Choose the right setup
Compare the country and company form against your activity, customers and personal tax residence.
A considered direction before you commit.
EU & BALKAN COMPANY FORMATION. BUILT AROUND YOU.
Keep more.
Where you live shouldn’t be the only reason your company is there. Company formation in Europe, built around you: we help you set up in Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro or Bosnia & Herzegovina, with banking preparation, accounting coordination and people who stay involved after registration.
Company formation. Banking preparation. Ongoing accounting and compliance.
05 COUNTRIES / ONE TEAM ON YOUR SIDE
WHAT WE HELP YOU DO
BEFORE. DURING. AFTER FORMATION.Not just registered.
Ready for what
comes next.
A company is only useful if the setup works for your business. We connect the formation work with banking preparation and ongoing obligations, with the services and costs agreed before we begin.
Form the company
Coordinate the required documents, registered address and local registration steps with the relevant professionals.
A clear scope for getting established.
Prepare for banking
Build a consistent business profile and prepare ownership information and supporting documents for the application.
Application support. The bank decides.
Keep things running
Coordinate accounting, reporting, payroll and other operational support according to your agreed scope.
Ongoing support, not an automatic bundle.
01 / OUR SELECTED JURISDICTIONS
Where could
your business fit?
You don’t need another list of countries. You need to know which one makes sense for you. We focus on five places we know, then help you compare the practical trade-offs before you commit.
01 / OUR TWO EU SPECIALISMS
Hungary & Bulgaria.
Need an EU base without choosing on a tax headline alone? We help you weigh Hungary and Bulgaria against your customers, how you work and where you live, including VAT, ongoing costs and your personal tax position.
EU COMPANY FORMATION
Hungary
- WHO IT CAN SUIT
- Service, digital-product and trading businesses considering an EU operating company.
- WHY CONSIDER IT
- An EU base with Kft. formation and coordinated local accounting support.
- BEFORE YOU DECIDE
- Local business tax, management location and the owner’s personal tax position.
EU COMPANY FORMATION
Bulgaria
- WHO IT CAN SUIT
- Consultants, IT businesses and traders evaluating an EU operating base.
- WHY CONSIDER IT
- An EOOD or OOD structure matched to single or multiple ownership.
- BEFORE YOU DECIDE
- Capital-account arrangements, VAT triggers and manager social-insurance obligations.
02 / OUR BALKAN FOCUS
Three countries. Local specifics.
Considering Serbia, Montenegro or Bosnia & Herzegovina? We help you understand what setting up and running your business would actually involve, from banking to local compliance. Our Bosnia & Herzegovina focus includes Brčko District.
BALKAN COMPANY FORMATION
Serbia
- WHO IT CAN SUIT
- Independent professionals and founders building a regional service or operating business.
- WHY CONSIDER IT
- A choice between an entrepreneur structure and a separate DOO company.
- BEFORE YOU DECIDE
- Liability, entrepreneur eligibility, the independence test and social contributions.
BALKAN COMPANY FORMATION
Montenegro
- WHO IT CAN SUIT
- Founders considering an Adriatic base for a regional service or commercial business.
- WHY CONSIDER IT
- A euro-denominated operating environment outside the EU.
- BEFORE YOU DECIDE
- Director arrangements, fiscalisation and the distinction between a company and residency.
BALKAN COMPANY FORMATION · BRČKO FOCUS
Bosnia & Herzegovina
- WHO IT CAN SUIT
- Service and trading businesses evaluating a location-specific regional setup.
- WHY CONSIDER IT
- Focused support for Brčko District rather than a generic country-wide approach.
- BEFORE YOU DECIDE
- The exact operating location, local rules and shareholder-level taxation.
SIDE BY SIDE / 2026 OVERVIEW
Compare the essentials.
Five jurisdictions, different obligations. Compare standard company taxation and recurring compliance before exploring each detailed guide. Bosnia & Herzegovina is shown with a Brčko District focus where specified.
Scroll horizontally to compare all five jurisdictions. Select a country name for its full guide and sources.
| Tax / obligation | HungaryKft. | BulgariaEOOD / OOD | SerbiaDOO | MontenegroDOO | Bosnia & HerzegovinaDOO · Brčko focus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | 9% of adjusted taxable profit. | 10% of adjusted taxable profit. | 15% of adjusted taxable profit. | 9% up to €100k profit; €9k + 12% above €100k up to €1.5m; €177k + 15% above €1.5m. | 10% in FBiH, RS and Brčko, under separate laws. |
| Additional tax considerations | Local business tax up to 2% on a separate, broadly revenue-based base; not simply 2% of profit. | Global minimum-tax rules can affect qualifying large groups. | Entrepreneur taxation is separate; flat-rate eligibility and the independence test require review. | No municipal corporate income tax; payroll surtaxes and other charges can still apply. | Payroll, incentives and withholding differ between FBiH, RS and Brčko. |
| Dividends to individuals | Generally 15% personal income tax; social contribution tax may also apply. Check residence and exemptions. | Generally 5% Bulgarian dividend tax. | Generally 15% Serbian dividend tax. | Generally 15% dividend tax. | Requires a separate local personal-income-tax review; corporate-recipient exemptions do not automatically apply. |
| Dividends to foreign companies | No domestic withholding on non-individual recipients. | Generally 5%; qualifying EU/EEA corporate recipients may be exempt. | Generally 20% withholding before treaty relief. | Generally 15% withholding before treaty relief. | Brčko: dividend payments to foreign legal entities are excluded from withholding under Article 29(2)(d). Do not extend this to FBiH or RS. |
| Standard VAT | 27% | 20% | 20% | 21% | 17% country-wide |
| Domestic VAT threshold / exemption | 2026 small-business exemption ceiling: HUF 20m, subject to prior/current-year and eligibility rules.¹ | €51,130 annual turnover; current/previous calendar-year rules apply. | RSD 8m in the preceding 12 months. Not the RSD 6m flat-rate entrepreneur ceiling. | €30k in the preceding 12 months. | BAM 100k relevant annual taxable turnover; expected turnover and special triggers also matter. |
| Annual corporate-tax return | Generally 31 May after a calendar year-end, alongside annual accounts and local business tax. | Generally 30 June after a calendar year-end; financial statements generally published by 30 September. | Within 180 days of year-end; regular annual financial statements generally due 31 March. | Generally 31 March after a calendar year-end. | Brčko: generally 31 March after a calendar year-end. Other jurisdictions require their own calendar. |
| VAT reporting | Frequency depends on status; EU VAT reporting and NAV invoice reporting may apply. | Generally monthly, by the 14th of the following month; VIES where applicable. | Generally within 15 days after the reporting period; new registrants use monthly periods. | Monthly, generally by the 15th of the following month. | Monthly, by the 10th of the following month, through ITA/UIO. |
| Ongoing operational obligations | Statutory books, payroll where relevant, NAV invoicing, current company/owner details and related-party documentation. | Bookkeeping, payroll/social insurance where relevant, annual publication and relevant ownership filings. | Bookkeeping, payroll where relevant, beneficial-owner maintenance/annual confirmation, SEF and fiscalisation where applicable. | Bookkeeping, payroll where relevant, beneficial-owner reporting, fiscalisation and applicable permits. | Local statutory accounts, director/payroll arrangements, ownership records, fiscalisation and covered foreign-payment withholding. |
| Reliefs worth assessing | 10% KIVA for eligible businesses uses a different base; qualifying R&D/development incentives. | Conditional investment/employment relief; EU VAT schemes have separate eligibility tests. | Qualifying double R&D deduction and 80% IP-income exclusion; not automatic for IT businesses. | 9% first profit band; targeted regional/project incentives subject to eligibility. | Brčko investment/employment programmes depend on current calls, budgets and qualifying local activity. |
Reviewed 16 October 2026. General guidance, not individual legal or tax advice. Corporate tax and dividend tax are separate layers; these rates are not a total effective tax comparison. Treaty relief, recipient status, social charges, foreign tax residence and global minimum-tax rules can change the result.
VAT thresholds are not equivalent tests: cross-border transactions and specific registration triggers can apply below them. Filing dates assume the ordinary reporting cycle and may change for holidays, special regimes or non-calendar years. All five require bank due diligence; incorporation alone does not guarantee banking, residence or work permission.
Sources and detailed qualifications appear in each linked country guide. ¹ NAV: Hungary’s 2026 VAT exemption threshold. NAV: individual taxation in 2026.
02 / YOU DON’T HAVE TO FIGURE IT OUT ALONE
Less red tape.
More real talk.
The official paperwork is unavoidable. A bureaucratic relationship isn’t. We keep things human, explain what matters and help you through each step.
01
JUST A CONVERSATION
Tell us what’s on your mind.
Send us what you do, where you live and what you’re planning. We’ll clarify your priorities and the information needed to assess your options. No finished strategy or legal vocabulary required.
02
YOUR NEEDS. YOUR PLAN.
Get a plan that fits your life.
We work through your business, where you live and what you need next. You get clear options, an agreed scope and costs upfront. No generic package you have to squeeze into.
03
WITH YOU BEYOND SETUP
Open the company. Keep the team.
Registration is a milestone, not our goodbye. From accounting and compliance to addresses, hiring and the next challenge, we coordinate the specialists you need as your business grows.
03 / YOUR TEAM, NOT ANOTHER TASK
You build.
We’ve got
your back.
You didn’t start a business to spend your days translating legal jargon, chasing accountants or wondering who to call next. You need people who understand the whole picture and stay involved. That’s what we’re here for: one coordinated team across Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina, from your first question to the day-to-day reality of running your company.
01
One place. The expertise you need.
Legal and tax-law teams, bookkeeping, virtual and registered addresses, HR and hiring support. We bring the right specialists together around your needs, so you don’t have to coordinate it all yourself.
02
Serious expertise. No stiff suits.
Ask the obvious question. Send the WhatsApp message. Tell us what worries you. We’re informal in conversation, clear in our answers and serious about getting the details right.
03
Still here after registration.
Your first invoice, an accounting question, a new hire or a change of plans: we keep supporting you. We agree the services you need upfront and adapt the support as your business evolves.
THE PEOPLE IN YOUR CORNER
LAWYERS. ACCOUNTANTS. YOUR TEAM.
Decades of expertise.
A genuinely
human approach.
Behind Northbridge is a team of experienced lawyers and accountants with decades of experience in this field. But experience is only part of what we bring. Just as important is how we look after you.
We listen before we recommend. We explain without hiding behind jargon. And we stay involved from A to Z, helping you move from an initial idea to a company you can run with confidence. You’re a person building something, not another file to process.
01 / EXPERIENCED LAWYERS
The legal detail. The bigger picture.
Our lawyers bring decades of experience in company formation and business law. They help you understand your options, prepare the legal groundwork and navigate the requirements that matter to your business.
02 / EXPERIENCED ACCOUNTANTS
Beyond the first set of numbers.
Our accountants bring decades of experience in accounting, tax and reporting. They help connect the initial setup with the practical obligations of running a company, explaining what needs to happen and why.
03 / ONE COORDINATED TEAM
With you from start to finish.
We bring legal and accounting expertise together around your situation. From your first questions through formation and ongoing support, we coordinate the agreed work so you’re not left connecting the dots alone.
Tell us what you’re planning. Let’s start with a conversation, not a stack of paperwork.
Talk to our team04 / BEFORE YOU MAKE YOUR MOVE
On your mind?
Let’s talk about it.
You’re allowed to ask everything.
No jargon, no judgement, no pressure.
I’m not sure where to start. Can I just talk to you?
Absolutely. Tell us on WhatsApp what you do, where you live and what you’re planning. We’ll clarify your priorities, the next steps and the information needed to assess your options. You don’t need a finished strategy or legal vocabulary.
Will you still help me after my company is open?
Yes. We’re not a register-and-disappear service. Our teams cover law, tax law, bookkeeping, virtual and registered addresses, HR and other operational needs. We agree your support package and costs with you, coordinate the relevant specialists and stay involved as your needs change.
How do I know which country is right for me?
We look at what you do, where your customers are, where decisions are made and where you live. Then we compare suitable options in Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia & Herzegovina, with a Brčko District focus in the latter. We explain the trade-offs, not just the headline tax rate.
Do I have to move abroad to open a company?
Not necessarily. Foreign ownership is possible in many cases, but director, local-activity, tax-residency and banking requirements still matter. Tell us where you want to live and how you plan to work, and we’ll help you understand what that means for your setup.
What will it cost, and how long will it take?
Your tailored proposal separates formation work, third-party charges, any required company capital and recurring support. It identifies the services included and exclusions before you commit. Registration and bank onboarding follow different timelines: documents, attendance, additional registrations and the bank’s own checks can affect the schedule. We explain the expected stages after reviewing your case, rather than promising a universal price or deadline.
Can you help me get a business bank account?
Yes, with preparation and guidance: ownership documents, your business profile and the supporting evidence a provider may ask for. We explain any personal-attendance requirements too. Each bank makes its own approval decision, so we won’t promise an account we don’t control.
Will a foreign company automatically lower my tax bill?
Not automatically. Your personal tax residence, where the company is managed, where income is earned and cross-border reporting rules can all affect the outcome. We help coordinate a review with legal and tax specialists so you understand your obligations before choosing a structure.
05 / THE NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
Before you decide.
Get a clearer picture.
Wondering what running a company abroad really looks like? Start with practical guides to the questions you’re probably already asking.
Europe / NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
Hungary vs Bulgaria Company Formation
Compare EU company structures, corporate taxes, documents, banking and the complete first-year budget.
Read the articleEurope / NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
Open a Company in Serbia as a Foreigner
Non-resident ownership, document checklist, the reported 2026 APR fee, registry timing and bank requirements.
Read the articleEurope / NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
Montenegro Company Formation Costs
Separate capital and basic local formalities from professional fees, banking and recurring compliance costs.
Read the article
Europe / NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
Company Formation in Serbia — Step by Step
Compare a DOO with an entrepreneur structure, then explore registration, banking and ongoing operations.
Read the article
Europe / NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
Company Formation in Montenegro (2026 Guide)
The company structures, practical steps and Adriatic lifestyle behind a Montenegrin business base.
Read the article
Europe / NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
Company Formation in Brčko District
A closer look at Bosnia & Herzegovina’s distinct district: formation, local administration and banking.
Read the article
Europe / NORTHBRIDGE JOURNAL
R&D and Innovation Tax Incentives in Serbia
Double deductions, payroll relief, the IP Box and support for founders creating intellectual property.
Read the articleTax rules, requirements and prices can change. Articles provide general information, not current quotations or individual legal or tax advice.
YOU DON’T NEED TO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT.
What’s on
your mind?
Tell us what you do, where you live and what you’re planning. We’ll clarify the next steps and what we need to assess your options. No formal introduction needed.
Let’s talk on WhatsAppNO PRESSURE. NO ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL PITCH.