Buy a Shelf Company in Slovakia - Ready-Made Companies

A shelf or ready-made company is a business which was established one or several years ago with the purpose of being sold.

Entrepreneurs interested in doing business in this country can choose to acquire a shelf company in Slovakia, which is the ideal solution when they do not have the time to effectuate the necessary registration procedures connected with opening a new organization.

When buying a shelf company in Slovakia, investors can save time because this type of entity is already formed and waiting to be bought. Shelf companies in Slovakia are becoming more and more popular because of this reason.

Our law firm in Slovakia can help foreign investors who want to purchase ready-made companies. We can also help those interested in starting a new Slovak business from scratch.

Characteristics of shelf companies in Slovakia

Shelf companies can take various forms in Slovakia, however, the most employed one is the limited liability company which respects the requirements imposed by the Company Law. This means that the company will have a Certificate of Registration, tax identification, and VAT number, and all financial accounts up to date.

Quick Facts
Legal entities available for shelf companies	Slovak private and public limited liability companies.
Time required for purchasing the company	A few days.
Types of features it includes	– trading name, – Constitutive documents, – legal address, – bank account number, – tax identification code.
The advantages of a shelf company	– access to various types of entities, – easy to customize, – possibility to start operations right away, – no debts or liabilities.
Appointing new directors (YES/NO)	Yes.
Capital increase allowed (YES/NO)	Yes, the company’s share capital can be altered.
Certificate of no commercial activities (YES/NO)	No.
Participants in the purchase procedure	The seller and the buyer or his/her representative.
Cost of buying a shelf company	The cost of buying a shelf company in Slovakia depends on the type of company and its age.
Documents necessary for the purchase	– sale-purchase agreement, – identification papers of the buyer.
Taxes applied to a shelf company	A Slovak shelf company will pay the corporate tax at rates of 10%, 21% or 24%, depending on its annual taxable revenues.
Changing the registered address (YES/NO)	Yes, it is possible to change a ready-made company’s registered address.
Aged shelf company available (YES/NO)	Yes, old companies can also be purchased in Slovakia.
The institution where corporate changes are registered	Commercial Register (kept by the registry courts).
Support in acquiring a shelf company in Slovakia (YES/NO)	Yes, you can rely on us for assistance or representation in acquiring a shelf company in Slovakia.

It is possible for both local and foreign entrepreneurs to purchase shelf companies in Slovakia without additional requirements usually requested when setting up a new company. In fact, this is the greatest advantage of a shelf company: the time spent with the registration of the company no longer exists. This means the company is registered with the Trade Register and the tax authorities in the country are ready to complete commercial activities.

How to buy a ready-made company in Slovakia

Buying a shelf company in Slovakia implies choosing the right entity and signing a sale-purchase agreement with the seller. Foreign investors are advised to pay attention when buying such companies, which is why a due diligence procedure is recommended.

Our Slovak lawyers can help foreign entrepreneurs interested in buying a ready-made company with complete due diligence procedures. These will imply a thorough verification of the ready-made company with the Companies Register. Even if businessmen will be tempted to purchase such companies without verifying it, we strongly advise them to complete this process in order to enter the Slovak market in complete safety.

Once the verification is completed, the seller and the buyer can agree on the terms of the transaction and sign the sale-purchase agreement. This will imply that the shares of the company are to be passed to the new company owner. For this purpose, the company’s Articles of Association must be amended, and the modification must be announced to the Trade Register.

Other modifications can be brought to the purchased company. Among these are:

the company address can be altered, and it must also be recorded with the Trade Register;
the new owner can also change the management structure and appoint new company directors;
the share capital of the company can also be altered, and the modification must appear in the Articles of Association;
it is also possible to change the company name if the owner wants to.

Our law firm in Slovakia can help foreign investors interested in acquiring ready-made companies with tailored services which can include the verification and the changes that need to be brought to the business. Our lawyers can also give you details about the taxes in Slovakia and also help you comply with the fiscal system in this country.

Obtaining a trade license for a ready-made company

An important aspect to consider when purchasing a Slovak shelf company is related to applying for the necessary business licenses. This is because even if it was previously registered, the company is left without a business license in order for the buyer to apply for the licenses and permits that allow them to operate in the industry they want.

There are also cases in which shelf companies are registered for specific purposes, however, these are more expensive.

We can also advise on how to obtain the necessary business licenses for your Slovak shelf company.

Here is also an infographic on this topic:

What does a shelf company in Slovakia involve?

When acquiring a shelf company in Slovakia, entrepreneurs can start doing business on the same date when the company share transfer agreement is concluded, as opposed to waiting around two to three months needed to open a new company and registering it for VAT in the country.

Our lawyers in Slovakia will take care of all the details to make sure that any investor interested in acquiring a shelf company here can start doing business as soon as possible. These services include:

Documentation preparation: we will prepare all the necessary documentation needed for the purchase of a shelf company in Slovakia;
Company address;
Tax advice and planning.

Purchasing a shelf company in Slovakia vs. in Hungary

Businessmen who would like to buy a ready made company in a European country, are invited to read this short comparison presented below.
Buying a Slovakian shelf company

Time required for purchasing the company: a few days;
Legal entities available for shelf company: Slovak private and public limited liability companies;

Standard corporate tax rate: 10%, 21% or 24% (depending on its annual taxable revenues).

Buying a Hungarian shelf company

Time required for purchasing the company: 8-15 days;
Legal entities available for shelf company: limited liability company;

Standard corporate tax rate: 9%.
In case you are considering setting up a business in Hungary and buying a shelf company for this purpose, our partners from CompanyIncorporationHungary.com are experts in incorporation matters and can assist you.

Other benefits of shelf companies in Slovakia

When buying a shelf company in Slovakia, entrepreneurs can benefit from other advantages, like:

there is no need to deposit EUR 5,000 into a bank account as this registered capital was already acquitted;
there is the possibility of acquiring a ready-made company in Slovakia without any liabilities or debts;
the cost of all formality arrangements is included in the shelf company purchase price;
the trading name, the company address and other business addresses can be changed without any supplementary charges;
the company in question already has an identification number and a tax identification number;
the shelf company was already issued with a VAT registration number;
the domain of the business can be expanded (up to 20 trades). Our Slovak lawyers can offer more details on this matter.

Here is also a video on this subject:

FAQ on ready-made companies in Slovakia

The purchase of a shelf company can raise a lot of questions, which is why our attorneys in Slovakia have answered some of the most frequently asked questions about this type of company.

1. Is it safe to buy a shelf company in Slovakia?

Yes, it is perfectly safe to buy such companies, as they can be easily verified with the Companies Register which will offer all the information about the chosen company.

2. Can I enter any type of activity through a Slovak shelf company?

Yes, you can, as long as you apply for the specific licenses for the industry you plan on working in.

3. Can I hire personnel if I have purchased a ready-made company?

There are no restrictions related to hiring as many employees as you want, including foreign workers.

4. Can I access loans through a shelf company?

Yes, shelf companies can help business people interested in making large investments for which loans are required.

5. How much does a Slovak shelf company cost?

The cost of a shelf company depends on several aspects, among which age is one of the most important.

If you are interested in Slovak shelf company formation, please contact our solicitors in Slovakia. You can also rely on us if you are interested in acquiring a ready-made company in Slovakia.