services
- Target customers
- Romanian or international markets
- Expected operations
- Number of founders
- Foreign ownership
- Need for employees or contractors
- Planned business expansion
This information helps determine the appropriate structure and activity classifications.
Choose the legal structure
Select the form that matches the business model and ownership arrangement.
For many small and medium-sized operations, an SRL may be considered, while a branch may make more sense for an existing foreign company that wants a direct Romanian presence.
Choose and reserve the company name
The proposed company name should be checked for availability and compliance with Romanian naming requirements.
ONRC provides services for checking and reserving company names.
Do not build the branding strategy around a name before confirming that it can actually be used for the company.
Arrange the registered office
A Romanian company needs a registered office.
The founder must have appropriate documentation showing the company's legal right to use the address. This can involve ownership documents, a lease or another legally accepted arrangement depending on the circumstances.
Prepare the Articles of Association
The Articles of Association establish important information about the company, including ownership, management and other constitutional matters.
The document should accurately reflect the founders' intended structure instead of using generic information that may conflict with the actual ownership arrangement.
Prepare the registration file
The registration package can include:
- ONRC application
- Reserved company name
- Articles of Association
- Registered-office documentation
- Identification documents of shareholders
- Administrator information
- Statements required by law
- Information concerning the company's beneficial owners
- Other supporting documents applicable to the structure
For a branch of a foreign company, ONRC requires additional documents concerning the foreign parent, including evidence of the foreign company's existence and relevant translated documentation.
Submit the application to ONRC
The registration application can be submitted through the applicable Trade Register procedure. Romania provides online services through the ONRC portal, although electronic submission can involve specific technical and electronic-signature requirements.
Complete post-registration setup
Once the company is registered, the founder can move on to operational requirements such as accounting arrangements, banking, tax administration, invoicing and any sector-specific authorisations.
Documents Needed to Open a Business in Romania
The exact documents depend on the legal structure and the founders.
A typical Romanian company registration file may involve:
- Founder identification documents
- Company name reservation
- Registered-office evidence
- Articles of Association
- Administrator information
- Shareholder details
- Beneficial-owner information
- Required declarations
- Registration application
- Foreign-company documents where the shareholder is a corporate entity
Foreign documents may need appropriate legalisation or apostille treatment and Romanian translation depending on their origin and purpose.
This is one area where foreign founders should check the exact document route before preparing the application because requirements can differ between an individual foreign shareholder, a foreign corporate shareholder and a branch.
Can Foreigners Open a Business in Romania?
Yes, foreign participation in Romanian companies is possible.
A foreign investor can participate as a shareholder in a Romanian company. ONRC's own statistical framework defines foreign investors as individuals or legal entities resident or having their registered office outside Romania that hold a shareholder or associate position in a Romanian company.
For non-EU founders, however, company ownership should not be confused with immigration rights.
Registering a Romanian company does not automatically provide a residence permit or the right to work in Romania. Immigration requirements need to be assessed separately according to the founder's nationality and circumstances.
Opening a Romanian Business Bank Account
A business bank account is an important operational step after company formation.
The bank may request corporate documents and information about:
- Company ownership
- Directors or administrators
- Beneficial owners
- Business activities
- Expected transactions
- Source of funds
- Expected customers and markets
Foreign-owned businesses can receive additional questions because banks need to understand the company's ownership and commercial purpose.
It is therefore useful to prepare a consistent business profile before approaching the bank.
Tax and Accounting Considerations
Company registration does not complete the business's tax and accounting responsibilities.
After establishment, the company needs an appropriate accounting and tax framework based on its activities and circumstances.
This can include:
- Corporate accounting
- Tax registrations where applicable
- Tax returns
- Financial statements
- Invoicing records
- Payroll administration if employees are hired
- VAT considerations where applicable
- Cross-border transaction reporting where relevant
Romanian tax rules can change, so founders should confirm the regime applicable to their company for the relevant financial year rather than relying on an old company-formation article.
Business Licences and Authorisations
Company registration does not automatically authorise every possible business activity.
Some sectors have additional requirements.
Depending on the activity, a business may need specific authorisations, permits, professional approvals or sector-specific registrations.
This is why the business activity should be identified accurately during the initial setup rather than treating the registration process as a universal operating licence.
Common Mistakes When Starting a Business in Romania
Founders can avoid many problems by planning before submitting the registration application.
Common mistakes include:
- Choosing a legal structure without considering the business model
- Selecting a company name before checking availability
- Using an unsuitable registered-office arrangement
- Preparing foreign documents without checking translation or legalisation requirements
- Listing business activities incorrectly
- Ignoring beneficial-owner requirements
- Confusing company registration with immigration permission
- Assuming incorporation automatically covers industry licences
- Opening a bank account without preparing a clear business profile
- Failing to establish accounting and tax procedures after incorporation
Opening a Business in Romania From Abroad
A foreign entrepreneur does not necessarily need to build the entire Romanian setup around physical presence in Romania.
The practical route depends on the founder's nationality, documents, signing method, company structure and the requirements of the relevant authorities or service providers.
For an overseas founder, preparation is particularly important.
Before starting the registration process, it is sensible to establish:
- Who will own the company
- Who will manage it
- What activities it will perform
- Where the registered office will be
- Whether the shareholder is an individual or foreign company
- Which documents require translation
- How the company will be funded
- How the company will operate after registration
Why Choose YKG Global?
YKG Global can support entrepreneurs planning to open a business in Romania by helping organise the setup process around the actual business model.
Support can include business-structure planning, incorporation documentation, registration coordination and assistance with the practical steps that follow company formation.
For international founders, the value is often in coordinating the different pieces of the setup rather than simply submitting a registration application.
A clear structure from the beginning can make later banking, accounting, ownership changes and international operations easier to manage.
Opening a business in Romania starts with choosing the right structure and understanding how the proposed operation will work in practice.
For many entrepreneurs, an SRL can be an appropriate structure to evaluate, while foreign companies may also consider a branch or Romanian subsidiary depending on their expansion strategy.
The registration process generally involves choosing the business structure, reserving a name, establishing a registered office, preparing the Articles of Association and supporting documents, and submitting the application through ONRC.
Foreign founders should give particular attention to document requirements, beneficial ownership, business activities and the distinction between company ownership and immigration rights.
Once the company is registered, the work is not finished. Banking, accounting, tax administration, licences and continuing corporate obligations need to be organised before the business becomes fully operational.
For that reason, a successful Romania business setup should be planned as an end-to-end process rather than simply as a company registration exercise.
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