Starting a business · Slovakia
Cooperative formation
Cooperative formation from the statutes and constituent meeting through to entry in the Commercial Register, for business, housing and social cooperatives.
What we'll do for you
Select an item to see the details.
-
Consultation and draft statutes
We discuss the cooperative's purpose and operation and prepare tailored statutes covering its bodies, membership contributions, admission and termination of membership, voting and settlement.
-
Constituent meeting
We prepare the agenda and documents for the constituent meeting, including coordination with the notary whose attendance is required by law.
-
Registration
The registration application with all attachments and management of the proceedings until the cooperative is registered.
-
Arrangements after formation
Membership records, application forms and internal documents for the cooperative's bodies — so it continues to work beyond its first day.
Deliverablea registered cooperative, including its statutes, minutes of the constituent meeting and Commercial Register extract
How it works
Does this process fit your matter? Describe it to the attorney →
- Consultationday 0
Purpose, members and contributions — we propose the arrangements and confirm the price.
- Documents and meeting
Statutes, invitations and the constituent meeting with a notary.
- Registrationsubject to the register's processing time
Filing with the Commercial Register and monitoring the proceedings through to registration.
A cooperative is a legal form for running a business together with open membership — and its formation has rules of its own that differ from those of an s.r.o. more than you might expect: statutes instead of a memorandum of association, a constituent meeting with a notary, membership contributions and membership records.
We handle the entire formation of your cooperative and structure membership arrangements so they continue to work as membership grows.
No-obligation enquiry
Ready to start?
Send us an enquiry. We 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
- 2Within 24 h you get a price confirmation and plan
- 3We start work only after your approval
Not keen on calls or email? Message us on WhatsApp →
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 a cooperative a better choice than an s.r.o.?
When membership should be open and members' votes broadly equal — a cooperative accommodates a changing membership without amending the founding documents each time someone joins or leaves. An s.r.o. is usually more practical for a closed group of owners with different ownership interests; we compare the options during the consultation.
How many members does a cooperative need?
The law requires a minimum number of founding members, which depends on whether they are individuals or legal entities. During the consultation, we check whether your proposed membership meets the requirements and, if needed, how to supplement it.
Must a notary attend the formation?
Yes, the proceedings of a cooperative's constituent meeting are certified in a notarial deed. We arrange the notary and prepare the meeting so everything can be completed in one session.
How long does formation take?
Once the supporting documents are ready, most of the time is spent in registration proceedings — allow several weeks overall. We confirm the timetable during the consultation.
Legal Q&A
Common questions on this topic
-
Must a memorandum of association now take the form of a notarial deed, or is lawyer authorisation sufficient?
A lawyer is sufficient. Since 17 August 2026, incorporation documents must take the form of a notarial deed recording a legal act or a document authorised by a lawyer; both forms are legally equivalent. The lawyer drafts the agreement, verifies the founders' identities, authorises it and deposits it in the central authorisation register. A notary who drafted the document may not register the same matter themselves. An exception applies to an s. r. o. formed under the simplified procedure using the state electronic form.
Read the answer -
We are contributing real estate to an s. r. o. When does the company become its owner?
Only when ownership is registered in the land register, rather than when the company comes into existence. Rights to other contributions in kind pass to the company on incorporation, but the Commercial Code makes an exception for real estate. The document required for the land register is the contributor's written declaration with a certified signature, rather than an agreement. Until registration is approved, the company does not own the property, and the member risks having to pay the contribution's value in cash.
Read the answer -
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.
Read the answer