Doing Business in Plovdiv
The Plovdiv Economy
The Institute for Market Economics treats Plovdiv and the neighbouring municipalities of Maritsa and Rakovski as one economic centre, the second largest in Bulgaria. It produced BGN 20.1 billion of output in 2021, its value added grew by 113% in ten years, the fastest of the country’s 16 economic centres, and Plovdiv municipality generated 74% of it.3
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Plovdiv–Maritsa–Rakovski economic centre3
The city’s investment agency describes Plovdiv as a nearshoring destination built on manufacturing and services, with a cluster of manufacturers and a growing IT and outsourcing centre.4
Manufacturing and the Trakia Economic Zone
The Trakia Economic Zone combines six industrial zones around the city: Maritsa, Rakovski, Kuklen, Plovdiv Industrial Park, Innovation Park and Agrocenter Kaloyanovo. Ferrero was the first company to invest in the region, in 1996, and more than 180 companies have since built plants there, investing more than €2 billion and creating over 30,000 jobs.6
Manufacturing makes up 37% of the local economy, in electronics, medical technology, aircraft parts and precision machinery. Recent investments include €60 million by Schneider Electric to expand its Smart Factory, €40 million by Intuitive Surgical for a factory making endoscopes for the Da Vinci surgical robot, and €23 million by Sensata Technologies.5
IT, Outsourcing and Services
More than 7,000 people work in IT and business process outsourcing in Plovdiv. At the last count by the DEV.BG job board, 169 IT companies had an office in the city, and 68 of them were based only in Plovdiv.4,7
An ICT employee in Plovdiv municipality earned BGN 3,262 a month in 2021, against BGN 1,306 across the economic centre. Plovdiv University has a large Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics, and the Technical University of Sofia has a branch in the city.3,7
The software companies, coworking spaces and office buildings listed in Plovdiv are shown further down this page.
Workforce, Salaries and Universities
- 144,000 people were in work in Plovdiv municipality in 2021, and more than 25,000 commute into the city every day from the surrounding municipalities.
- Unemployment in Plovdiv municipality was 2.5% in 2022, and the city gained people from migration at a rate of 12.2 per 1,000 residents.
- Plovdiv Province has 34,317 machine operators, 26,734 skilled industrial workers and 18,035 technicians.
- The average gross salary in Plovdiv Province was €1,172 a month in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Plovdiv–Maritsa–Rakovski economic centre; Trakia Economic Zone: Plovdiv as an investment destination; Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Labour market bulletin, fourth quarter of 20253,6,2
Plovdiv has eight universities with 35,300 students, in fields that include IT, engineering, languages, business, finance, accounting and law. Dual-education programmes in local schools train 1,500 students in 64 classes.4
Airport, Roads and Rail
Plovdiv Airport, about 30 minutes from the city centre, served 200,231 passengers in 2025, 22.6% more than a year earlier.8,7
Three Pan-European transport corridors meet in Plovdiv: Corridor IV from Dresden to Istanbul, Corridor VIII from Durrës to Burgas and Corridor X from Salzburg to Istanbul.6
Foreign Investment and Large Employers
Foreign direct investment in the Plovdiv economic centre reached €1.89 billion by the end of 2021, 75% of it in Plovdiv itself. By sector, 67% went into industry, 14% into real estate and 9.8% into trade, transport and tourism. The tobacco and consumer goods distributor Tabaco Trade was the centre’s largest company by revenue, with BGN 930 million.3
| Employer | Activity | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| St. George University Hospital | Healthcare | 2,700 |
| Liebherr-Hausgeräte Maritsa | Household appliances | 2,000+ |
| KCM | Non-ferrous metals | 1,500 |
| PIMC | Transport | 1,500 |
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Plovdiv–Maritsa–Rakovski economic centre3
Registering a Company in Plovdiv
Bulgaria has one national Commercial Register, so a company based in Plovdiv can be filed online from anywhere with a qualified electronic signature, or on paper at the Registry Agency’s Plovdiv office. After registration, the company deals with the Plovdiv office of the National Revenue Agency for tax and VAT, and with Plovdiv Municipality for local taxes and fees.9,10
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Registry Agency, Commercial Register | 152 Shesti Septemvri Blvd., 4000 Plovdiv | 0700 121 07 |
| National Revenue Agency, Plovdiv office | 106 Skopie St., 4004 Plovdiv | (032) 935 719 |
| Plovdiv Municipality | 1 Stefan Stambolov Sq., 4000 Plovdiv | |
| Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Plovdiv office | 7 Samara St., 4003 Plovdiv | (032) 207 248 |
Source: Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts; Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices; Plovdiv Municipality: Contacts; Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional chambers9,10,11,12
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 Plovdiv
Register an EOOD or OOD based in Plovdiv: choose the details, arrange a Plovdiv address, prepare and notarise the documents, pay in the capital, file with the Commercial Register and register with the Plovdiv 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 Plovdiv address
Provide a registered address in Plovdiv, 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 152 Shesti Septemvri Blvd., Plovdiv.
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Register with the Plovdiv tax office
Register employees, and VAT when required, with the National Revenue Agency office at 106 Skopie St., Plovdiv.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Plovdiv a good place to set up a business in Bulgaria?
Plovdiv is Bulgaria’s second-largest city, with 333,994 residents. More than 180 companies have built plants in the Trakia Economic Zone, investing over €2 billion, and more than 7,000 people work in IT and outsourcing. The city has eight universities with 35,300 students.
How do I register a company in Plovdiv?
A Plovdiv company is registered in the national Commercial Register, online with a qualified electronic signature or on paper at the Registry Agency office at 152 Shesti Septemvri Blvd. 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 106 Skopie St.
What is the Trakia Economic Zone?
The Trakia Economic Zone is a group of six industrial zones around Plovdiv: Maritsa, Rakovski, Kuklen, Plovdiv Industrial Park, Innovation Park and Agrocenter Kaloyanovo. Investors in and around Plovdiv include Liebherr, Schneider Electric, Sensata Technologies and Ferrero.
What is the average salary in Plovdiv?
The average gross monthly salary in Plovdiv Province was €1,172 in the fourth quarter of 2025. Pay in IT is well above the local average.
How do I get to Plovdiv?
Plovdiv Airport served 200,231 passengers in 2025 and is about 30 minutes from the city centre. Three Pan-European transport corridors, IV, VIII and X, meet in the city.
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
- Institute for Market Economics: Plovdiv–Maritsa–Rakovski economic centre
- Invest Plovdiv: Why Plovdiv
- Invest Plovdiv: Manufacturing
- Trakia Economic Zone: Plovdiv as an investment destination
- DEV.BG: IT companies with offices in Plovdiv
- Wikipedia: Passenger statistics of Bulgarian airports
- Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts
- Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices
- Plovdiv 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.
