People who want to register a company in Poland often face a number of common questions, which are hard to find answers to in various sources. To understand these nuances, it’s necessary to familiarize oneself thoroughly with Polish legislation or have experience in doing business here. We have prepared information that is hard to find online. It will help when opening a business in Poland.
Watch the video on this topic or read the article below.
Number of Founders in a Polish Company
It is important to note that foreigners in Poland do not have the option to register as a sole trader (FOP). This status is available to people who are citizens of this European country or students at Polish universities. Foreigners should focus on opening a legal entity with the organizational and legal form of a limited liability company (Spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością). A Polish company offers an entrepreneur the opportunity to expand their network, attract partners, and other advantages.
A company in Poland can have several co-founders. The exact number (limit on partnerships) is not specified anywhere. However, the more founders a legal entity has, the more nuances arise. For example, each new board member must sign a document (unless stated in the articles of association). Removing a member from the board (taking away their share) is not easy.
A company in Poland cannot operate without a representative. The representative represents the company’s interests before government bodies, potential partners, etc.
More Founders — More Taxes?
There is no clear answer. Among the possible options, it is worth noting the following:
- The size of the tax depends on the number of partners if they are paid a salary from the company’s budget.
- If the company in Poland operates, but the money remains inside (i.e., does not go towards the founders’ compensation), the amount of taxes does not depend on the number of managers.
This is an important nuance that can help save money for beginner entrepreneurs.
Can a Foreigner Register Several Companies in Poland?
Polish legislation is quite lenient. Foreigners in Poland can open multiple companies or be members of the board of several businesses (holding shares in them). Moreover, by obtaining a special permit, one can own several companies while working as an ordinary employee for another entrepreneur’s business.
Can Founders Engage in Different Types of Activities?
Yes, one Polish company can provide several types of services. However, the entrepreneur cannot specify all possible types of business activities in the articles of association. Some of these activities are regulated by law and are not available to foreigners.
It is important to clarify what it means to engage in different types of activities. An entrepreneur can be a founder in several companies with different directions. They can work themselves, providing several types of services, but in this case, they need to sign an employment contract with an employer.
If a legal entity has several different areas of activity (such as a cafe, training services, and website development), from the tax authority’s perspective, such a business looks suspicious. Therefore, experts recommend separating the services planned to be offered to clients into several separate companies (since a full set of various types of activities cannot be included in one set of articles of association).
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