Cost and time to set up
How much does it cost to set up an s.r.o. in 2026
Reckon on roughly 6,000–11,000 Kč and a few days to 2–3 weeks of time (direct entry by a notary vs. the route via the registration court). A notary is mandatory, but the share capital can be symbolic — from 1 Kč. Below you will find a breakdown of the individual costs and a step-by-step timeline.
How to set up an s.r.o. step by step
- Choose the company name and business activity check the name is available in the public register (justice.cz); the business activity must correspond to the trades you select
- Draw up the deed of incorporation at a notary a notarial deed of the memorandum of association (a deed of incorporation in the case of a single founder) is mandatory, roughly ~3,700 Kč + DPH (VAT) (~4,477 Kč)
- Pay up the share capital minimum 1 Kč per member (§ 142 ZOK); the contribution is paid into a bank account, or alternatively held by an administrator of the contribution
- Obtain the trade authorisations notification of the trade at the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad), administrative fee 1,000 Kč (800 Kč electronically) → detail
- Register the company in the Commercial Register through the notary the notary carries out the direct entry while you wait; the court fee is exempt in the case of direct entry (0 Kč) — the company is assigned an IČO (business ID)
- Register the company with the tax office registration for corporate income tax within 15 days of incorporation, and for VAT depending on the level of turnover
- Set up a data box and a company bank account the state sets up the data box (datová schránka) automatically upon incorporation; open a company account at a bank using the extract from the Commercial Register
Breakdown of the costs of setting up an s.r.o.
| Item | Approximate price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Notarial deed of formation (memorandum of association) | ~2,000 Kč | mandatory notarial deed of the memorandum of association (ZOK) |
| Notary's certificate for the registry entry | ~1,200 Kč | supporting document for the direct entry into the Commercial Register (OR) |
| Notary's fee for the direct entry into the Commercial Register (OR) | ~500 Kč | the notary registers the company directly |
| Notary in total | ~3,700 Kč + DPH (VAT) (~4,477 Kč) | for a simple s.r.o. with a statutory memorandum |
| Trade authorisation (administrative fee) | 1,000 Kč | first notification of a trade; 800 Kč electronically |
| Court fee for the entry into the Commercial Register (OR) | 0 Kč | exempt with direct entry by a notary (0 Kč); otherwise 2,700 Kč (notary without the exemption) or 6,000 Kč (registration court) |
| Share capital | from 1 Kč | minimum per § 142 ZOK; in practice a higher amount is recommended |
Realistically around 6,000–11,000 Kč in total, depending on the scope and on whether you use an incorporation service. The notary's prices are approximate (zaloztesro.cz, mojesidlo.cz) — the notary will confirm a specific quote in advance. Verified 2026.
Timeline: how setting up an s.r.o. proceeds
- Drawing up the memorandum of association at a notary the notarial deed is mandatory; you need the company name, registered office (sídlo), the business activity, the members and the amount of their contributions
- Paying up the contribution (share capital) a monetary contribution is usually paid up into a special account opened at a bank, or alternatively held by an administrator of the contribution; the bank or administrator issues confirmation of payment
- Obtaining the trade authorisation notification of the trade at the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad), fee 1,000 Kč (800 Kč electronically) → detail
- Entry of the company into the Commercial Register the notary carries out the direct entry while you wait; the court fee is exempt in the case of direct entry — the company is assigned an IČO (business ID)
- After incorporation: taxes, data box, accountant the state sets up the data box (datová schránka) automatically; an s.r.o. is required to keep double-entry bookkeeping
Bookkeeping and audit: what awaits an s.r.o. after incorporation
Unlike a self-employed person (OSVČ), an s.r.o. is required to keep double-entry bookkeeping — count on an external accountant. Most new companies fall into the micro accounting entity category (assets ≤ 11 million Kč, turnover ≤ 22 million Kč, ≤ 10 employees) and have the simplest obligations. A mandatory audit applies only to large/medium entities — for periods commencing on 1 January 2026 the thresholds are turnover 240 million Kč, assets 120 million Kč and 50 employees (an audit is triggered when 2 of the 3 values are exceeded in 2 consecutive periods). Small and micro companies have no audit. Verified 2026.
Frequently asked questions about setting up an s.r.o.
How much does it cost to set up an s.r.o. in 2026?
Do you need a notary to set up an s.r.o.?
What is the minimum share capital of an s.r.o.?
How long does it take to set up an s.r.o.?
How much does an s.r.o. spend annually on an accountant?
Is a court fee payable for the entry into the Commercial Register?
Not sure whether an s.r.o. is even worth it for you?
The higher costs of both setting up and running it only make sense under certain conditions. Go through the OSVČ vs. s.r.o. comparison and find out when the switch really pays off.