According to the World Bank Group, Bulgaria is ranked 38^th out of 186 countries for the ease with which businesses can operate. The ranking is done by assessing business regulations based on ten relevant measures.Here is the link to the World Bank Group ranking document: http://www.doingbusiness.org/rankings

The corporate tax rate is a flat 10 percent. The individual tax rate is the same.

The Bulgarian labor force is in general well-educated, hard-working and honest.The literacy rate for adults in the country is more than 98 percent. Many Bulgarians have a strong background in engineering, medicine, economics, sciences, information technologies, customer service and foreign languages.

Bulgaria still offers the lowest labor rates in the EU.

 

Yes.According to Bulgarian commerce law, aforeign entity can incorporate a company in Bulgaria. The new company can be registered in the Bulgarian Commerce Register as a Bulgarian entity. To be listed in the registry, the company must present paperwork showing proof of the incorporation, a Bulgarian address, bank account, proof of funds, and names and addresses of its representatives or registered agent.

Yes, foreign nationals can establish companies in Bulgaria. The only requirement is that  the person be 21 or older and have a clean court record. The law does not differentiate between companies established by foreign persons and foreign entities. Tax rates are the same.

A foreign individual has property rights on anything he buys in Bulgaria but land. If a foreign individual wants to own land, he or she has to establish a Bulgarian company, and that company can buy and own land in Bulgaria. However, in April 2014, the Bulgarian Parliament passed legislation to impose some restrictions on foreign purchase of Bulgarian agricultural land, making it subject to five years of permanent residency for the buyer.

Property contracts signed in Bulgaria are guided by Bulgarian law, policies and practices, but deeds and titles issued in Bulgaria are internationally recognized under international agreements and treaties. Property rights are guaranteed by the Constitution, and protected by law in Bulgaria.Furthermore Bulgaria has committed itself to international arbitration in the event of expropriation or other investment disputes in its Bilateral Investment Treaty with the US and 72 other countries.

 

Yes, there are Bulgarian insurance agencies as well as international insurance companies operating in the country that issue insurance policies which covera wide range of risks.

Bulgaria has very well developed transportation network including highways, railroads, airports, and two container ports on the Black Sea. There are numerous transportation companies serving the local markets as well as Europe and the Middle East. The container ports ship to and receive cargo from any port in the world.

The electrical grid in Bulgaria is stable; the country produces electricity from a variety of sources including nuclear, coal and hydroelectric power plants. The country actually exports electrical energy, supplying the neighboring countries of Serbia, Rumania, Greece and Turkey. The Bulgarian electrical grid is part of the European electrical grid. Large new infrastructure development projects, if required, receive fast-track attention from the government.

Yes, it is called the Bulgarian National Bank (BNB), and it was established in January 1879. The Bulgarian National Bank is an independent institution issuing all banknotes and coins in the country, and is sole owner of the Bulgarian Mint. BNB oversees and regulates the banking sector, collects and analyzes statistical information. It is also responsible for implementing government monetary policy. Since January 2007, BNB is part of the European System of Central Banks. The Bulgarian currency is Lev and it is pegged to the Euro at fixed exchange rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN.

The most popular type of payment is and electronic payment between commercial customers (e.g., ACH in the US). There is a law prohibiting cash transactions in amounts greater than 15,000 Lev. Credit cards are used mainly for retail transactions, and checks are not popular in Bulgaria.There are no restriction on international bank transactions.

Bulgaria has a positive attitude toward FDI. The Bulgarian government provides incentives for new investment in targeted industries and regions.(more) The 2004 Investment Promotion Act stipulates equal treatment for foreign and domestic investors. Sound economic performance, political stability and an adequate banking system enables Bulgaria to attract leading foreign companies and investors. Among these are Johnson Controls, Microsoft, IBM, SAP, SKF Bearing, Kraft Foods, McDonalds, Southerland Global Services, American Standard, and others.

Bulgaria is a stable US ally and a member of NATO, the EU and the World Trade Organization.It has signed Bilateral Investment Treaties with 73 countries, including the United States. In 2008, Bulgaria adopted a so-called “Competition Law” for consumer protection and the promotion of competition. The law prohibits monopolies, unfair competition, and restrictive trade practices.