مكتب علاء مهرة

100 business ideas to start in Romania Complete Checklist And Startup Costs

Why Romania is a sharp place to launch in 2025
I build businesses by testing fast, measuring cash, and protecting downside. Romania fits that playbook. Registration is quick, costs are low, and the market is hungry for value.

Key facts you should know right now:
– Legal setup speed: 3 to 5 working days for an SRL through ONRC if paperwork is clean.
– Share capital: 1 RON minimum for an SRL.
– VAT: 19% standard. VAT registration generally required after 300,000 RON annual turnover.
– Microenterprise tax: 1% on revenue up to 500,000 EUR if you employ at least one person. Standard corporate tax is 16%.
– Dividends tax: 8%.
– E-invoicing: RO e-Factura is mandatory for domestic B2B since 2024.
– Minimum gross wage: around 3,700 RON in 2024. Always verify the latest update before hiring.

If you want tailored guidance on choice of structure, tax, and project feasibility, book a consultation with me and I will walk you through step by step.

Complete startup checklist for Romania
– Choose your legal structure
– SRL limited liability company for most ventures.
– PFA sole trader for services with low risk and one operator.
– Name check and reservation at ONRC.
– Draft constitutive act and beneficial owner declaration.
– Registered office address. Use your premises or a virtual office provider.
– Bank account setup and share capital deposit.
– ONRC submission. Many founders use a lawyer or consultant for speed.
– ANAF registration for tax and social contributions.
– Optional or mandatory VAT registration depending on forecasted turnover.
– E-signature for e-Factura and ANAF filings.
– Accounting and payroll engagement.
– Licenses where needed. Examples: food handling, childcare, health, alcohol, transport.
– Compliance toolkit. GDPR basics, cash register for retail, health and safety, fire protocols.

Core setup costs to expect
– Incorporation and admin: 0 to 150 EUR depending on service provider.
– Virtual office: 50 to 100 EUR per month.
– Accounting: 100 to 300 EUR per month for a small SRL.
– E-signature: 10 to 20 EUR per month.
– Domain, hosting, basic website: 50 to 1,500 EUR depending on scope.
– Initial marketing: 200 to 2,000 EUR for launch campaigns.

SRL vs PFA. Which one should you pick
– SRL
– Liability protection.
– Easier to bring partners and scale.
– Suitable for most product and multi-employee businesses.
– PFA
– Simple and fast.
– Lower compliance overhead.
– Best for solo services with low risk and limited turnover.

If you are unsure, I can model both scenarios with your real numbers so you see tax, cash flow, and hiring impact before you commit. Book a consultation and bring your idea.

100 business ideas to start in Romania with startup costs
The ranges below are typical early-stage budgets in EUR for lean setups. City, licenses, and fit out change the final number.

1) Coffee cart. 2,500–6,000
2) Specialty coffee shop. 25,000–80,000
3) Food truck. 18,000–50,000
4) Home bakery. 800–2,500
5) Cloud kitchen. 6,000–20,000
6) Vegan meal prep. 1,500–5,000
7) Romanian pastries kiosk. 7,000–15,000
8) Microbrewery. 60,000–250,000
9) Wine tours operator. 2,000–8,000
10) Beekeeping and honey. 1,200–6,000
11) Organic vegetable microfarm. 3,000–20,000
12) Mushroom farm. 2,500–10,000
13) Hydroponics setup. 4,000–18,000
14) Florist with delivery. 2,000–7,000
15) Landscaping crew. 1,500–6,000
16) Tree trimming service. 2,000–8,000
17) Recycling collection. 2,000–10,000
18) E-waste recycling. 8,000–40,000
19) Solar panel sales. 3,000–12,000
20) Heat pump installation. 6,000–25,000
21) Home insulation services. 3,000–10,000
22) EV charger installs. 5,000–30,000
23) Mobile car wash. 800–2,500
24) Detailing studio. 4,000–15,000
25) Used car export. 10,000–50,000
26) Scooter rental. 6,000–25,000
27) Bicycle repair. 600–2,000
28) Last mile delivery. 3,000–12,000
29) Courier microhub. 5,000–20,000
30) Errand concierge. 300–1,000
31) Residential cleaning. 500–2,000
32) Airbnb cleaning team. 500–1,500
33) Laundry pickup. 2,000–8,000
34) Handyman services. 500–2,000
35) Renovation crew. 3,000–12,000
36) Interior design studio. 1,000–5,000
37) Home staging. 1,500–6,000
38) Property management. 1,000–3,000
39) Short term rental arbitrage. 3,000–15,000
40) Student housing brokerage. 500–2,000
41) Real estate 3D tours. 1,500–6,000
42) Drone photography. 1,200–4,000
43) Wedding photography. 2,000–8,000
44) Videography studio. 2,000–10,000
45) Social media agency. 500–2,000
46) SEO agency. 500–2,000
47) PPC ads freelancer. 500–2,000
48) Web design studio. 1,000–4,000
49) App development boutique. 2,000–10,000
50) No code automation. 500–2,000
51) Shopify store builds. 500–2,000
52) eMAG marketplace store. 800–3,000
53) Etsy crafts shop. 300–1,000
54) Print on demand. 300–800
55) EU dropshipping. 500–1,500
56) Digital course creator. 300–1,500
57) Online English tutoring. 200–800
58) Micro coding bootcamp. 2,000–8,000
59) Romanian for expats school. 1,500–6,000
60) Translation agency. 300–1,000
61) Virtual assistant agency. 300–1,000
62) Bookkeeping firm. 1,000–4,000
63) Payroll bureau. 1,500–5,000
64) Tax advisory. 1,500–6,000
65) Legal paperwork concierge. 800–3,000
66) HR recruitment niche. 2,000–10,000
67) Micro coworking space. 10,000–40,000
68) Podcast studio rental. 3,000–12,000
69) Event planning. 800–3,000
70) Corporate gifting. 1,000–4,000
71) 3D printing service. 3,000–15,000
72) Prototyping lab. 8,000–30,000
73) CNC workshop. 20,000–80,000
74) Furniture upcycling. 1,000–4,000
75) Carpentry studio. 3,000–12,000
76) Metalworks shop. 10,000–40,000
77) Tailoring and alterations. 500–2,000
78) Fashion microbrand. 2,000–8,000
79) Shoe repair. 800–2,000
80) Beauty salon. 8,000–30,000
81) Barber shop. 4,000–12,000
82) Nail studio. 2,000–6,000
83) Massage therapy. 1,500–5,000
84) Physiotherapy studio. 6,000–20,000
85) Personal training. 800–2,000
86) Yoga or Pilates. 4,000–12,000
87) Martial arts dojo. 5,000–20,000
88) Kids sports camps. 1,000–4,000
89) After school club. 2,000–8,000
90) Nursery daycare. 25,000–120,000
91) Elderly home care. 2,000–10,000
92) Pet grooming. 2,000–6,000
93) Pet sitting. 300–800
94) Veterinary clinic. 30,000–120,000
95) Pet food brand. 3,000–12,000
96) Niche travel agency. 1,000–4,000
97) Immigration consulting. 1,000–4,000
98) Study abroad agency. 1,000–4,000
99) Local experiences host. 500–2,000
100) Franchise acquisition. 15,000–250,000

Where each idea fits best in Romania
– Bucharest. Higher rents, higher spend, great for specialty F&B, tech services, and media studios.
– Cluj-Napoca. Strong tech talent and startups, ideal for SaaS, product studios, and education.
– Timișoara and Iași. Solid university towns with lower costs. Good for services, logistics, and training.
– Constanța and Brașov. Tourism angles, outdoor and hospitality, seasonal F&B, and experiences.

Lean budget example for a Bucharest coffee cart
– Cart and gear: 2,800 EUR
– Licenses and setup: 300 EUR
– Initial beans and supplies: 600 EUR
– Branding and signage: 200 EUR
– POS and software: 200 EUR
– Working capital: 1,000 EUR
Total: 5,100 EUR

From necklace mistake to method you can copy
In 2011 I ordered 100 necklaces by accident instead of one. I sold them, then sold thousands more. That mistake taught me three rules I still use and that work well in Romania. Start small and test demand. Keep costs variable. Track cash daily. I later lost savings in day trading because I ignored rules. Real estate rescued me because cash flow and discipline returned. Bring that discipline to your launch and you stack the odds in your favor.

If you want a feasibility plan with Romanian costs, permits, and a 12 month cash forecast, book a consultation with me. I will map your idea to a city, a budget, and the right structure.

FAQ
What is the cheapest way to register a small business in Romania as a foreigner?
Set up an SRL with 1 RON share capital, a registered address, and an e-signature. Use a formation service for speed. Expect 0 to 150 EUR in admin plus monthly accounting from 100 EUR.

Do I need to register for VAT when starting a new SRL in Romania?
You must register for VAT when your annual turnover exceeds 300,000 RON. You can also opt in earlier if your suppliers and clients are VAT payers.

What is the microenterprise tax for small companies in Romania in 2025?
Most small SRLs qualify for 1% tax on revenue up to 500,000 EUR if they have at least one employee. If you do not qualify, standard corporate tax is 16%. Always verify current thresholds before filing.

How long does it take to open a company in Romania through ONRC?
If documents are complete, 3 to 5 working days is common. Banking, e-signature, and VAT registration add extra time.

What licenses do I need to open a coffee shop in Bucharest?
Food service requires health and sanitary approvals, fire and safety compliance, a cash register, and local permits for signage and terrace where applicable. An architect or consultant can package the file.

How much does an accountant cost for a small SRL in Romania?
Expect 100 to 300 EUR per month depending on transaction volume, payroll, and VAT filings.

Can I run an online-only business in Romania and sell across the EU?
Yes. Set up an SRL, implement e-Factura for domestic B2B, follow GDPR, and register for OSS for EU VAT if you sell to consumers in multiple EU states.

My story in one paragraph
I came to the UAE in 2005 with little more than grit, graduated as a civil engineer, earned a master’s in project management in the UK, quit engineering after one year, and built my first e-commerce brand from a shipping mistake. I lost money day trading in 2014, learned risk the hard way, then rebuilt through property investing, helping clients, and founding my agency. The same lean, proof based approach I used to grow real estate profits in Dubai can help you launch a resilient business in Romania. My name is Alaa Mohra, and I build businesses with numbers, not noise.

Ready to turn your idea into a Romanian company with a clear budget and a 90 day action plan? Contact me to book a consultation and let’s build it.