Planning to open an s.r.o. (limited liability company) in Slovakia? Please note that significant changes to the legislation governing the creation and registration of legal entities will enter into force on August 17. These innovations will affect both the document preparation procedure and the final cost of incorporating a business. In this article, we break down exactly what is changing, who qualifies for exceptions, and how to register your business under the old rules in time.
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What Exactly Is Changing from August 17?
The key change concerns the form of the founding document — the Memorandum of Association (spoločenská zmluva) or the Foundation Deed (zakladateľská listina).
- How it was before: The document could be signed with a simple notarization of signatures (at a notary public/matrika) or by using an electronic signature (e-signature).
- From August 17: A simple notarized signature or e-signature is no longer sufficient. The founding document must be strictly executed as a Notarial Deed (notárska zápisnica) or authorized by a Slovak attorney.
What does this mean for entrepreneurs? The mandatory involvement of a notary to draft the deed or an attorney for authorization directly increases the cost of registering a company.
Exceptions: Who Can Access Simplified Registration?
The good news is that there are exceptions to every rule. The legislation has preserved the option to register a company without drafting a Notarial Deed or obtaining attorney authorization via a simplified procedure, but only if the following conditions are met:
- No more than 5 founders in the company structure.
- Unregulated (free) business activities only (requiring no special license or qualifications) — no more than 15 activities in total.
- Share capital is contributed strictly in cash (no in-kind contributions).
If your company fully meets these criteria, you will be able to take advantage of simplified registration and avoid the additional costs of a Notarial Deed.
How to Register a Company Under the Old Rules in Time?
If the structure of your future company does not fall under the simplified conditions, you still have the opportunity to submit documents under the current rules.
- Deadline: Applications for registration must be submitted by August 14 inclusive.
- Date Lifehack: Under Slovak law, you can register the company now while specifying a future start date for business operations (for example, starting January 1).
Professional Business Registration Assistance from ALKUR
Even after August 17, registering a company in Slovakia remains a transparent procedure if you entrust the process to professionals. ALKUR collaborates directly with Slovak attorneys and notary publics. We help you to:
- Quickly prepare the document package in compliance with all new legal requirements;
- Engage verified attorneys and notary publics;
- Handle full accounting and tax support for your business.
Our contacts for inquiries and booking a consultation: https://alkur.sk/contacts-en