Mistakes when opening a company in Romania: what can cause trouble for Ukrainians
Mistakes when opening a company in Romania often begin even before the documents are filed.
A person thinks:
“The main thing is to register the SRL, and we’ll figure out the rest later.”
But a company in Romania is not just an entry in the register.
It is a business model, CAEN, registered address, bank, accounting, taxes, contracts, e-Factura, expenses, a possible residence permit, real estate and a long-term strategy.
If you open an SRL without a plan, the company can quickly turn into a source of costs and questions.
Mistake No. 1. Opening a company without a goal
The first mistake is opening an SRL “just in case.”
For example:
in case we need an account; in case there is a residence permit; in case we buy real estate; in case we start a business; in case it comes in handy in Europe.
This approach is weak.
The company must answer a specific question:
why is it needed?
If the goal is not defined, it is impossible to choose the right CAEN, bank, tax model, contracts and accounting.
First the goal. Then the structure. Then the registration.
Mistake No. 2. Not describing the business model
Before opening a company, you need to understand what it will do.
It is not enough to say:
“Consulting.” “Real estate.” “Services.” “Online business.” “Trade.”
You need to describe:
who the clients are; what is being sold; which countries the payments will come from; what contracts there will be; what expenses; what turnover is expected; whether employees are needed; whether there will be real estate; whether there will be a residence permit.
Without a business model, the company looks empty.
The bank, the accountant and partners will ask questions the owner is not ready to answer.
Mistake No. 3. Choosing CAEN codes at random
CAEN codes are the company’s activity codes.
Many people choose them on the principle:
“Add as many as possible so everything is covered.”
But an overly broad and unrelated set of codes can show that the company has no clear model.
Even worse is when the CAEN codes do not match the actual activity.
For example, the company provides services, but the codes do not reflect services. Or the company works with real estate, but the codes were chosen as a formality. Or the bank hears one description of the business but sees another in the documents.
CAEN codes must match reality.
Mistake No. 4. Not preparing for the bank
After registering an SRL, owners often assume the bank will open an account automatically.
But the bank wants to understand the company.
It may ask:
who the beneficial owner is; what the company does; where the money will come from; who the clients are; which countries payments involve; what the turnover is; what contracts there are; why the business is in Romania; how the accounting is kept.
If the entrepreneur is not ready to explain the business, opening an account can become difficult.
Bank preparation must happen before registration, not after a refusal or lengthy questioning.
Mistake No. 5. Looking for an accountant after problems arise
Accounting is needed from the first day.
Not after the first fine. Not after the bank’s question. Not after chaos in the invoices. Not after documents urgently need to be filed.
Accounting helps:
draw up contracts; issue invoices; handle e-Factura; calculate taxes; control expenses; prepare reports; link the bank and the documents; maintain the company for a residence permit.
If accounting is brought in late, you often have to fix mistakes already made.
Mistake No. 6. Not understanding e-Factura
e-Factura is part of Romania’s electronic document flow.
An SRL owner should not think it is just “the accountant’s button.”
You need to understand:
which invoices are issued; when they are transmitted; how they relate to the contract; how they relate to payment; how they relate to TVA; how they are passed to the accountant; what errors can occur.
If invoices do not match contracts, payments and activity, a risk arises.
Mistake No. 7. Not calculating taxes
You cannot open a company having heard only one figure.
For example:
“micro is 1%.” “profit tax is 16%.” “TVA, we’ll sort it out later.” “dividends, we’ll take them out later.”
SRL taxes need to be calculated as a system:
turnover; expenses; micro or profit tax regime; TVA; dividends; salaries; employees; bank; contracts; accounting; residence permit.
If the model is not calculated in advance, profit may turn out lower than expected and costs higher.
Mistake No. 8. Mixing company money with personal money
An SRL is a separate structure.
The company’s money is not the owner’s personal money.
You cannot pay for everything from the corporate account and assume “it’s my business, my money.”
You need to separate:
company income; company expenses; personal expenses; salary; dividends; loans; investments; business trips; entertainment expenses.
If the owner mixes personal and corporate, the accounting becomes weak, and the bank and tax logic become risky.
Mistake No. 9. Opening an SRL for a residence permit without any activity
An SRL can be part of a business route to a residence permit.
But the company by itself should not be seen as an automatic status.
If there is no activity, no clients, no bank, no contracts, no income and no accounting, such a company does not look strong.
For a residence permit, registration alone is not what matters.
What matters is the business logic:
what the company does; why it operates in Romania; what income it has; what documents; what link there is to your stay.
An empty SRL does not solve the problem.
Mistake No. 10. Buying real estate through a company without doing the math
Sometimes Ukrainians want to open an SRL for real estate.
This can make sense if there is a business model:
rentals; property management; an investment project; renovation; design; services for tenants.
But you should not buy a property through a company just because “it’s more profitable that way.”
You need to calculate:
taxes; TVA; expenses; documents; bank; rental; management; dividends; the purpose of the property; the link to a residence permit.
Real estate through an SRL requires a separate assessment.
Mistake No. 11. Copying someone else’s structure
One person is in IT. Another has real estate. A third does consulting. A fourth needs a residence permit. A fifth has a family plan. A sixth has a Ukrainian business that needs to be moved into a European structure.
The same scheme does not suit everyone.
Copying someone else’s company can lead to the wrong CAEN codes, taxes, bank, contracts and accounting.
The company must be built around the specific client.
Mistake No. 12. Not thinking 1–3 years ahead
An SRL is not opened for a week.
You need to understand what happens next:
what turnover; which clients; which employees; which bank; which taxes; whether there will be a residence permit; whether there will be real estate; whether there will be family; whether there will be Romanian or Bulgarian citizenship; how the company fits into the European plan.
Without a plan, the company develops chaotically.
How Alliance / Armonie helps
Alliance / Armonie helps Ukrainians open an SRL in Romania not as a random registration but as a working European structure.
In the strategic assessment we review:
the company’s goal; business model; CAEN; address; bank; beneficial owner; contracts; clients; payments; accounting; e-Factura; taxes; TVA; dividends; real estate; residence permit; a 1–3 year plan.
After the assessment it becomes clear whether to open an SRL, how to structure it, which mistakes to eliminate in advance and how to link the company to your European route.
What to send for an initial assessment
For an initial analysis, send us:
where you are now; why you need a company; what business is planned; who the clients are; what services or goods; which countries payments will come from; whether you are interested in a bank account; whether you need a residence permit; whether there is real estate; what expenses are planned; whether you have family; what your main question about the SRL is.
That is enough to start the review.
Conclusion
Opening a company in Romania can be a strong step for a Ukrainian.
But only if the SRL is not opened chaotically.
Mistakes appear when a person starts with registration rather than with an assessment.
The right logic is different:
first the goal; then the business model; then CAEN; then the bank; then accounting; then taxes; then the residence permit, real estate and a long-term plan.
That is how an SRL becomes a tool rather than a problem.
FAQ
What is the main mistake when opening a company in Romania?
Opening an SRL without a goal and a business model.
Can I choose CAEN codes just in case?
It is better to choose CAEN codes that match your actual activity, bank, contracts and accounting.
Is the bank obliged to open an account after the SRL is registered?
No. The bank analyzes the beneficial owner, the activity, clients, payments and documents.
Can I open an SRL for the sake of a residence permit?
An SRL can be part of a business route, but an empty company is not a strong model.
Where should I start?
With a strategic assessment of the company in Romania.