Register a Business in Romania

If you want to register a business in Romania, the first step is not simply filling out a registration form. You need to decide what type of business you want, who will own it, where it will be based and how it will operate.

For many entrepreneurs looking for a separate legal entity, a Romanian limited liability company, commonly known as an SRL, is an important structure to consider. Company registration is handled through Romania's National Trade Register Office, known as ONRC, with Trade Register offices operating locally under its framework.

The process becomes more important to plan carefully when the founder is based outside Romania. Foreign shareholders may need additional documentation, translations and formalities depending on their country and ownership structure. Romanian legislation requires supporting registration documents to be prepared in Romanian, while certain foreign-language documents can be submitted with authorised Romanian translations.

Before starting, it is useful to clarify:

• What the business will do
• Who will own the company
• Who will manage it
• Which legal structure is appropriate
• Where the registered office will be located
• What activities will be carried out
• Whether additional authorisations are relevant
• How banking and ongoing administration will be handled

Why Start a Business in Romania?

Romania can be considered by entrepreneurs looking to establish operations within the European Union or develop a business serving Romanian and wider European markets.

The practical attraction of Romania depends heavily on the business model. A technology company, trading company, consultancy or local services business may have very different reasons for establishing a Romanian entity.

A Romanian company can be relevant for:

• Entrepreneurs establishing a local European business
• Foreign companies expanding into Romania
• Businesses serving Romanian customers
• International trading operations
• Technology and digital businesses
• Professional and consulting activities
• Companies planning regional expansion

The important question is not simply whether Romania is attractive as a market. It is whether establishing a Romanian legal entity makes sense for your particular commercial plans.

Choosing a Business Structure

Romania has different forms of business organisation, so the structure should be selected before preparing the registration documents.

For many small and medium-sized businesses, the SRL is a structure worth evaluating because it provides a separate corporate form with limited liability.

An entrepreneur should consider:

• Number of shareholders
• Ownership percentages
• Planned business activities
• Management arrangements
• Expected investment
• Whether another company will be a shareholder
• Future expansion plans
• Whether the business needs a local operating presence

The right structure may be different for a Romanian entrepreneur and for an international group establishing a subsidiary.

For example, a foreign company entering Romania may establish a Romanian subsidiary with the overseas parent as shareholder. An individual entrepreneur may instead establish a company directly in their own name.

Romanian Company Registration Authority

The National Trade Register Office, or ONRC, is the central institution responsible for Romania's Trade Register framework. Local Trade Register offices operate in connection with the courts and handle company-registration matters.

This is important because company registration is not simply a general administrative process. The application needs to comply with Romanian company legislation and the applicable Trade Register procedures.

An incomplete application can be rejected. Romanian legislation provides that missing mandatory elements or required supporting documents can result in rejection of the registration application.

Requirements for Registering a Business

The exact requirements depend on the legal structure and circumstances of the company.

For a typical company formation, information may include:

• Proposed company name
• Shareholder details
• Director or administrator details
• Registered office information
• Company activities
• Share capital information
• Articles of association
• Identification documents
• Ownership information
• Beneficial ownership information
• Additional supporting documents where applicable

The registered office is an important part of the setup because the company needs an official Romanian address.

The business activity should also be identified carefully. The activities included in the company's registration documents should reflect what the company actually intends to do.

Documents Required

A foreign founder may need to prepare additional documents compared with a Romanian resident.

Depending on the circumstances, the documentation can include:

• Passport or identity document
• Residential address information
• Shareholder information
• Administrator information
• Proof or documentation relating to the registered office
• Articles of association
• Company name information
• Declaration forms
• Beneficial ownership information
• Corporate documents if the shareholder is a foreign company
• Authorised Romanian translations where required

Romanian registration law provides specific rules for foreign official documents, including when originals, apostilles or legalisation may be required.

This is one area where international founders should avoid assuming that documents used in another country will automatically be accepted in Romania.

How to Register a Business in Romania

The registration process can be organised into a practical sequence.

Define the business activity

Decide what the Romanian company will actually do and who its intended customers will be.

Select the legal structure

Evaluate whether an SRL or another structure is appropriate for the proposed business.

Decide ownership

Identify the shareholders and determine how ownership will be divided.

Choose the company name

Prepare and check the proposed company name according to the applicable Romanian requirements.

Arrange the registered office

Establish an appropriate registered office address in Romania.

Identify the administrator

Determine who will manage and legally represent the company.

Prepare the incorporation documents

Prepare the articles of association and other required documentation.

Prepare foreign documents

Where a shareholder or director is foreign, arrange the relevant supporting documents, translations and formalities.

Submit the registration application

File the required application and supporting documents with the appropriate Trade Register office.

Receive the registration documents

Once the application is accepted, retain the company's official registration documents and identification details.

The exact procedure and documentation can vary according to the company's structure and circumstances, so current ONRC requirements should be checked before filing.

Foreign Founders and Non-Residents

Romania can be relevant to entrepreneurs who want to establish a European business without being Romanian residents.

A foreign founder should consider:

• Whether they will personally own the company
• Whether an overseas company will be the shareholder
• Who will act as administrator
• Where the registered office will be maintained
• How foreign documents will be authenticated
• Whether Romanian translations are required
• How the company will conduct its actual business
• Whether the founder intends to live or work in Romania

Company ownership and immigration status should not be treated as the same issue.

Establishing a Romanian company does not automatically provide a foreign founder with a right to live or work in Romania. If relocation is part of the plan, immigration requirements need to be considered separately.

Foreign Corporate Shareholders

A Romanian company can also be structured with a foreign legal entity as a shareholder.

This can be useful where an international group wants to establish a Romanian subsidiary rather than create an entirely independent company.

In such cases, additional corporate documentation may be required.

Romanian registration rules provide for documentation relating to foreign legal entities, including evidence of their existence and, where applicable, information concerning their registered office and activities. Foreign corporate documents may also need Romanian translations and authentication formalities depending on their origin.

This makes ownership planning particularly important before starting the application.

Business Banking in Romania

After registration, an entrepreneur may need a business bank account for the company's operations.

The bank may review:

• Company registration documents
• Ownership structure
• Beneficial ownership
• Administrator details
• Business activities
• Expected transactions
• Source of funds
• Customer and supplier locations
• Commercial purpose of the company

For a foreign-owned business, the bank may also want to understand the relationship between the Romanian company and its overseas owners.

Company registration does not guarantee bank account approval. Banks conduct their own onboarding and due-diligence procedures.

YKG Global can assist international founders with relevant business bank account opening requirements as part of a wider Romania business setup.

What Happens After Registration?

Company formation is the beginning of the business relationship with Romanian authorities, not the end.

Depending on the company and its activities, ongoing responsibilities may include:

• Maintaining accurate company information
• Keeping corporate records
• Updating changes in directors or ownership
• Filing required company information
• Maintaining accounting records
• Meeting applicable tax obligations
• Reviewing business-specific permits or authorisations
• Maintaining the registered office arrangement

The exact obligations depend on the business structure and activities.

It is therefore better to consider post-registration administration before incorporating rather than treating compliance as an afterthought.

Common Mistakes When Registering a Business in Romania

International entrepreneurs can face avoidable problems if the registration is approached as a simple form-filling exercise.

Common mistakes include:

• Choosing the structure without considering the ownership model
• Selecting activities that do not reflect the actual business
• Preparing foreign documents without checking authentication requirements
• Forgetting Romanian translation requirements
• Using an unsuitable registered office arrangement
• Failing to identify the company's real ownership structure
• Assuming company registration automatically provides immigration rights
• Assuming incorporation guarantees a bank account
• Ignoring post-registration obligations
• Using outdated information about registration requirements

A well-prepared application can reduce unnecessary corrections and delays.

Why Choose YKG Global?

For an international entrepreneur, registering a Romanian company can involve several connected decisions.

YKG Global can support relevant requirements including:

• Company registration in Romania
• International business setup
• Foreign founder and non-resident business support
• Business bank account opening assistance
• Business compliance
• Trademark services
• International expansion consulting

The focus is on helping founders understand the setup requirements, organise the necessary information and prepare for operating their Romanian business.

To register a business in Romania successfully, start with the business model and ownership structure rather than the registration form.

For many entrepreneurs, an SRL may be an appropriate structure to evaluate. The process generally involves selecting the structure, deciding ownership, choosing a company name, arranging a Romanian registered office, preparing the required documents and submitting the application through the Trade Register system.

Foreign founders need to pay particular attention to documentation. Romanian law contains specific requirements for foreign documents, translations and authentication formalities, depending on the country of origin.

The registration itself is only one stage. Banking, company administration and ongoing obligations should also be considered when planning the business.

For international founders, getting the structure and documentation right at the beginning can make the transition from incorporation to actual commercial operations much more straightforward.

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