Setting up an SRL company in Romania for Ukrainians: where to start
For Ukrainians, setting up an SRL company in Romania often seems like a simple technical step.
Choose a name. File the documents. Get a company. Open an account. Start working.
But in reality a company should not be set up “just to have one.”
An SRL in Romania has to have a purpose.
That could be a business in Europe, work with clients, a business bank account, an accounting structure, investments, real estate, a residence permit or a long-term European plan.
If a company is set up without a strategy, it quickly becomes not a tool but an expense: accounting, reporting, a bank, taxes, questions about the activity and no result.
That is why you need to start not with registration but with an assessment.
What an SRL in Romania is
An SRL is a limited liability company.
For a Ukrainian entrepreneur, it is one of the most straightforward formats for working in Romania.
Through an SRL you can carry on business, sign contracts, issue invoices, work with clients, hire employees, buy services, account for expenses and build a European business structure.
But an SRL is not an empty shell.
After registration, obligations arise:
keeping the books; filing reports; working with a bank; drawing up contracts; controlling expenses; following the tax rules; explaining the economic purpose of the activity; keeping track of e-Factura and other obligations, where they apply.
A company has to operate, not just exist in the register.
Where to start setting up an SRL
The right first step is not the company name.
The right first step is understanding why you need a company.
You need to answer:
what business you will run; who your clients are; where the money will come from; what services or goods you sell; whether there will be an office; whether you need employees; whether you need a bank; whether there will be a residence permit; whether there will be real estate; what expenses are planned; what turnover is expected; what the plan is for 1–3 years.
If there are no answers to these questions, registering an SRL may be premature.
The business model before registration
Before setting up a company, you need to understand the business model.
For example:
consulting; IT; marketing; trade; renting out real estate; property management; renovation and design; agency services; online services; work with European clients; structuring a Ukrainian business through Romania.
Each model needs different documents, different CAEN codes, a different banking logic and different accounting.
If the business model has not been defined, the company can be set up, but later it will be hard to explain to the bank, the accountant and the clients what it does.
Choosing CAEN codes
CAEN codes are the codes for a company’s lines of activity in Romania.
They must match the actual activity.
You should not pick CAEN codes at random, add “a few more just in case” or copy them from someone else’s company.
A mistake in the CAEN codes can mean the company is formally open but impractical to operate.
Before registration you need to understand:
the main line of activity; additional lines of activity; what services will be sold; whether there will be real estate; whether there will be management; whether there will be advertising; whether there will be trade; whether special permits are needed.
CAEN is not a formality.
It is the skeleton of the future activity.
Registered address
An address is needed to set up an SRL.
But the address also has to be chosen deliberately.
It is important to understand:
whether it will be an office; whether the address can be used for registration; whether the owner’s consent is needed; whether there are restrictions; whether the activity will be carried on at the address; how the address relates to the bank and the documents; whether it suits the future model.
The address should not be treated as a random line in the documents.
It has to be part of a proper company structure.
A bank for the SRL
After the company is registered, the question of a business bank account often comes up.
The bank looks not only at the company documents.
It looks at the purpose of the business.
The questions may be:
who the owner is; what the activity is; where the money will come from; who the clients are; which countries; what turnover; what contracts; why the company was set up in Romania; how the business model is explained.
If the company was set up without a strategy, the bank may ask difficult questions.
That is why the banking logic has to be prepared in advance.
Accounting from day one
Accounting in Romania is not a matter of “we’ll find an accountant later.”
Accounting is needed from the very start.
It helps to:
run the company properly; file reports; keep taxes under control; document expenses; work with e-Factura; keep the paperwork in order; understand the real profit; prepare the business for a residence permit, the bank or inspections.
If the accounting is weak, the company quickly becomes a problem.
Especially if the company is linked to a residence permit, real estate or international payments.
The company and a residence permit
Many Ukrainians open an SRL with a residence permit in mind.
But it is important to understand:
a company on its own should not be seen as an automatic status.
An SRL can be part of a business route if there is activity, documents, income, a bank, accounting and a link to the purpose of stay.
An empty company does not strengthen your position.
That is why before opening an SRL you need to check separately:
whether the business route is suitable; what the ground for the residence permit is; whether there is income; whether the family needs to be included; what documents to prepare; how the company will operate; what will happen in a year.
The company and real estate
An SRL can be linked to real estate if there is a business logic.
For example:
rentals; property management; renovation; design; an investment project; a service for clients; agency activity.
But you should not set up a company just because a person wants to buy an apartment.
Real estate, an SRL and a residence permit have to be connected into one strategy.
If there is no connection, you end up with a set of separate actions.
The main mistakes Ukrainians make
Mistake #1. Opening an SRL without a purpose.
Mistake #2. Choosing CAEN codes at random.
Mistake #3. Not preparing for the bank in advance.
Mistake #4. Looking for an accountant after problems arise.
Mistake #5. Thinking that a company automatically gives a residence permit.
Mistake #6. Not calculating taxes and expenses.
Mistake #7. Not understanding who the clients are and where the money comes from.
Mistake #8. Not linking the company to the family, the residence permit and real estate.
Mistake #9. Copying someone else’s structure.
Mistake #10. Starting with registration rather than an assessment.
How Alliance / Armonie helps
Alliance / Armonie helps Ukrainians set up an SRL in Romania not chaotically, but as part of a European plan.
At the strategic assessment we go through:
the purpose of the company; the business model; clients; income; CAEN codes; the address; the bank; accounting; taxes; e-Factura; whether a residence permit is needed; whether real estate is needed; whether there is a family; whether there is a case for Romanian or Bulgarian citizenship; an action plan for 1–3 years.
After the assessment it becomes clear whether it is worth opening an SRL now, which CAEN codes to choose, how to prepare for the bank, what the expenses will be and how the company is linked to your route in Europe.
What to send for an initial assessment
For an initial analysis, send:
where you are now; what business you want to run; whether you have clients; whether you have income; what services or goods you sell; whether you need a bank; whether you are interested in a residence permit; whether you have a family; whether you are interested in real estate; whether you have documents on descent; what timeframe matters to you; what your main question about the company is.
This is enough to start the review.
Conclusion
For Ukrainians, setting up an SRL company in Romania can be a strong step.
But only if the company is set up not to tick a box, but for a clear business model.
First the assessment. Then the business logic. Then CAEN. Then the address. Then registration. Then the bank, accounting, taxes and growth.
That way an SRL becomes not an expense or a formality, but a working tool: for business, a residence permit, real estate, the family and a long-term European plan.
FAQ
Can a Ukrainian set up an SRL company in Romania?
Such a route can be considered, but the structure, documents, bank, taxes and purpose need to be checked in advance.
Where should I start setting up an SRL?
With an assessment of the business model, CAEN codes, the bank, accounting, a residence permit and the client’s goals.
Does an SRL company automatically give a residence permit?
No. An SRL can be part of a business route, but it is not an automatic status.
Do I need an accountant from day one?
Yes. Accounting is needed right after registration so that the company is run properly.
Can I set up an SRL for real estate?
Yes, if there is a business logic. Not every real estate purchase requires a company.