Why Serbia
Serbia is not in the EU (it is a candidate country), which makes it accessible without additional barriers for many founders. It has a growing IT ecosystem, a lump-sum tax regime for small companies, and relatively low costs of doing business.
Tax System
| Type | Rate |
|---|---|
| Corporate tax (d.o.o.) | 15% |
| Lump-sum tax (preduzetnik, up to 6M RSD) | ~3–10% (fixed amount) |
| Personal income tax | 10–15% |
| VAT (turnover > 8M RSD) | 20% |
| Dividend tax | 15% |
Company Formats
- d.o.o. (LLC) — standard company, 15% tax
- Preduzetnik (sole trader) — lump-sum regime for small businesses
Who It Is For
- IT specialists and freelancers who have relocated to Serbia
- Small developer teams
- Companies that do not need EU status
- Founders seeking an accessible jurisdiction with low costs
Cost & Timeline
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| d.o.o. registration | €200–500 |
| Annual costs | from €500/yr |
| Share capital | from 1 RSD (symbolic) |
| Registration time | 3–7 business days |
| Bank account | 1–2 weeks |
Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Not EU — no restrictions on company ownership
- Low 15% tax or lump-sum regime for small business
- Fast and affordable registration
- Accessible banking (Raiffeisen, OTP, UniCredit)
Cons:
- Limited international recognition outside the Balkans/CIS
- Stripe not available for Serbian companies
- Banking less developed than in the EU
- Not ideal for Western enterprise clients
FAQ
Can I open a Serbian company remotely?
Partially. Some steps require in-person notarisation. Through an agent, most steps can be delegated.
Does Stripe work in Serbia?
No, Stripe does not support Serbia directly. Alternatives: Paddle, Lemon Squeezy (merchant of record), or pairing with an EU company.