Comparisons
Side-by-side breakdowns with the trade-offs stated plainly, so you can tell which option fits your situation.
Bulgaria is not the only low-tax or company-formation option, and pretending otherwise would not help you. Here is how it lines up against the four alternatives people ask about most, with the trade-offs stated plainly and the honest take on who each one actually fits.
How the options compare
| Metric | Bulgaria | Estonia | Cyprus | Portugal | US LLC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corporate tax | 10% | 0% until distributed | 12.5% | 21% | 0% (pass-through) |
| Dividend or personal tax | 5% dividend | about 22% on distribution | 0% dividend for non-doms | 28%, or a special regime | taxed where you live |
| Effective total, solo founder | about 14.5% | about 22% | about 12.5% | 25% or more | your home rate |
| Formation cost | EUR 430 to 930 | EUR 265+ | EUR 1,500+ | EUR 1,000+ | USD 200 to 800 |
| Monthly running cost | EUR 125 to 325 | EUR 59 to 259 | EUR 200 to 400 | EUR 150 to 350 | USD 50 to 200 |
| Residency requirement | Yes, for the 10% | No | 60-day non-dom option | Yes, for the regime | No |
| Banking difficulty | Moderate | Easy, fintech-friendly | Moderate | Moderate | Hard for non-residents |
A high-level summary for orientation. Estonia and the US LLC have full, sourced breakdowns linked below; Bulgaria's numbers are detailed across our guides. Cyprus and Portugal are approximate and included for context.
Who each option fits
Bulgaria fits people who will genuinely relocate and want the lowest simple rate on both the company and the money they take out: 10% corporate tax and a 5% dividend, with capped social contributions. The catch is that you have to actually move, and the admin is in Bulgarian. Start with company formation and taxes.
Estonia fits location-independent founders who want an EU company they run fully online and are content to be taxed where they live. e-Residency is a great administration tool, but it is not residence and it does not lower your personal tax. See Bulgaria vs Estonia.
Cyprus fits higher earners who want the non-dom regime and can spend real time there. Setup and running costs are higher, so the effective rate is only competitive above a certain income.
Portugal fits people who want lifestyle first and will accept a higher headline tax, unless they qualify for a special regime. It is a place to live more than a low-tax play the way Bulgaria is.
A US LLC fits non-US founders who need a US-facing entity and understand two things: it does not reduce the tax you owe at home, and banking is the hard part. See Bulgaria vs US LLC.
Read the full comparisons
- Bulgaria vs Estonia e-ResidencyEstonia's e-Residency is a great way to run a company online. It is not a way to move or to lower your personal tax. Bulgaria is. Here is the honest split.
- Bulgaria vs US LLCFor a non-US resident, a US LLC can be a light, cheap invoicing vehicle, but it is not a company that lets you live in the EU or removes tax at home. Bulgaria is a real EU base. Here is the honest comparison.