Romania (RO)
Romania is the largest country in Southeastern Europe — a full Schengen EU member state blessed with the dramatic Carpathian mountains, medieval Saxon towns like Sibiu and Brasov, the legendary Transylvania region, a booming technology sector, and one of the lowest costs of living in the European Union.
Capital: Bucharest
Region: Europe
Language: Romanian
Currency: RON (lei)
Cost of living: Very affordable (index 38)
Emergency: 112
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Business Setup
Start a business or go freelance in Romania.
🧑💻 Freelancer / Self-Employed Guide
Steps to register:
- 1 1. Choose your legal form (most freelancers pick PFA; choose II if you need to hire; SRL if you want liability protection).
- 2 2. Identify the correct CAEN code(s) for your activity — this determines which authorisations you need.
- 3 3. Reserve your name and prepare the file on the ONRC portal (onrc.ro): ID/passport, proof of the registered address (space contract), professional qualification documents if required, and specimen signature.
- 4 4. Submit the registration application at the local ONRC office or online via the ONRC e-portal. You will receive the Certificat de Înregistrare and a CUI (fiscal code) within 3–5 working days.
- 5 5. Register for tax purposes with ANAF in Spațiul Privat Virtual (SPV): submit the Declarația Unică (Form 212) to declare estimated income for the year and CAS/CASS status.
- 6 6. Enrol in the national e-invoicing system e-Factura — mandatory for all B2B since 2024 and for B2C since January 2025. SAF-T reporting (Form D406) may also apply once turnover thresholds are met.
- 7 7. Open a business bank account (recommended, optional for PFA) to keep personal and business finances separate.
- 8 8. Keep simple-entry bookkeeping (contabilitate în partidă simplă) for PFA/II or double-entry for SRL. Most freelancers use software like SmartBill, Oblio or FGO, or an accountant (~200–500 RON/month for a PFA).
- 9 9. File the annual Declarația Unică by May 25 of the following year, pay outstanding income tax, CAS and CASS. Quarterly or monthly VAT returns apply if VAT-registered.
Tax registration
ANAF — register and file online through Spațiul Privat Virtual (SPV) at anaf.ro. The Declarația Unică (Form 212) covers income tax, CAS and CASS in a single return.
VAT threshold
300,000 RON (~60,000 EUR) annual turnover. Below this threshold VAT registration is optional; above it, registration as a VAT payer (plătitor de TVA) is mandatory.
Invoicing
Invoices must include: issuer name and CUI, client name and CUI (or CNP for individuals), sequential invoice number and date, description of goods/services, unit price and total, VAT rate and amount (or a note that the issuer is not VAT-registered), and the currency. Since 2024–2025 all B2B and B2C invoices must be submitted through the e-Factura system in the national SAF-T format.
Social security
PFA owners pay CAS (25%) if annual net income exceeds 12 national minimum wages (minimum base = 12 min wages) and CASS (10%) if income exceeds 6 minimum wages (minimum base = 6 min wages). Below those thresholds, contributions are voluntary. Income tax is a flat 10% on net income. There is no unemployment insurance for the self-employed.
💡 The micro-enterprise (microîntreprindere) regime for SRLs taxes turnover at 1% up to 60,000 EUR and 3% between 60,000–250,000 EUR; above 250,000 EUR the company switches to 16% corporate tax. Since 2026 eligibility rules are stricter (e.g. at least one full-time employee, consultancy/IT revenue capped as a share of turnover). Dividends paid by an SRL to an individual are taxed at 10%.
🏢 Business Structures
PFA · Persoană Fizică Autorizată
Authorised Natural Person / Sole Trader
None
Min. capital
3–5 working days
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited personal liability
Setup cost: approx. 150–300 RON (ONRC fees)
Best for: Freelancers, consultants, IT contractors, translators, architects and other independent professionals.
II · Întreprindere Individuală
Individual Enterprise
None
Min. capital
3–5 working days
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited personal liability
Setup cost: approx. 150–300 RON (ONRC fees)
Best for: Self-employed individuals who want to hire employees while remaining taxed as an individual.
IF · Întreprindere Familială
Family Enterprise
None
Min. capital
3–5 working days
Setup time
Liability: Unlimited joint family liability
Setup cost: approx. 150–300 RON (ONRC fees)
Best for: Family-run activities (farms, small workshops, guesthouses) where relatives work together.
SRL · Societate cu Răspundere Limitată
Limited Liability Company (LLC)
1 RON (reduced from 200 RON in 2020)
Min. capital
3–5 working days
Setup time
Liability: Limited to company assets
Setup cost: 400–700 RON (ONRC + notary + publication)
Best for: The most common legal form for SMEs, startups, and anyone wanting liability protection.
SRL-D · Societate cu Răspundere Limitată – Debutant
Debutant LLC for first-time entrepreneurs
1 RON
Min. capital
3–5 working days
Setup time
Liability: Limited to company assets
Setup cost: 400–700 RON (with incentives and fee exemptions)
Best for: First-time entrepreneurs under 35; access to state grants, fee waivers and guaranteed loans for the first 3 years.
SA · Societate pe Acțiuni
Joint-Stock Company (PLC)
90,000 RON (~18,000 EUR)
Min. capital
3–6 weeks
Setup time
Liability: Limited to company assets
Setup cost: 2,500–5,000+ RON
Best for: Larger companies planning to raise capital, have many shareholders, or list on the Bucharest Stock Exchange.
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