Starting a business · Czechia and Slovakia
Choosing a business legal form
You choose the legal form at the outset, but live with its consequences for years: liability, taxes and contributions, new shareholders or investors, and a business sale. We review your plans and explain which form fits and why: sole trader, s.r.o., simple joint-stock company, a.s. or a combination, in Slovakia, Czechia or both countries.
- Lawyer registered with the Czech and Slovak Bar Associations
- Comparison of Slovak and Czech forms
- Consultation with a written output
What we'll do for you
A short service with a lasting impact: consultation, comparison and a written recommendation on which to base your decision.
Select an item to see the details.
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Initial consultation
We discuss your plans, number of founders, intended growth and countries of operation — the questions that actually determine the right form.
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Comparison of forms
Sole trader, s.r.o., j.s.a., a.s. and, where appropriate, a cooperative or limited partnership: liability, minimum capital, governing bodies, transferability of interests and suitability for investors under Slovak and Czech law.
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Tax and contribution perspective
We supplement the legal comparison with tax and contribution implications in cooperation with your accountant or tax adviser, each responsible for their part.
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Written recommendation
You receive a clear document recommending a form, explaining why and highlighting decisions to make during formation.
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Formation plan
If you decide to proceed, you receive the exact process and price, with the consultation fee deducted.
Deliverablea written recommendation with reasons and a concrete formation plan
How it works
Does this process fit your matter? Describe it to the attorney →
- Consultationday 0
An hour on the questions that matter: plans, people, money and countries.
- Comparison and recommendation
Within a few days, you receive a written comparison and a clear recommendation with reasons.
- Formationif you decide to proceed
We form the company in the recommended legal form, deducting the consultation price.
Choosing a legal form is an entrepreneur’s first legal decision — and one of the few that is expensive to correct. Instead of generic advice, we offer an hour of focused work on your specific plans and a written recommendation you can show a co-founder, accountant or bank.
We are a law firm with a lawyer registered with the Slovak and Czech Bar Associations. Our comparison therefore considers both countries from the start, recognising that the border need not be an obstacle to your business.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We usually reply within 24 hours with a price confirmation and next steps. The first 30-minute consultation is free and commits you to nothing.
- 1Send your enquiry via this form
- 2Usually within 24 h you get a price confirmation and plan
- 3We start work only after your approval
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Prefer to book a time right away? Book a consultation →
Or email us about this matter.
What clients ask
Didn’t find your question? Ask us directly →
When is sole trading still worthwhile, and when should I choose an s.r.o.?
Sole trading is administratively simplest, but the entrepreneur is liable with all their assets. The trade authorisation is personal to the entrepreneur, although the enterprise or an independent part of it may be sold. A commercial company allows shareholders to be admitted and ownership interests to be sold. An s.r.o. separates business from private assets and permits shareholders and a sale, at the cost of accounting and corporate duties. The dividing line is not income alone; activity risk, liability towards clients and future plans also matter. We weigh precisely these during the consultation.
How does a simple joint-stock company differ from an s.r.o.?
The j.s.a. is a Slovak form designed for startups, allowing shares with special rights, easier vesting and employee-share arrangements, and more flexible investor entry. The trade-off is stricter formation requirements, including issuing shares through the central securities depository. An s.r.o. is often more practical for ordinary business; a j.s.a. has much to offer for a project built around investors and options.
There are two of us. What should we watch when choosing?
The form is only half the answer. The other half is the relationship: ownership proportions, decisions and what happens on departure or disagreement. These are addressed in the memorandum of association and shareholders' agreement, and are cheapest to set while you are still on good terms. The recommendation therefore includes a list of matters you need to agree with your co-founder.
Is it worth incorporating in Czechia if I live in Slovakia?
Sometimes, if your customers, suppliers or market are there. But the other country's supposed advantage is often overstated: a company should be based where it is actually managed and operates. As a firm with a lawyer registered with both Bar Associations, we compare the options without preconceptions, including a branch instead of a new company.
Can the form be changed later?
Yes. A sole trader can move to an s.r.o., and an s.r.o. can be converted into an a.s. But every change costs time and money, and some things, such as the company's history for banks and public tenders, are difficult to carry across. An hour of thought at the outset costs less than a transformation three years later.
Legal Q&A
Common questions on this topic
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Can a business name be reserved before a company is formed?
Yes. Since 17 August 2026, a business name can be reserved in the register of reserved business names maintained by the Žilina District Court. Applications are submitted electronically through a dedicated portal, with a court fee of EUR 50. The reservation lasts until the name is entered in the Commercial Register, up to a maximum of 60 days after delivery of the confirmation. It only protects against an identical registered name; it does not resolve conflicts with trade marks or other business names.
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Do we still need a separate trade licensing office step before forming an s. r. o.?
If the company will carry on only the specified unregulated trades in Annex 4a to the Trade Licensing Act, the trade licensing office is not needed: authorisation arises directly on the date of entry in the Commercial Register. The application must not include any other trade. Craft and regulated trades, and unregulated trades outside the list, continue through the notification route, with professional competence demonstrated where required.
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The two of us are sole traders doing business together. Do we have to form a company for that?
You do not have to. Two sole traders may also cooperate on the basis of an association agreement under the Civil Code, without forming a new legal entity. An association has no legal capacity of its own, you conclude contracts personally, and you are jointly and severally bound by obligations towards third parties. As the cooperation grows, forming a company is usually the better course.
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Further reading
Cooperative or civic association: which form can carry a joint project
Joint purchasing, a shared workshop, a community space or joint sales of produce: a group of individuals or companies often hesitates between a cooperative and a civic association. We compare both forms by purpose, founders, capital, decision-making and the members’ property entitlements.
Read more →
General and limited partnerships: when a partnership makes sense instead of an s.r.o.
Alongside the s.r.o., the Commercial Code also offers the general partnership and the limited partnership. This article explains how they differ from an s.r.o. in liability, capital, management, taxation and on a partner’s departure, and for whom they may be the better choice.
Read more →
New social contributions for the self-employed: income test, contribution holidays and micro-contribution
From 1 July 2026, social insurance contributions for the self-employed follow new rules. Self-employed persons already in business in the previous year are compulsorily insured only above the income threshold, EUR 2,876.90 for this year’s test; new businesses have a six-month holiday and low incomes attract a EUR 131.34 monthly micro-contribution. Acts No. 261/2025 and 122/2026 Z. z. introduced the reform.
Read more →