To start a Croatian company online no longer has to mean weeks of paperwork, notaries, and in-person visits to multiple institutions. Since the launch of the START system, the Croatian government has moved company formation into a largely digital process at least for founders who meet specific eligibility criteria.
START was introduced to make it easier to start a Croatian company online by connecting courts, tax authorities, pension insurance, banks, and payment systems into a single online workflow. When used correctly, it can significantly reduce time, cost, and administrative friction.
That said, START is not a universal solution, especially for foreign founders looking to start a Croatian company online without local involvement.
What Is the START System in Croatia?
When it was launched in December 2019, START system was positioned as Croatia’s most advanced public digital service to date.
Introduced by the Ministry of Economy, the platform was designed to support up to 200,000 users, marking one of the first concrete steps in Croatia’s broader digital transformation of public administration. By integrating multiple public registers, databases, and institutions into a single workflow, START significantly reduced the need for physical paperwork and in-person visits.
The START application is an official Croatian government platform that allows eligible users to register certain types of businesses entirely online.
Rather than submitting documents separately to different authorities, START consolidates:
- company registration,
- tax registration,
- pension and employment enrollment,
- bank account requests,
- and fee payments
into one coordinated digital procedure designed to help founders start a Croatian company online more efficiently.
Once submitted, your application is processed electronically, and approved companies are typically registered within a few business days.
From a policy perspective, START was introduced to:
- reduce administrative burden,
- lower entry barriers for entrepreneurs,
- and improve Croatia’s business environment ranking.
Who Can Start a Croatian Company Online Using START Platform?
This is where many founders, especially foreigners, misunderstand the system.
Current Eligibility Rules
As of now, START can be used only if at least one founder is a Croatian citizen.
The person submitting the application must:
- be a Croatian national,
- be at least 18 years old,
- have a Croatian OIB,
- and hold either a temporary (boravište) or permanent (prebivalište) address in Croatia.
Foreign nationals cannot independently start a Croatian company online using START unless the ownership structure includes a Croatian citizen who meets these conditions and acts as the registering party.
A future expansion allowing foreign-only ownership through START has been announced in the past, but it has not yet been fully implemented in practice.
For non-Croatian founders, this is why traditional incorporation routes, often handled through lawyers or representatives, remain common.
Business Types You Can Register Through START
START supports only specific legal forms. These include:
1. Simple Limited Liability Company (j.d.o.o.)
- Minimal share capital
- Designed for early-stage or low-capital businesses
- Most common choice for first-time founders
2. Limited Liability Company (d.o.o.)
- Standard Croatian LLC structure
- Suitable for scalable and operational businesses
- Higher capital requirements than j.d.o.o.
3. Trade Business (obrt)
- Sole proprietorship-style structure
- Tied directly to the individual
- Not suitable for all activities or investors
Each structure comes with different tax, liability, and compliance implications, which should be evaluated before choosing START as your registration route.
What Services Does START Actually Cover?
START is not a general-purpose government portal. It can only be used as part of the initial business setup process.
Through START, you can complete:
- Registration of a j.d.o.o. or d.o.o. with the Court Register
- Registration of a trade business in the Trade Register
- Enrollment in the Croatian Bureau of Statistics
- Registration with the Tax Administration and VAT registry (if applicable)
- Submission of requests to open a business bank account
- Registration with HZMO (pension insurance)
- Electronic payment of court fees and initial capital
You cannot use START for standalone tasks such as:
- registering for VAT after incorporation,
- changing company details,
- or handling ongoing compliance.
Once the company is active, most follow-up obligations shift to e-Građani portal and other systems.
START Is Closely Linked to e-Građani
START does not function independently.
Access and authentication are handled through e-Građani, Croatia’s digital government identity system. Without active e-Građani credentials, START simply cannot be used.
This means:
- every founder or authorized participant must have their own e-Građani account,
- identity verification happens through NIAS (Croatia’s National Identification and Authentication System),
- and digital signatures are legally binding.
If you are unfamiliar with how e-Građani works especially as a foreigner, this step alone can delay incorporation.
What You Need to Use the START System
To complete registration through START, all required elements must be in place before you begin.
Mandatory Requirements
- Qualified digital signature certificate
Used to sign all incorporation documents electronically. - Croatian ID (Osobna iskaznica) or recognized digital credential
Typically required for Croatian citizens acting as founders. - FINA-issued certificate (FinaCertRDC)
Enables legally valid digital signatures within state systems. - Valid credit or debit card
Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro for payment of fees and capital. - Active e-Građani account for all participants
Without this, START access is blocked.
If any one of these elements is missing, the process cannot be completed.
Advantages of Using START
For founders who qualify, START offers real advantages:
Lower Costs
- No notary fees
- Reduced court fees (often by 50%)
- No physical document copies or in-person visits
Faster Registration
- Electronic submissions receive priority
- Companies are often registered within days, not weeks
Centralized Process
- One application replaces multiple institutional filings
- Automatic data retrieval via OIB reduces manual entry errors
Fully Digital Workflow
- All documents are digitally signed, verified, and stored
- No paper trail to manage or lose
24/7 Availability
- The system is accessible at any time
- No dependency on office hours for submission
Limitations Foreign Founders Must Understand
Despite its benefits, START has clear structural limits.
For foreign entrepreneurs:
- START does not eliminate the need for legal structuring advice
- Bank account opening is not guaranteed, only requested
- Foreign shareholders still trigger enhanced compliance checks
- Many industries still require licenses outside START
In practice, START works best for simple ownership structures with Croatian founders. More complex or international setups usually require parallel legal and banking coordination.
How to Get Started with START
If you meet the eligibility criteria:
- Prepare all digital credentials in advance
- Ensure e-Građani access is active for all participants
- Choose the correct legal form
- Access the START platform through FINA
- Complete the unified electronic application
- Pay fees electronically
- Monitor status through digital notifications
FINA provides user manuals and technical support for the platform, but they do not provide legal advice.
