Registration and starting a business in Croatia

Registration and starting a business in Croatia depend on several options. It is important to check the sectoral requirements.

Service provision options 

1. Freedom to provide services 

• No establishment requirement for the EU/EEA providing many services temporarily; only a declaration on the cross-border provision of services from the EU/EEA

2. Business establishment 

• Establishment required for providing services permanently, while optional for temporary cross-border providers registered in the EU/EEA; establishment required for all enterprises from Croatia and third countries

Business establishment options

1. START (one-stop shop)

• For Croatian citizens
• Electronic establishment of LLC, simple LLC, and crafts (sole trader)
• All registration steps are performed in one place
• Without notarization

2. START (physical – soon)

• For Croatian, EU/EEA, and foreign citizens
• All registration steps are done electronically by going to one of 20 locations
• Without notarization

3. e-Court Register

• For Croatian EU/EEA citizens
• Electronic establishment of LLC and simple LLC
• All other registration steps are done separately

4. e-Craft

• For Croatian citizens
• Electronic establishment of a Craft (sole trader)
• All other registration steps are done separately

5. Physically

• For Croatian EU/EEA and foreign citizens
• Separate physical steps for registering companies or crafts

Choose one of these options for successful registration and starting a business in Croatia.

Competent authority and regulations

Ministry of Economy – for the START system

Vukovarska 78, 10 000 Zagreb

info@mingo.hr

Ministry of Justice, Administration and Digital Transformation – for the Court Register and regulations

Vukovarska 49, 10 000 Zagreb

gradjansko.pravo@mpudt.hr

Companies Act (OG 111/93, 34/99, 121/99 – authoritative interpretation, 52/00 – Decision of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Croatia, 118/03, 107/07, 146/08, 137/09, 152/11 – consolidated text, 111/12, 68/13, 110/15, 40/19, 34/22, 114/22, 18/23, 130/23 and 136/24)

Court Register Act (OG 1/95, 57/96, 1/98, 30/99, 45/99, 54/05, 40/07, 91/10, 90/11, 148/13, 93/14, 110/15, 40/19, 34/22 and 123/23)

Trades and Crafts Act (OG 143/13, 127/19 and 41/20) – Article 9, paragraph (5) – consolidated text

Services Act (OG 80/11) – Articles 1, 14, and 15

Last updated date on 28 February 2025