Doing Business in Burgas
The Burgas Economy
In 2023 Burgas municipality had 16,887 non-financial enterprises, with net sales of BGN 20.1 billion and 67,277 people in work. The municipality describes its economy as oriented towards logistics, energy technologies, maritime transport, tourism and agribusiness.6
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Burgas–Nessebar economic centre5
The Institute for Market Economics treats Burgas and the resort town of Nessebar as one economic centre. It produced BGN 7.73 billion of output in 2021, its value added grew by 53% in ten years, and Burgas municipality generated 75% of it.5
Industry, Port and Industrial Parks
Some of the industries around Burgas are unique in Bulgaria: oil refining, chemicals, plastics, shipbuilding and the manufacture of ventilation and air purification equipment. The Lukoil Neftochim refinery is the economic centre’s largest company by revenue, and the automotive cable maker Nursan Automotive and the textile company Yana each employ more than 1,000 people.7,5
The private operator BMF Port Burgas holds the concessions for the Burgas East-2 and Burgas West terminals. It handled 7.3 million tonnes of cargo and 156,000 containers (TEU) in 2025.9,4
In 2026 the municipality completed more than €20 million of roads and utilities for Phase 2 of the Burgas Industrial Park, funded by the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan. Eight investors had paid advances for plots and 20 plots were still available. The region also has the Burgas Free Zone.8,9
IT, Services and Tourism
Services are the largest part of the Burgas economy by number of businesses: 7,642 service companies employed 29,616 people in 2023, and trade and car repair a further 16,913. Tourism employs 15% of the workforce of the economic centre.6,5
An ICT employee in Burgas earned BGN 2,490 a month in 2021, against BGN 1,232 across the economic centre. Local schools are training more programmers: applied programmer was the most awarded vocational qualification in Burgas Province in 2024/25, and programming courses produced more than 585 certificates in six years.5,9
The software companies, coworking spaces and office buildings listed in Burgas are shown further down this page.
Workforce, Salaries and Universities
- 85,000 residents of Burgas municipality were in work in 2021, and more than 6,400 commute into the city every day from the surrounding municipalities.
- Unemployment in Burgas municipality was 2.5% in 2022.
- The average gross salary in Burgas Province was €1,116 a month in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Burgas–Nessebar economic centre; Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Labour market bulletin, fourth quarter of 20255,2
Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov University is the largest state university in south-eastern Bulgaria. Burgas Free University and a branch of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski are also in the city.9
Airport, Port, Roads and Rail
Burgas Airport served 1.8 million passengers in 2025, with 51 airlines flying to 67 destinations. The busiest markets were Poland, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Germany and Israel. The airport closed on 30 October 2025 for a runway rehabilitation worth more than €50 million.3
Burgas is one of the few Bulgarian regions with sea, air, road and rail connections, and its port is one of the country’s main gateways for foreign trade.9
Foreign Investment and Large Employers
Foreign direct investment in Burgas Province reached €2.22 billion at the end of 2023, 6.8% of the national total, and €1.93 billion of it was in Burgas municipality. Companies in the municipality spent BGN 802 million on fixed assets that year.6
| Employer | Activity | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| Lukoil Neftochim Burgas | Oil refining | 1,300 |
| Water Supply and Sewerage Burgas | Water utility | 1,300 |
| Nursan Automotive | Automotive cable systems | 1,000+ |
| Yana | Textiles | 1,000+ |
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Burgas–Nessebar economic centre5
Registering a Company in Burgas
Bulgaria has one national Commercial Register, so a company based in Burgas can be filed online from anywhere with a qualified electronic signature, or on paper at the Registry Agency’s Burgas office. After registration, the company deals with the Burgas office of the National Revenue Agency for tax and VAT, and with Burgas Municipality for local taxes and fees.10,11
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Registry Agency, Commercial Register | 1 Zheni Pateva Sq., 8000 Burgas | 0700 121 07 |
| National Revenue Agency, Burgas office | 5B Tsar Petar St., 8000 Burgas | (056) 878 151 |
| Burgas Municipality | 26 Aleksandrovska St., 8000 Burgas | (056) 840 915 |
| Burgas Chamber of Commerce and Industry | 9 Bulair St., 8000 Burgas | (056) 812 007 |
Source: Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts; Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices; Burgas Municipality: Contacts; Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional chambers10,11,12,13
The full steps, documents, fees and timings are in the guide to registering a company in Bulgaria.
Step by step
How to register a company in Burgas
Register an EOOD or OOD based in Burgas: choose the details, arrange a Burgas address, prepare and notarise the documents, pay in the capital, file with the Commercial Register and register with the Burgas tax office.
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Choose the company details
Choose an EOOD or OOD, select the business activity by NACE code and set the capital. The legal minimum capital is €1.
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Arrange a Burgas address
Provide a registered address in Burgas, supported by a lease, title deed or serviced-office contract.
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Prepare and notarise the documents
Prepare passport copies, the founding act or articles of association, proof of the address and a declaration of beneficial owners. The manager’s consent and specimen signature must be notarised.
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Pay in the capital
Pay the capital into a capital account and obtain the bank’s certificate that it has been paid in.
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File with the Commercial Register
File online with a qualified electronic signature, or on paper at the Registry Agency office at 1 Zheni Pateva Sq., Burgas.
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Register with the Burgas tax office
Register employees, and VAT when required, with the National Revenue Agency office at 5B Tsar Petar St., Burgas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Burgas a good place to set up a business in Bulgaria?
Burgas is Bulgaria’s fourth-largest city, with 189,086 residents, a refinery, a major port, an airport and sea, air, road and rail links. Manufacturing, trade, transport and tourism lead its economy, and the city is developing Phase 2 of its industrial park.
How do I register a company in Burgas?
A Burgas company is registered in the national Commercial Register, online with a qualified electronic signature or on paper at the Registry Agency office at 1 Zheni Pateva Sq. The online state fee is €28.12, and the company number usually follows in 3–7 working days. Tax and VAT matters are then handled by the National Revenue Agency office at 5B Tsar Petar St.
Where can I rent office space in Burgas?
The office buildings, business centres and coworking spaces listed in Burgas are shown on this page with their contact details.
What is the average salary in Burgas?
The average gross monthly salary in Burgas Province was €1,116 in the fourth quarter of 2025. Pay in IT is about twice the local average.
How do I get to Burgas?
Burgas Airport served 1.8 million passengers in 2025, with 51 airlines flying to 67 destinations. The airport closed on 30 October 2025 for a runway rehabilitation worth more than €50 million.
Sources
- NSI via Standart: Population of the largest cities at 31 December 2025
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Labour market bulletin, fourth quarter of 2025
- Fraport Bulgaria: Burgas and Varna airports in 2025
- BMF Port Burgas: Company presentation, 2026
- Institute for Market Economics: Burgas–Nessebar economic centre
- Industrial and Logistics Park Burgas: Business environment
- Burgas Municipality investment portal: Macroeconomic profile
- BTA: Eight investors pay advances for plots in Burgas Industrial Park
- Bulgarian Industrial Association: Burgas regional report, 2025
- Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts
- Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices
- Burgas Municipality: Contacts
- Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional chambers
Figures checked 15 October 2026. Prepared by InvestBulgaria for general information. Figures come from the sources listed; check addresses and opening hours with each office before you visit.
