Company Registration in Poland – Legal Forms Explained (Sp. z o.o., JDG, SA)

Choosing the right legal form is the cornerstone of a successful business launch in Poland. Whether you're a foreign investor, a startup founder, or an EU citizen considering Polish market entry, understanding your options is essential.

This is by far the most common and flexible legal form in Poland for both Polish and foreign founders. A limited liability company (spółka z ograniczoną odpowiedzialnością) is ideal for freelancers, tech founders, and international teams who want to build scalable businesses.

You can register a Sp. z o.o. entirely remotely — even if all shareholders and board members reside outside of Poland. There's no need for a PESEL number, and NIP, KRS and REGON are assigned automatically. However, having a PESEL number simplifies things significantly when it comes to opening a bank account and using the online S24 platform.

This legal form offers limited liability, separate legal personality, and flexibility in profit distribution. It's also compatible with Polish work permits and residence procedures. The registration process usually takes from 24 hours (in S24) up to 3 weeks (in notary version). The total cost, including government fees, can range from 1,200 to 2,500 PLN, depending on the registration method.

This is a personal business form, easy to register and operate, but it comes with one serious limitation — it’s not available to everyone. Sole proprietorship (jednoosobowa działalność gospodarcza, JDG) is available only to foreigners who meet specific immigration criteria. To open JDG, you must hold one of the following:

• Permanent residence permit (stały pobyt)
• EU long-term residence permit
• Blue Card for highly qualified professionals
• Temporary residence as a family member, student, or under scientific research
• Protection status (refugee, humanitarian, subsidiary protection)
• Temporary residence due to continuation of already existing JDG
• Valid Pole’s Card (Karta Polaka)
• Legal marriage to a Polish citizen with residence in Poland
• Participant of Poland.Business.Harbour support program
• Member of EU citizen’s family meeting legal dependency requirements

If you don’t meet these criteria, JDG is not an option for you — and that’s where Sp. z o.o. becomes the go-to solution.

Spółka Akcyjna (SA) is a corporate structure tailored for large businesses and public offerings. It’s rarely chosen by small or medium-sized enterprises due to its higher capital requirements (minimum 100,000 PLN) and more complex governance.

This structure may be relevant if you plan to attract investors, prepare for stock exchange listing, or operate on a large scale.

Sp. z o.o. – the most universal option, accessible even if you are not in Poland
JDG – suitable only for foreigners who meet specific residency or legal status conditions
SA – recommended for larger businesses and corporate investments

At Residence Angels, we help foreigners from all over the world open companies in Poland. Whether you're already in Poland or need to open remotely, our legal and operational support ensures your company is registered quickly and correctly. We provide guidance on choosing the optimal legal form, submitting documents to the KRS, and opening corporate bank accounts.

If you're unsure whether your status qualifies you for JDG or if a sp. z o.o. is more suitable — get in touch with us for a free assessment.

Let us handle the bureaucracy, so you can focus on growing your business.