Turkey is a country that offers great advantages for investors who want to open a company there. A gateway between Europe, the Middle East, and Central Asia, Turkey has a good economy, a liberalized investment climate and good
taxation regime.
We are a
company registration agent in Turkey, serving clients from any part of the world looking to expand to the important Turkish market. Our team consists of Turkish consultants and accountants) who will work together to will help you
set up a company in Turkey.
Since 2011, our firm - CS Yonetim ve Destek Hizmetleri - has expanded its activity in order to better respond to clients' requests. Its areas of expertise include company registration, accounting and tax advisory services oriented towards foreign clients looking to set up operations in Turkey.
We provide company incorporation services in all of the major cities in Turkey, as you can see below. You can find more information about the company incorporation procedure in the major Turkish cities by placing the mouse over the map and clicking on the city you are interested in.
Reasons to invest in Turkey
Turkey has a dynamic economy that attracts numerous foreign investors. It also has a promising economic growth and the country is expected to have one of the fastest growing economies among the OECD members. Moreover, Turkey encourages foreign direct investments and has a dynamic private sector.
Good infrastructure and a qualified and
competitive workforce are two other key reasons why investors look towards Turkey to base their business. The country also has a favorable tax regime and the government offers incentives and tax benefits to those who open companies in certain
free zones. Incentives are also applicable to research and development activities, strategic investments or large-scale investments.
Types of companies in Turkey
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- the joint-stock company, which is usually used by investors interested in setting up large operations in Turkey;
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- the limited liability company, which can be private or public, however, the private type is usually employed by foreign enterprisers;
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- the commandite company is a non-corporate business form and is the equivalent of the limited partnership in other countries;
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- the collective company is also a non-corporate type of structure and can be registered by natural persons only;
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- the cooperative company is one of the oldest and also one of the most popular types of companies in Turkey.
The
limited liability company is the most popular form of business. At least one shareholder is required to form this type of company and a minimum share capital of 10,000 TRY will also have to be deposited during the initial phase of the incorporation process. The liability of the shareholders is limited to the amount of share capital invested in the company.
The
joint stock company has a larger minimum share capital than the limited liability one - 50,000 TRY. This type of company has different rules regarding the company management process: it must have at least one shareholder and a mandatory board of directors. The liability of the members is limited to the amount of invested capital and the capital is divided into stocks which can be made public when the company is listed on the Stock Market. This type of company is more suitable for large businesses.
Other business options for investors include
branches or
subsidiaries in Turkey. Our
company formation agents in Turkey can give you detailed information about each type of company.
The following types of entities can be created in Turkey, regardless any minimum share capital requirements:
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the sole proprietorship, which is the simplest business form and, as such, requires no minimum share capital;
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the private limited liability company which preferred by most foreign investors and requires a minimum share capital of 10,000 Turkish liras (TL);
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the joint stock company which is usually employed for completing large projects, therefore will require a higher share capital amounting to 50,000 TL;
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the commandite company which is similar to a partnership in European countries and which requires no minimum amount of money as a share capital;
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the collective company which must be set up by natural persons who are not required to deposit a specific share capital.
It should be noted that the share capital must be provided by the future owners of the company. These are called shareholders or stockholders.
In the case of individuals, two copies of their passports or IDs must be filed upon registration. In the case of legal entities, the following documents are required for company formation in Turkey:
The company incorporation procedure in Turkey
The
company incorporation process in Turkey is straightforward and one of the shortest in Europe. The investor can begin running the new business in approximately one week if all the documents are in order.
The first step is drafting the articles of association signed by the company directors. These documents will also need to be notarized in Turkey. The minimum share capital can then be deposited in a bank account opened for the company. After the capital is deposited (0.04% of the required minimum capital) and the investors have the necessary receipt, they can begin the registration process. A registration fee is payable to the Commercial Registry Office, together with the necessary documents.
The
Turkish Commercial Registry issues a registration certificate and the incorporation of the company is published in the Turkish Gazette. The company must also register for VAT purposes with the relevant
State Tax Authority.
Tax registration for companies in Turkey
As mentioned above,
tax registration is one of the
company registration steps in Turkey. This step is very important because it will allow the company to account for all its commercial transactions. The following documents are required for
tax registration as a company in Turkey:
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- the company’s Articles of Association in original;
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- the request form issued by the local tax office in Turkey;
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- the document indicating the company’s local address;
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- a power of attorney, if the process is concluded by a third party, such as our agents.
We can help with the whole
company formation procedure in Turkey. This process can include the registration of the company with the Trade Register, the
opening of the bank account and the tax registration procedure.
Applying for business licenses in Turkey
The
business licensing phase must be completed if the
Turkish company will undertake certain activities. In this case, specific business licenses and permits must be obtained with the authorities representing the industry the company will operate in.
Among the industries in which special licenses and permits are necessary are trading, the financial industry, and
manufacturing. These are also some of the most developed economic sectors in Turkey.
We kindly invite you to get in touch with our company registration consultants in Turkey for personalized advice on how to start a business.
Company formation costs in Turkey
Apart from the startup costs, the following costs related to the registration of a Turkish company must be considered:
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The virtual office fee is 100 EUR per month;
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The company formation fee requested by our local agents in Turkey starts at approximately 2.950 EUR for individual shareholders;
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The accounting services and tax consultancy services offered by our accountants in Turkey start at around 350 EUR per month, depending on the requirements of the client;
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The bank account opening assistance services offered by our local agent is 750 EUR per accounts in each bank.
Rules and regulations for companies in Turkey
The Commercial Code introduces provisions regarding good management practices and requirements for an internal and independent audit. A company must base its economic and business activities on transparency, fairness, accountability, and responsibility. The Code contains guidelines regarding:
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- the mandatory
financial statements a Turkish company must prepare and file with the tax authorities;
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- the organizational structure of the company which comprises the shareholders and the company directors and managers;
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- the annual audit process – Turkish companies must have their financial accounts audited;
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- the company’s shareholders, also known as stockholders, are the owners of the company;
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- the structural changes within the company must be reported to the Trade Register in Turkey;
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- the division/split-up of a company must also be reported to the Companies Register;
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- the Company Law also provides for the liquidation of companies in Turkey.
These provisions, together with the Articles of Incorporation belonging to a
company incorporated in Turkey are the basis for corporate governance in the country.
Obtain information about the Turkish companies
Any foreign entrepreneur who wants to obtain information about a company registered in Turkey may request it from the local Trade Register. This entity has a database containing various information about all the companies incorporated in Turkey. The access to this database is free for the public and the details about Turkish companies can be obtained by filing a request.
The employees from the Turkish Trade Register are allowed to offer information about a company’s name, its official address, details about the shareholders, the share capital etc. The request can be send by e-mail, mail or the person who wants to find out details about a company can go in person to the local Trade Register.
Other attributes of the Turkish Trade Register
At the local Trade Register, you can go in order to incorporate a company in Turkey, after you have prepared the requested documents. If you don’t have time or you don’t want to go in person to Turkey, you may give the power of attorney to one of our Turkish lawyers who will handle the entire registration procedure.
After you send all the documents required to our law firm in Turkey, our representatives will go to the local Trade Register to submit them in order to obtain the registration of the new company.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the types of companies that can be incorporated in Turkey?
The joint stock company, the
limited liability company, the collective and commandite companies, the cooperative or the branch are all options for a legal entity in Turkey.
2. Can a foreigner open a company in Turkey?
Yes. Foreigners have equal rights to open companies, just as nationals. Turkey welcomes
foreign investments in various business fields.
3. How fast can you start a new business in Turkey?
A business can be incorporated in one week if all the documents are in order.
4. Does the company need to have an office in Turkey?
5. What are the steps for company incorporation in Turkey?
The business owner must draw up and submit the Articles of Association, notarize the company documents, deposit the minimum share capital and apply for registration at the Trade Registry Office.
6. What is the minimum share capital in Turkey?
The
minimum share capital depends on the type of company. This amount is larger for joint stock companies than for limited liability companies: 50,000 TRY as opposed to 10,000 TRY.
7. What are the requirements for opening a bank account in Turkey?
The bank account is mandatory for the company because the share capital is deposited upon incorporation. Banks will generally request the registration certificate of the company and other documents attesting the identity of the founding members. Certain fees apply, as per the bank’s policy.
8. Do you need special permits and licenses in Turkey?
Yes. For example, import and export activities are regulated and business owners engage in this activity based on certain permits obtained before starting the actual trading.
9. What are the taxes for companies in Turkey?
The corporate tax in Turkey is 20% but lower rates can apply. A payroll tax, real property tax, social security tax and other taxes also apply.
10. What are the reasons to invest in Turkey?
A
good location between two important markets, its own large domestic market,
good economy, an
open investment climate and god infrastructure are good reasons why investors should choose to
open a company in Turkey.