Bulgarian Company Registered? Your First 30 Days Checklist
Registering a company in Bulgaria gives your business a legal structure, but it does not automatically make the business ready for daily operations. The first month is when accounting, VAT, banking, social security and document procedures start to take shape.
New business owners naturally focus on customers and sales. However, your first invoice, foreign subscription, payment platform or employee may already create a reporting obligation.
A practical Bulgarian company first 30 days plan helps you deal with these questions before they become corrections later. 📌
Explain the Real Business Model to Your Accountant
Your accountant needs more than the activity listed in the company registration documents. They need to understand what the business will actually do.
Describe your products or services, your customers, your suppliers and the countries involved. Explain how the company will collect money and whether goods will cross borders.
Cover the Questions That Affect Accounting
- What will the company sell?
- Will customers be businesses or consumers?
- Will you trade with other EU countries?
- Will you buy services from foreign suppliers?
- Will goods move across borders?
- Will you operate an online shop or use marketplaces?
- Which payment methods will you accept?
- Will you use external payment platforms?
- Do you expect to hire employees?
These details can change the VAT treatment, invoicing process and documents your accountant needs each month.
Review VAT Before the First Cross-Border Transaction
Do not treat VAT as a question that matters only after the company grows. Bulgaria has a national turnover threshold, but other registration grounds can arise earlier.
Cross-border services deserve particular attention. Certain services supplied to EU business customers or received from foreign suppliers may require a VAT review before the company approaches the general turnover threshold.
Look Closely at Foreign Services
Speak to your accountant before the company starts paying for or supplying:
- online advertising;
- SaaS subscriptions;
- software licences;
- cloud or hosting services;
- international platform fees;
- consulting from abroad;
- certain B2B services to EU customers.
The VAT result depends on the actual transaction, customer status and place-of-supply rules. Review the transaction before issuing the invoice or making the first relevant payment.
Decide How the Owner and Manager Will Work
Company registration does not automatically determine the social security position of the owner or manager.
Start with what each person actually does for the business. An owner who personally works for the company may fall under the self-insurance rules. A manager working under a management arrangement may have a different social security treatment.
If self-insurance applies, the start of the activity also carries a declaration requirement. This is why the discussion should happen when operations begin, not several months later.
Separate Business Money From Personal Spending
Use a dedicated company bank account for normal business transactions. A clear separation between company and personal money makes bookkeeping easier and helps you understand the true financial position of the business.
Your accountant also needs to know every way customers can pay you.
List All Payment Channels
- bank transfer;
- credit or debit card;
- payment platforms;
- marketplaces;
- cash;
- cash on delivery;
- courier collections.
Payment methods can influence how a sale must be documented. Online businesses should also review whether their sales and payment setup creates additional fiscal reporting requirements.
Create a Monthly Document Routine
A company can have excellent accounting software and still produce poor records if important documents never reach the accountant.
Agree on a simple monthly workflow. Decide where the company will store invoices, contracts and reports, and who will send them to the accountant.
Keep These Records Together
- sales invoices;
- supplier invoices;
- contracts;
- receipts;
- bank statements;
- payment platform reports;
- marketplace statements;
- courier reports;
- business expense documents.
Regular document collection makes reconciliations and VAT reporting much easier. It also reduces the risk that an old transaction becomes difficult to explain months later.
Prepare Payroll Before the First Employee Starts
If you plan to hire, involve your accountant or payroll provider before the employee starts work.
Bulgaria has used an electronic Employment Register since June 2025. Employers need to organise the employment contract and the required electronic records within the applicable deadlines, including the information about the start of the employment relationship before the employee begins work.
You should also check occupational health and safety requirements and any additional rules that apply to the particular position or sector.
Your First 30 Days at a Glance
| Area | Action | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Explain the real business model | Sets up the correct accounting process |
| VAT | Review local and international transactions | Reduces registration and invoicing risks |
| Social security | Confirm the owner and manager setup | Supports correct reporting from the start |
| Documents | Build a monthly collection routine | Keeps records complete and traceable |
| Employees | Prepare payroll before the start date | Avoids last-minute employment problems |
Check Licences and Sector-Specific Requirements
Some businesses need more than accounting and tax setup. Depending on the activity, you may need to review licences, permits, fiscal devices, online-shop requirements or sector-specific reporting.
Do not assume that company registration covers these automatically. The answer depends on what you sell, how customers pay and whether the activity falls under a regulated regime.
Build the Process Before the Business Becomes Busy
A registered Bulgarian company may legally exist, but the first transactions determine how it will operate in practice. Your first foreign supplier, employee or new payment channel can change the compliance picture.
Want to organise your Bulgarian company correctly from the beginning? T&G Consulting can review your business model and help you structure accounting, VAT, social security, payroll and reporting for your real activity.
Good administration should make the business easier to run, not create paperwork for its own sake. Build clear routines early, keep the company records complete and review new transaction types before they become regular. That gives the business a much stronger start after the first 30 days. 🙂
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This article provides general information and does not constitute individual tax, accounting or legal advice. The correct treatment depends on the facts and circumstances of each business.