Setting up a company in Slovenia

Covering the vast majority of business choices among Slovenian entrepreneurs, the Slovenian limited liability company has a lot of advantages to offer. Its formation is rather simple, without to many bureaucratic entanglements, and it has clear construction steps. The LLC is followed in frequency by the Slovenian joint stock company, which is a more complex type of company designated for business at a larger scale.

Preliminary steps for registering Limited Liability and Joint Stock Companies in Slovenia
 Founding a Slovenian company means following a few steps that take a certain amount of time and some documentation. The first step consists of establishing a foundation act, articles of association for limited liability companies and company charter for JSC. These documents must contain a unique name of the company, the structure of the company, meaning names, and addresses of the managing board, for LLC and information about the shareholders for JSC. It is important that a company establish and relieve the object of activity and the subscribed capital, or amount and value of the shares, monetary or non-monetary. The next preliminary step to registration consists of opening a bank account, in which the company's capital is stored and attaching a receipt issued by the bank, to the company's documentation.

Registration with the Slovenian Business Register through AJPES
Since 1 February 2008 the whole register with the Slovenian Trade Register process has been simplified with the implementation of a so-called single access point (VEM). The purpose of VEM is to simplify administration procedures and lower the costs of the incorporation. Establishing a company at VEM point can be done providing that two conditions are fulfilled. The first consists of paying the contributions in cash, prior to registration and the second condition means that the articles of association have to be organized in a special way. Only one assigned person can register a LLC at VEM entry point, and it must be done in person. The registration must be signed by a safe electronic signature with qualified certificate.
The VEM point also enables automatic online publication of the company information, which helps for a more rapid formation. The information is then entered in the Business Register and it provides registration with the Statistical Office of Slovenia. Also E-VEM enables registration with the tax administration.

Register at the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia
After receiving a registration certificate, the Slovene company must register at the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia within 5 days since the first working day of the first employee. The registration is simple, and consists of submitting and completing an application form.


Setting up a Slovenian company from abroad
Foreign investors are welcome in Slovenia, as companies with foreign capital, or owned by foreign entrepreneurs are considered Slovenian business entities, operating according to Slovenian regulations. They have the same rights and obligations as national companies. Also residents and non-residents may form a company, without restrictions on payments and transfers. Founding a company in Slovenia may be done from abroad, but every document needs to have an authorized translation in the Slovene language.

How long does it take to form a company in Slovenia?
The process is relatively short and simple, due to the new electronic registration procedure. Registering at the Slovenian Business Register, through E-VEM is completed in 4 to 6 days, while opening a bank account and obtaining a receipt should be finished within one day, depending on the schedule of the chosen bank. Registering at the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia is a procedure attended simultaneously with the registration at the Slovenian Business Register, and it is finished in one day. Opening a company in Slovenia is completed in a little more over a week.