SRL vs Sole Proprietorship: Which to Pick
Before registering a company, decide which legal form fits you.
SRL (Societate cu Raspundere Limitata — LLC equivalent) is the preferred choice when:
- You have partners and want a clear ownership structure
- You work with large sums or corporate clients
- You want to separate personal and company risk
- You will hire people
- You plan to scale or raise investment
ÎI (Intreprindere Individuala — sole proprietorship) is simpler when:
- You work alone, at small scale
- You provide personal services (hairdresser, physiotherapist, consultant)
- Annual turnover is under 1.2 million MDL
- You don't need a formal structure
Key difference: with SRL you are liable up to the share capital, with ÎI you are liable with all personal assets. If the company goes bankrupt and you have an SRL, your personal home is protected (in principle). With ÎI, it isn't.
In Moldova, SRL is the most popular form — about 80% of commercial companies are SRLs. This guide focuses on SRL.
Step 1: Pick the Company Name
The name must be:
- Unique in the state register (you cannot use an already registered one)
- Legally compliant (no prohibited words, no references to public institutions)
- Accompanied by the legal form — "SRL" goes at the end mandatorily
Before filing, check on Datero.md whether the name is already taken. Search for the exact name you want — if an active company shows up, choose a different one or a variation.
Tip: prepare 3 name variations. Sometimes a name is blocked by a liquidated company, and trademark conflicts can also appear at the registry.
Step 2: Pick the CAEM Codes
CAEM codes describe what the company does. Pick one primary and as many secondary codes as needed (no official limit, but don't overdo it).
Example: opening a coffee shop with in-house pastry:
- Primary:
56.10(Restaurants and food service) - Secondary:
47.11(Retail in non-specialised stores, food predominant),10.71(Manufacture of bread and pastries)
If you don't know which codes to pick, look at similar companies in your niche. On Datero.md find a competitor and see their CAEM codes on the company page.
Step 3: Set Share Capital and Shareholder Structure
Minimum share capital for SRL in Moldova: no mandatory statutory threshold. Theoretically you can register with 1 leu. In practice, most founders pick between 300-5,400 MDL — enough for initial operations and avoids questions at the bank.
Shareholder structure:
- Single shareholder — simple, fast decisions, no conflicts
- Multiple shareholders — flexible, but prepare a shareholders' agreement with clear rules (who decides what, profit split, what happens if one wants to exit)
Share capital doesn't mean the money must be in the account immediately. It's paid in within 6 months of registration — part at formation, the rest by the deadline.
Step 4: Pick the Registered Office
The company needs a legal address in Moldova. Options:
- Own space (if you own a property)
- Leased space with a lease agreement
- Residential address (possible with owner and neighbors' consent)
- Virtual office (several providers offer this — 300-800 MDL/month)
The address must be verifiable: ASP may send correspondence there, and tax notices go to the same address.
Step 5: Prepare the Documents
For SRL registration you need:
- Registration application (ASP standard form)
- Articles of association (statute) — drafted strictly per law
- Sole shareholder decision or constitutive meeting minutes (for multiple shareholders)
- Copies of IDs for all shareholders and the director
- Proof of registered office (cadastre extract, lease, or declaration)
- Proof of registration fee payment
- Notarial power of attorney (if documents are filed through a representative)
The articles of association can be drafted by:
- A lawyer — 1,000-3,000 MDL
- A notary — with on-the-spot attestation — 1,500-4,000 MDL
- Yourself — if you know the law. High risk of rejection for formal errors.
Step 6: File with ASP
Two options:
Online on servicii.gov.md with digital signature or MobiSign:
- No physical visit
- Documents uploaded as signed PDFs
- Turnaround: 1-3 working days
Physically at an ASP office:
- File paper documents
- Receive registration number and response date
- Turnaround: 3-5 working days
Step 7: Pay the Fees
Approximate SRL registration costs (2026):
| Service | Cost (MDL) |
|---|---|
| ASP registration fee | 320-390 |
| Register extract | 50-100 |
| Statute drafting (lawyer/notary) | 1,000-3,000 |
| Notarial attestation | 300-800 |
| Company stamp | 200-500 |
| Bank account opening | 0-300 (depends on bank) |
| Approximate total | 1,900-5,100 |
With express procedure (24-hour registration), the ASP fee triples or quadruples.
Step 8: After Registration — Mandatory Next Steps
Your company now has IDNO and is officially in the state register. But before you start operating, a few more things:
1. Open a bank account. With the register extract, director's ID, and articles of association, go to your chosen bank. KYC takes a few days.
2. Register with the Tax Service. Tax code assignment is usually automatic via ASP, but confirm at fisc.md that the company is in the database.
3. Declare the beneficial owner. Mandatory for all new companies. See our UBO declaration guide.
4. Obtain special licenses or permits (if applicable). Pharmacies, transport, construction, food service — all need additional permits.
5. Hire an accountant or connect an accounting firm. Mandatory even if the company is inactive. External accountants cost 500-1,500 MDL/month initially.
6. Register employees at CNAS and CNAM (when hiring).
Practical Tips from Experience
Don't rush the legal form. Many SRLs are opened unnecessarily when an ÎI or even freelancer status would have been enough. Think realistically about the next 2-3 years.
Virtual office is OK to start. If you work remotely or from home, a leased virtual office is acceptable and cheap. But pick a serious provider so correspondence is handled correctly.
Don't register 20 CAEM codes "just in case". Long lists raise questions at the tax office. Add codes as needed, not preemptively.
Verify partners before the first deal. Once your company is open, use Datero.md for due diligence on new suppliers and clients. Our verification guide shows what to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does SRL registration take in Moldova?
1-3 working days online, 3-5 days in person. Express in 24 hours with a higher fee.
Can a foreigner open an SRL in Moldova?
Yes. Foreign citizens can own 100% of a Moldovan SRL. The director can be a foreigner with a residence permit.
Can I be a director of multiple companies at once?
Yes, no legal limit.
Must the company be based in Chisinau?
No, the office can be anywhere in Moldova. But over 60% of SRLs are registered in Chisinau for practical reasons.
What taxes will my SRL pay?
Mainly: profit tax (12%), VAT (20% if turnover exceeds 1.2 million MDL/year), CNAS and CNAM contributions for employees. Simplified regimes also exist (4% on turnover for small companies).
When can I close the company if I don't need it anymore?
Anytime, through voluntary liquidation. Takes 2-6 months. See what liquidated companies means for details.
Opening a Company? See What Others Are Doing
Before you launch, look at what competitors are doing and what your market looks like. On Datero.md search by the CAEM code of your niche and see active companies, their revenues, and history. A day of research saves you from expensive mistakes.