Opening a Company in Slovenia: Step-by-Step (d.o.o., s.p.), Timelines, and Costs

Opening a company in Slovenia is a practical way to start a business in the EU and, with a well-built strategy, lay the groundwork for future legal residence planning. At the start, it is important to choose the right legal form (d.o.o. or s.p.), structure your documents correctly, and plan your budget in advance—both one-off registration costs and ongoing monthly obligations after launch.

If you are considering company registration specifically as a relocation pathway, see the service details here: Business immigration to Slovenia.

d.o.o. or s.p.: Which One to Choose?

s.p. — a format for individual activity

An s.p. is most often chosen by professionals who provide services and operate independently.

Pros: fewer formalities, easier to start.
Cons: typically can be opened only after one year of residence in Slovenia, higher personal liability, and not always the most convenient structure for scaling or hiring.

d.o.o. — a limited liability company

A d.o.o. suits a more “corporate” model: partners, B2B contracts, employees, and growth.

Pros: limited liability, more suitable for development and scaling.
Cons: requires share capital to incorporate and involves more accounting and paperwork requirements.

If you are unsure which structure fits your goal, we help you choose the form based on immigration and financial logic: Residence through a company in Slovenia.

Step-by-Step Plan to Open a Company

Step 1. Define the business model and activity codes (SKD)

Clarify what the company will do, what services/products you will provide, whether you need an office/address, and whether you plan to hire. This affects registration, banking, and later proof of business activity.

Step 2. Prepare the owner’s documents

Typically required: passport, tax number (must be obtained), proof of no tax debt, contact details, and—if needed—powers of attorney.

Step 3. Choose the company name and legal address

The company name must be unique, and the address must meet requirements (lease/office/acceptable service address—depending on the case).

Step 4. Register in the business register

For a d.o.o., you prepare incorporation documents, appoint a director, and define the share capital.

d.o.o. share capital: €7,500. These are company funds and can later be used for business purposes within the legal framework.

Step 5. Banking and payment infrastructure

Opening a corporate bank account often requires a transparent payment structure and supporting documentation (contracts/invoices/source of funds justification).

Step 6. Accounting and ongoing obligations

You must set up bookkeeping, reporting, primary documents, and the calculation of taxes and contributions.

If you are setting up a company specifically for relocation, it is important to build the “immigration part” in parallel: Company registration and employment in your own company.

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Timelines: How Long Registration Takes

Timing depends on the legal form, document readiness, and the banking stage:

• s.p. is usually launched faster.

• d.o.o. requires more steps and approvals.

Costs: What to Include in Your Budget

One-off costs

• registration actions and documents;

• translations/notary costs (depending on the case);

• initial accounting setup.

Monthly costs

• accounting services;

• bank fees;

• taxes and contributions based on your model;

• rent/service address/insurance (if applicable).

We usually calculate the budget for 6–12 months upfront so the company does not “stall” after registration: Business immigration support.

Common Mistakes When a Foreigner Opens a Company

• Underestimating bank requirements and lacking supporting documents.

• Random SKD codes that do not match actual activity.

• No financial plan and no ongoing accounting discipline.

• Registering a company without a strategy for next steps.

If Your Goal Is Residence Through Business

If you are planning relocation, the key question is not “how to register,” but “how to structure the activity and documents correctly for the procedure.” In that case, it is better to follow a roadmap where company registration is only the first stage.

More details on the support format: Business immigration to Slovenia.