How to register an SRL in Moldova in 2026, step by step

What to prepare before you go to the ASP

Registering an SRL (Moldova's limited liability company) at the Public Services Agency (ASP) takes one working day under the standard procedure. Preparation takes longer, and that is where the mistakes happen that later take months to fix: activity codes picked in a hurry, a registered address with no paperwork, share capital chosen at random. Below are the steps in the order that works best, with the fees and timelines published by the ASP.

In short

• The state fee for registering an SRL is 1,149 lei with a 24-hour turnaround; urgent registration within 4 hours costs 4,596 lei.
• The law no longer requires minimum share capital of 5,400 lei, and the memorandum and statute have been merged into a single articles of incorporation document.
• Companies founded and managed by people aged 18-35 starting their first business can be exempt from the registration fee.
• After registration come the bank account, an electronic signature, the choice of tax regime and setting up the books.

Step 1. Choose a name

The name must be distinguishable from those already in the State Register of Legal Entities. Check availability before drafting documents and keep two or three alternatives ready. The full name includes the legal form, for example "Nord Soft" SRL.

A practical tip: choose a name that is easy to write in Latin script, without abbreviations that a bank or foreign partner could misread.

Step 2. Decide on members and the director

An SRL can have one or more members, individuals or legal entities, residents or non-residents. The previous cap of 50 members was removed by Law No. 229/2023. The director (administrator) can be one of the members or another person.

With several members, agree from the start on shareholdings, signing rights, how decisions are made and what happens when someone wants to leave. The law also allows a separate agreement between members, alongside the articles of incorporation, covering voting rules or transfers of shares.

The beneficial owner, meaning the individual who ultimately controls the company, is declared at registration.

Step 3. Set the share capital

Since the 2023 reform, the law no longer requires 5,400 lei of minimum capital, and changing the capital is simpler: registration in the State Register is enough, without a mandatory amendment to the statute. Contributions can be made in cash or in kind.

Being allowed a token amount does not make it a good idea. Banks, suppliers and authorities look at capital when assessing a new company. Set an amount that covers your start-up costs and that you will actually pay in.

Step 4. Choose CAEM codes

CAEM codes are Moldova's classification of economic activities. List your main activity and the activities you realistically expect to carry out in the first year. The codes matter more than they seem:

• some activities require a licence or permit before you start;
• Moldova IT Park residency depends on eligible activities;
• certain exemptions and tax regimes depend on the type of activity.

You can add codes later, but every change means a new application to the ASP.

Step 5. Prepare the documents

The basic set for an SRL whose members are individuals:

• the registration application;
• the articles of incorporation (the ASP provides standard templates);
• identity documents of the members and the director;
• proof of the registered address: a lease, a loan-for-use agreement or the owner's consent;
• beneficial owner information;
• proof of payment of the state fee, unless you qualify for the exemption.

Corporate or non-resident members need additional documents, usually translated and legalised. Confirm the exact list with the ASP before filing.

Step 6. File with the ASP

You can file at an ASP office or online with an electronic signature (the online service is available for SRLs and joint-stock companies). The 24-hour period runs from the working day immediately after the documents are submitted.

The start-up exemption applies if the company is an SRL with no more than 5 members, qualifies as a micro-enterprise, and its founders and directors are aged 18 to 35 inclusive and are carrying out business activity for the first time.

After registration you receive an extract from the State Register with the state identification number (IDNO), which is also the company's tax code.

Step 7. Open a bank account

Take the extract and the articles of incorporation to the bank. Expect to provide identity documents for the director and members, beneficial owner information and a description of the business, its clients and expected volumes. Prepare the answers in advance: compliance checks can take time, especially with non-resident members.

From day one, keep company money separate from personal money. Personal payments from the company account create tax questions that are hard to explain later.

Step 8. Electronic signature and e-Factura

You will need an electronic signature for reports to the State Tax Service (SFS), online applications and e-Factura, the SFS electronic tax invoice system. e-Factura is mandatory for taxpayers on the list approved by the SFS, and many partners prefer electronic invoices anyway. Connect to the system before your first sale.

Step 9. Choose a tax regime

For a new SRL, the main options are:

• General regime: 12% corporate income tax on taxable profit.
• 4% regime: SMEs that are not registered for VAT can, subject to conditions and exceptions, pay 4% of operating income (Article 54¹ of the Tax Code).
• VAT: registration is mandatory once taxable supplies in any 12 consecutive months exceed 1.7 million lei (the threshold in force since 1 March 2026). Voluntary registration is also possible.
• Moldova IT Park: a 7% single tax on sales revenue for IT companies that meet the conditions.

The right choice depends on your margin, clients, payroll and growth plans. It is worth modelling your real numbers before issuing the first invoice. If you want a second opinion on the options, our tax consulting covers exactly this.

Step 10. First accounting steps

• Approve accounting policies and choose accounting software.
• Keep source documents from the first transaction: invoices, contracts, acceptance certificates, bank statements.
• If you will take cash, install a fiscal cash register before receiving the first payment.
• Staff may only work under an individual employment contract signed before they start. The monthly IPC21 report on withholdings and contributions is due by the 25th of the following month.
• At year end come the financial statements and the corporate income tax return.

If you would rather not spend time on paperwork, we handle company registration from the name check to the register extract. Our pricing page shows what ongoing support costs.

What are the most common mistakes?

• Incomplete CAEM codes. The company starts an unregistered activity or loses access to a tax regime.
• An address without paperwork. An address with no lease or owner consent causes problems with the ASP, the bank and the SFS.
• Token capital with no plan. Legal, but it can raise questions with banks and partners.
• Mixing personal and company money. Undocumented withdrawals can create unexpected tax liabilities.
• Checking the VAT threshold once a year. The threshold is measured over any 12 consecutive months, not the calendar year.
• People working "on trial" without a contract. Undeclared work leads to fines and back charges.

Sources

• ASP: company registration fees and timelines
• ASP: business registration service
• ASP: amendments to the Law on limited liability companies
• ASP: start-up enterprises exempt from state registration fees
• Monitorul Fiscal FISC.md: VAT registration threshold from 1 March 2026