Accountants and corporate service providers in Sofia

Sofia is where a foreign founder most often ends up looking for help with a Bulgarian company, and the choice of firms here is the widest in the country. Sofia has 106 firms on Accountanty: 82 accounting firms, 18 corporate service providers and 6 law firms. This page explains what that means for someone setting up or running a company from abroad.

Almost every firm here handles the basics. 105 offer company formation, 101 offer bookkeeping and accounting, 102 handle tax compliance and 95 run payroll. The services that foreign owners tend to need beyond that are less common: 94 firms handle VAT, 40 offer corporate secretarial support, 38 offer a virtual office, 37 help with a bank account, 27 carry out audits and 23 assist with residency or visas.

Firms in Sofia

82 more firms in Sofia

Who the Sofia firms work for

Foreign owners are a regular part of the work in the capital. 55 of the 106 firms say they focus on foreign clients, which is more than half, and the company types they handle reflect that. Sole-owner companies (EOOD) and limited liability companies (OOD) lead with 44 firms each, but 19 firms also handle branches of foreign companies, 13 handle joint-stock companies (AD) and 6 handle representative offices.

The industries named most often are manufacturing and e-commerce, 21 firms each, followed by construction and real estate, 15 each. Freelancers, start-ups and small and medium businesses are the client groups that come up most. If you run an online store or a service business from abroad, you will find firms that already do this daily. A company with a plant or a construction project in Bulgaria will find fewer, so ask for examples in your sector.

Language is rarely a barrier in Sofia. Bulgarian is the working language of 91 firms, and 74 add English. German comes next with 12, then Russian with 11 and French with 6. Five firms work in Italian, and you can see them on the page for Italian-speaking accountants in Bulgaria. Official registers are in Bulgarian only, according to the European e-Justice Portal, so a firm that can translate and file for you matters more than one that speaks your language in meetings.

What the capital changes for your company

Sofia is the seat of the national institutions, so a company registered here deals with the same Registry Agency and National Revenue Agency as a company anywhere else in Bulgaria. A Sofia firm does not give you a different legal route. What it gives you is nearby access to the notaries, banks and tax offices that a new company has to visit or contact.

The practical points to raise with any firm are the same as elsewhere. Registration can be filed entirely electronically if the applicant holds a qualified electronic signature, as the Ministry of Economy, Investments and Industry explains, and the Registry Agency fee is lower for electronic filing. Corporate income tax is 10 per cent under the National Revenue Agency, and VAT registration becomes mandatory above EUR 51,130 of turnover. Ask a firm which of these steps it handles itself and which it passes on.

How to choose between the firms in Sofia

With this many firms, narrow the field by what you need rather than by size. Start from the service you want, such as company formation or VAT, then filter by language and by the entity type you plan to use. Ask each firm for a written scope covering formation, the registered address, accounting after incorporation and who signs the annual return. The legal steps are set out in the guide to setting up a company in Bulgaria, and the free quote request sends one brief to suitable Sofia firms. If your company will operate outside the capital, look at the pages for Varna and Plovdiv.

Frequently asked questions

Which languages do accountants in Sofia work in?

In Sofia, 91 firms work in Bulgarian and 74 in English. German is offered by 12 firms, Russian by 11 and French by 6. Five firms also work in Italian. Registers and official forms are in Bulgarian, so ask who prepares and translates the documents.

Do firms in Sofia handle company formation for non-residents?

Yes. 105 of the 106 firms offer company formation, and 55 say they focus on foreign clients. Ask whether the firm also arranges the notarised signature, the registered address and the first tax registrations, or only submits the application.

Can a Sofia firm look after a company registered in another Bulgarian city?

Usually yes. Companies file with the national Registry Agency and National Revenue Agency, not with the city. Many bookkeeping and tax services are done remotely. A local firm is more useful when you need in-person visits, so compare it with the firms in Varna or Plovdiv.

Which company types do firms in Sofia handle?

The most common are the EOOD and the OOD, with 44 firms each. 19 firms handle branches of foreign companies, 13 handle joint-stock companies and 6 handle representative offices. State the type you want in your request so firms can quote the right work.

Is it worth asking Sofia firms about bank account help?

37 firms say they assist with opening a bank account, and 38 offer a virtual office address. Banks decide for themselves whether to accept a new company, so a firm can prepare documents and make introductions but cannot promise an account.

How do I get quotes from firms in Sofia?

Send one request through the free quote form. Say what you need, the company type, your country of residence and the language you prefer. Suitable firms then reply to you directly.

Other cities in Bulgaria

Services in Bulgaria

Setting up a company in Bulgaria: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.