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04 Jan. 2025

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Individual entrepreneur, LLC or E-residency: what should a foreigner choose to start a business in Ukraine?

BusinessUA
Finance
For foreigners in UA
Ukraine
Individual entrepreneur, LLC or E-residency: what should a foreigner choose to start a business in Ukraine?

Ukraine is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for foreign entrepreneurs, offering various forms of doing business and favourable conditions for development. Find out more about the peculiarities of registering a sole proprietorship, LLC and obtaining e-residency for foreigners in Ukraine

Legal advice on doing business in Ukraine
Legal advice on doing business in Ukraine
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In the context of digital transformation, Ukraine is becoming an increasingly attractive place for foreign entrepreneurs to start a business. Competitive tax rates and a developed IT infrastructure attract businessmen from all over the world. The IT sector is developing particularly rapidly, attracting specialists from different countries.


Today, foreigners have several options for starting a business in Ukraine. Read more about them below.


Sole proprietorship for foreigners in Ukraine


Registering a sole proprietorship remains a popular choice among foreigners, especially for those who already have a residence permit in Ukraine. This form of business is attractive due to its simplified reporting system and the absence of requirements for a legal address. A sole proprietorship often becomes the best solution due to a lower tax burden and simplified document flow.


Read more about obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine through a sole proprietorship here.


Main advantages of a soleproprietorship


- Simplified procedure for registering and running a business.

- Minimal administrative costs.

- Simple accounting and reporting system.

- Possibility to work on a single tax basis.

- No requirements for the authorised capital.

- Possibility of registration at the place of residence.

- Independent financial management without the need to open a corporate account.

- Ability to hire employees within the established limits.


Restrictions and peculiarities of sole proprietorships for foreigners require careful consideration before making a decision. First of all, a foreign citizen must first obtain a residence permit or other permit document to register a sole proprietorship. There are also significant restrictions on the types of activities and the number of employees that can be hired. Unlike LLCs, sole proprietorships cannot be sold or transferred to another person, which limits the possibility of exiting the business. An additional challenge may be working with large companies and international partners, who often prefer to work with legal entities.


Read about the increase in taxes for sole proprietorships in Ukraine here .


LLC for foreigners in Ukraine


An LLC opens up broader prospects for business development in Ukraine. This form of organisation is especially attractive for foreigners who plan to cooperate with large companies and attract investments. The key advantage of an LLC is that the liability of its shareholders is limited to the amount of their contributions to the charter capital, which may be minimal in Ukraine.


The main advantages of an LLC are:


- The ability to attract investments and partners.

- High trust from counterparties and banks.

- No restrictions on the types of activities.

- Possibility of unlimited business scaling.

- Flexible management structure.

- Possibility to sell the business or shares in it.

- The right to obtain a residence permit after obtaining a work permit.


Setting up and running an LLC has its own peculiarities that should be taken into account when planning a business. First of all, the company needs a legal address for registration. Compared to a sole proprietorship, an LLC requires a more complex accounting and reporting system, which can increase administrative costs. Attention should also be paid to the proper maintenance of constituent documents and compliance with corporate procedures. The formation of a share capital, although it may be minimal, is a mandatory requirement. In general, the administrative costs of maintaining an LLC will be higher compared to operating as a sole proprietorship.


We tell you how to choose or change the KVEDs for an LLC here.




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E-residency for foreigners in Ukraine


An innovative solution for foreign entrepreneurs is the E-Residency programme, which allows them to do business in Ukraine remotely. After obtaining the e-residency status, a foreigner can register a sole proprietorship, open a bank account and manage their business online without physically visiting Ukraine.


Key features of e-residency:


- Remote business registration without a physical presence in Ukraine.

- Access to electronic government services.

- Simplified taxation system.

- Automation of accounting and reporting.

- Remote opening and management of bank accounts.

- Opportunity to work with Ukrainian partners online.

- Access to the Ukrainian business ecosystem.


E-residency opens up opportunities for a wide range of professionals and entrepreneurs. This status is especially attractive for freelancers and independent consultants working with international clients. The programme is also aimed at IT specialists and software developers who want to do business in a digital format. Representatives of the creative industries, including marketers and web designers, can effectively use the benefits of E-Residency to develop their business. In addition, this opportunity is available to sales and communications professionals, as well as translators and educators who wish to work with the Ukrainian market remotely.


However, the programme has certain limitations that should be taken into account when planning your business. First of all, this status is not available to citizens of aggressor countries and representatives of high-risk jurisdictions. Also, citizens of Ukraine and persons who already have the right to permanent residence in the country cannot obtain e-residency. It is important to note that the activities of an e-resident must comply with certain business areas, and not all types of business can be implemented under this programme.


For more information on the conditions of e-residency in Ukraine, as well as how to obtain this status quickly and easily, please follow the link.



Professional lawyers of Visit Ukraine offer comprehensive support for foreign entrepreneurs at every stage of starting a business in Ukraine. Our experts will help you choose the best form of ownership, taking into account the specifics of your business and development plans.


The services of Visit Ukraine specialists include:


- Consultations on choosing the form of ownership.

- Preparation of a full package of documents for registration.

- Support during registration procedures.

- Assistance in obtaining permits.

- Consultations on tax issues.

- Assistance in obtaining E-residency.


Our specialists provide an individual approach to each client and guarantee professional support at all stages of starting a business in Ukraine. We make the process of entering the Ukrainian market simple and straightforward, helping to avoid common mistakes and optimise time and resources.


For more information and advice, please contact our experts, who will help you choose the most suitable option for your business and provide full support in the process of its implementation.


Just to remind you! Obtaining a residence permit in Ukraine on the basis of starting a business is possible if you complete all the stages, from obtaining a tax number to registering a company and preparing the necessary documents. For more information on how to obtain a residence permit in Ukraine by starting a business, please follow the link.


Photo: Freepik


Want to know more? Read the latest news and useful materials about Ukraine and the world in the News section.




We recommend purchasing it for a safe and comfortable trip to Ukraine: 


Visit Ukraine Insurance – insurance covering military risks for entry and travel in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Car Insurance – car insurance with extended coverage in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Legal Advice – comprehensive legal support on entry to Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tickets – bus and train tickets to/from Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Tours – the largest online database of tours to Ukraine for every taste;

Visit Ukraine Hotels – hotels for a comfortable stay in Ukraine;

Visit Ukraine Merch – patriotic clothing and accessories with worldwide delivery.




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gestellte Fragen

Einzelunternehmen + Aufenthaltsgenehmigung: Ist es möglich, eine Aufenthaltsgenehmigung in der Ukraine auf der Grundlage der Gründung eines Einzelunternehmens zu erhalten?

Nein, derzeit berechtigt die Eintragung als Einzelunternehmer (SP) nicht dazu, eine Arbeitserlaubnis für sich selbst und damit eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis zu erhalten. Es ist jedoch möglich, eine Aufenthaltserlaubnis auf der Grundlage der Führung eines Unternehmens zu erhalten, allerdings auf eine andere Art und Weise. Lesen Sie auf dem Portal Visit Ukraine mehr darüber, wie Sie einen langfristigen Aufenthalt in der Ukraine durch Geschäfte und Investitionen legalisieren können.

Was braucht ein Ausländer, um ein Einzelunternehmen in der Ukraine zu registrieren?

Welche Dokumente sind für die Erteilung einer Aufenthaltsgenehmigung in der Ukraine erforderlich?

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