Hi, my name is Stas, and I’ve been living in Poland for 9 years. Today, we’re going to talk about registering a company in Poland and discuss which option is better: through a notary or online. Let’s look at the pros and cons of each option.
Notary Company Registration
If you decide to register a company in Poland through a notary, it’s important to understand how you plan to do it: remotely or in person. For remote registration, you will need to issue a power of attorney. If you decide to do it in person, the process will look like this:
You meet with the notary, provide the necessary details about your company, discuss nuances and risks, and then the notary prepares the company’s articles of association, which will reflect all your requirements. At this stage, a sworn translator is also involved to translate everything that the notary reads out.
Pros of Notary Registration
The first significant advantage of notary registration in Poland is the ability to contribute not only money but also other tangible and intangible assets into the statutory capital. These can include, for example, cars, intellectual property, trademarks, and much more.
The second important point concerns the company’s organizational structure. Through a notary, it will be easier for you to outline the different levels of owners, board members, presidents, and other roles. This allows you to detail all forms of interaction between partners and consider various risks, such as in the event that one of the partners leaves the business.
Cons of Notary Registration
However, notary registration in Poland also has its drawbacks. First, it’s a relatively lengthy process. You will need time to find a notary, hold a meeting, and wait for the registration to be completed, which typically takes anywhere from one month to one and a half months.
Secondly, this option is tied to offline format. Any changes you want to make to the company after its registration must also go through the notary. This means that if any data such as shares, roles, capital, or legal address changes, you will have to visit the notary again, which requires time and additional costs.
Cost Comparison
In addition, registration through a notary is typically 50-100% more expensive compared to online registration. In most cases, this is simply not cost-effective, especially if you don’t need a complex custom statute, as most people don’t have a dozen partners or investors.
Online Company Registration
Now let’s discuss the pros of online registration. First of all, it’s speed. Registering a company in Poland online takes much less time — sometimes just a few days, while notary registration can take up to a month.
Online registration is also usually cheaper, making it more accessible. You also have a higher level of control over the process, as you have access to the s24 system, where you can monitor all steps and changes.
Advantages of Online Registration
With online registration, you are given the opportunity to fill out a brief and discuss details with consultants, customizing the company to meet your needs. We, as a consulting company, register companies online, which, in our opinion, is simpler, faster, and more transparent.
Experience and Recommendations
One of the reasons why we prefer online registration is our own experience. Previously, when online registration was not an option, we encountered significant difficulties with notary registration. We paid a large sum for legal services, but the lawyers didn’t give us enough attention after the registration was completed.
No one explained what to do next, how to submit declarations, and which taxes, such as PCC and ZUS, to account for.
The Option to Switch to Notary Registration
It’s important to note that even if you start with online registration, you can always switch to notary registration. For example, if you’re expanding your business and need to change the statute, this can be done through a notary.
But keep in mind that switching back to the online format after notary registration will not be possible.
Conclusion
When choosing between notary and online registration for a company in Poland, much depends on your needs and the specifics of your business. Notary registration may be more familiar, but it requires more time and resources.
Online registration, on the other hand, offers speed, cost-effectiveness, and greater control. In any case, it’s important to think through every detail and clearly understand what you need. If you need help with this process, we are always ready to assist!
