Doing Business in Sofia
The Sofia Economy
Sofia generated 43% of Bulgaria’s gross domestic product in 2023, and its GDP per person was BGN 61,833, more than twice the national average of BGN 28,733. 130,486 non-financial enterprises operated in the city, 336 of them with more than 250 employees, and six of Bulgaria’s ten largest companies by revenue have their headquarters there.4
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Sofia–Pernik–Botevgrad economic centre5
The Institute for Market Economics treats Sofia, Pernik and Botevgrad as one economic centre. It produced BGN 89.7 billion of output in 2021, about half of the output of Bulgaria’s 16 economic centres, and Sofia municipality generated 92.5% of its value added.5
Industry, Finance and Research
Services and trade account for 82% of businesses in Sofia, industry for 8% and construction for 6%. The city concentrates 75% of Bulgaria’s ferrous metallurgy, 50% of its printing industry and 15% of its electrical and electronics industry.4
The Bulgarian Stock Exchange and the Sofia Commodity Exchange are based in the city. Research and development spending was BGN 878 per person, while no other Bulgarian region exceeded BGN 100, and all five of the country’s supercomputers are in Sofia.4
IT, Outsourcing and Services
Information and communication technology produced 24% of the value added in the Sofia economic centre and employed 13% of its workforce. Pay in the sector is far above the local average: an ICT employee in Sofia municipality earned BGN 4,101 a month in 2021, against BGN 2,144 for all sectors.5
Sofia Municipality names IT and outsourcing, alongside industry, utilities and real estate, among the sectors that attract foreign investors to the city. Professional activities, which include the outsourcing of business services, produce a further 9% of the value added.6,5
The software companies, coworking spaces and office buildings listed in Sofia are shown further down this page.
Workforce, Salaries and Universities
- 629,000 people were in work in Sofia municipality in 2021, and a further 42,200 commute into the capital every day from the surrounding municipalities.
- Unemployment in Sofia was 2.7%, against 5.3% nationally.
- 54.1% of residents aged 25–64 have a university degree, against 33.8% nationally.
- The average gross salary in Sofia was €1,859 a month in the fourth quarter of 2025, the highest in Bulgaria.
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Sofia–Pernik–Botevgrad economic centre; Bulgarian Industrial Association: Sofia regional profile; Ministry of Labour and Social Policy: Labour market bulletin, fourth quarter of 20255,4,2
22 of Bulgaria’s 52 accredited universities are in Sofia, and vocational education in the city is most closely aligned with transport and ICT. The universities with their own pages on this site are shown further down.4
Rents, transport fares and everyday prices are on Cost of Living in Sofia.
Airport, Roads and Metro
Sofia Airport served a record 8,413,762 passengers in 2025.3
Three of the ten Pan-European transport corridors cross Sofia. Four motorways start from the city, Trakia, Hemus, Struma and Europe, and transit traffic uses the Sofia Ring Road.4
Foreign Investment and Large Employers
Foreign direct investment in Sofia was €13,400 per person, against €5,100 nationwide. By the end of 2021 the Sofia economic centre had attracted €16 billion of foreign investment, €14.7 billion of it in Sofia municipality, where trade, transport and tourism took the largest share, €4.5 billion.4,5
| Employer | Activity | Employees |
|---|---|---|
| National Railway Infrastructure Company | Railway infrastructure | 11,000 |
| Bulgarian Posts | Postal services | 8,300 |
| Kaufland Bulgaria | Retail | 5,800 |
| BDZ Passenger Services | Rail transport | 5,300 |
Source: Institute for Market Economics: Sofia–Pernik–Botevgrad economic centre5
These companies are based in Sofia, but a large part of their staff work in other parts of the country.
Registering a Company in Sofia
Bulgaria has one national Commercial Register, so a company based in Sofia can be filed online with a qualified electronic signature, or on paper at the Registry Agency in Sofia. After registration, the company deals with the National Revenue Agency for tax and VAT, and with Sofia Municipality for local taxes and fees.7,8
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Registry Agency, Commercial Register | 20 Elisaveta Bagryana St., 1111 Sofia | 0700 121 07 |
| National Revenue Agency, Sofia office | 52 Dondukov Blvd., 1000 Sofia | 0700 18 700 |
| Sofia Municipality | 33 Moskovska St., 1000 Sofia | 0700 17 310 |
| Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry | 9 Iskar St., 1058 Sofia | (02) 8117 400 |
Source: Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts; Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices; Sofia Municipality: Contacts; Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry: Regional chambers7,8,9,10
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 Sofia
Register an EOOD or OOD based in Sofia: choose the details, arrange a Sofia address, prepare and notarise the documents, pay in the capital, file with the Commercial Register and register with the Sofia 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 Sofia address
Provide a registered address in Sofia, 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 20 Elisaveta Bagryana St., Sofia.
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Register with the Sofia tax office
Register employees, and VAT when required, with the National Revenue Agency office at 52 Dondukov Blvd., Sofia.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sofia a good place to set up a business in Bulgaria?
Sofia is Bulgaria’s capital and largest economy, with 1,213,134 residents and 43% of the country’s GDP. Trade, IT, outsourcing and professional services lead its economy, foreign investment per person is more than twice the national level, and 54.1% of working-age residents have a university degree.
How do I register a company in Sofia?
A Sofia company is registered in the national Commercial Register, online with a qualified electronic signature or on paper at the Registry Agency at 20 Elisaveta Bagryana St. 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.
Where can I rent office space in Sofia?
Sofia has business parks, office towers, serviced offices and coworking spaces. The office buildings and coworking spaces listed in the city are shown on this page with their contact details.
What is the average salary in Sofia?
The average gross monthly salary in Sofia was €1,859 in the fourth quarter of 2025, the highest in Bulgaria. Pay in IT is about twice the local average.
How do I get to Sofia?
Sofia Airport served a record 8,413,762 passengers in 2025. Four motorways start from the city, Trakia, Hemus, Struma and Europe, and three Pan-European transport corridors cross it.
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
- Bgtourism: Sofia Airport served 8,413,762 passengers in 2025
- Bulgarian Industrial Association: Sofia regional profile
- Institute for Market Economics: Sofia–Pernik–Botevgrad economic centre
- Sofia Municipality: Sofia remains the largest regional economy
- Registry Agency: Commercial Register contacts
- Council of Ministers IISDA: National Revenue Agency offices
- Sofia 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.
