A practical guide to trade licences, self-employment and business in Czechia

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 2–3 weeks of time. 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.

6,000–11,000 Kč 2–3 weeks notary mandatory share capital from 1 Kč

Breakdown of the costs of setting up an s.r.o.

ItemApproximate priceNote
Notarial deed of formation (memorandum of association)~2,000 Kčmandatory notarial deed of the memorandum of association (ZOK)
Notary's certificate for the registry entry~1,200 Kčsupporting document for the direct entry into the Commercial Register (OR)
Notary's fee for the direct entry into the Commercial Register (OR)~500 Kčthe 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 Kčfirst notification of a trade; 800 Kč electronically
Court fee for the entry into the Commercial Register (OR)0 Kčexempt in the case of direct entry by a notary (otherwise ~2,700 Kč)
Share capitalfrom 1 Kčminimum 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

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. Obtaining the trade authorisation notification of the trade at the trade licensing office (živnostenský úřad), fee 1,000 Kč (800 Kč electronically) → detail
  4. 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)
  5. 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?
Realistically around 6,000 to 11,000 Kč. The main item is the notary (~3,700 Kč + VAT), then the trade authorisation at 1,000 Kč and share capital from 1 Kč. The court fee for the entry into the Commercial Register is exempt in the case of direct entry by a notary.
Do you need a notary to set up an s.r.o.?
Yes, a notary is mandatory. The memorandum of association (a deed of incorporation in the case of a single founder) must take the form of a notarial deed. Moreover, the notary can register the company directly into the Commercial Register by means of a direct entry.
What is the minimum share capital of an s.r.o.?
The Act on Business Corporations requires a minimum of 1 Kč per member (§ 142 ZOK). In practice, however, a higher capital is often chosen for the sake of credibility with banks and business partners.
How long does it take to set up an s.r.o.?
Typically 2 to 3 weeks — drawing up the memorandum of association, paying up the contribution, obtaining the trade authorisation and the entry into the Commercial Register. Drawing up the documents via videoconference with a notary shortens the process.
How much does an s.r.o. spend annually on an accountant?
An s.r.o. is required to keep double-entry bookkeeping, so you will usually need an external accountant. Costs depend on the number of documents and the scope of the work; for a small company this represents a regular additional monthly or annual outlay compared with operating as an OSVČ. Request an exact price from a specific accountant.
Is a court fee payable for the entry into the Commercial Register?
Where the company is incorporated by a notary by way of a direct entry with the statutory requirements, the court fee is exempt. Without a direct entry it would amount to roughly 2,700 Kč.

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.

OSVČ vs. s.r.o. — complete comparison