Joint Stock Company (SA) in Romania — Drop Servicing Formation Guide
Choose a jurisdiction with strong payment gateway support (Stripe, PayPal) and low withholding taxes on foreign contractor payments, as you will be paying freelancers globally.
Last verified: June 13, 2026
Corporate Tax
16.0%
State Tax
0.0%
Formation Cost
$50
Annual Fee
$0
Forming a Joint Stock Company (SA) in Romania as a Drop Servicing means a total tax burden of 16.0% and an official formation cost of $50. The minimum capital requirement is 19,500 USD. Standard formation takes 3-5 business days, or 1-2 business days expedited. No local director is required; the process can be managed remotely. This guide covers the steps, tax breakdown, banking options, and compliance requirements — all from verified data.
First-year total cost
≈ $5,900
Ongoing (per year)
≈ $4,000
Why Joint Stock Company (SA) for Drop Servicing?
Drop servicing (or service arbitrage) involves selling digital services to clients and outsourcing the fulfillment to freelancers or white-label agencies. As a founder, your main focus is on marketing, sales, and client relationship management, while the actual work is handled by third parties.
Ideal for
- Marketers and sales professionals
- Entrepreneurs with strong networking skills
- Founders looking for location-independent businesses
- Those wanting to start an agency without technical skills
Challenges to watch
- Maintaining quality control over outsourced work
- Managing cash flow between client payments and freelancer fees
- Handling cross-border contractor tax compliance
- Building trust and brand reputation
Key decision criteria
- Access to global payment processors (e.g., US LLC or UK LTD)
- Tax implications of hiring international contractors (W-8BEN for US)
- Clear B2B contracts and terms of service
- VAT/Sales tax rules for digital services in your clients' countries
Joint Stock Company (SA) formation requirements
Minimum capital
19,500 USD
Standard timeline
3-5 business days
Expedited timeline
1-2 business days
Local director
Not required
Registered office
Virtual office allowed
Notarization
Required
Foreign nationals can serve as directors without restrictions, though a local representative may be practically required for opening a corporate bank account.
Estimated breakdown (based on avg. $80,000 revenue)
Simulate with your own revenue →
VAT / Sales Tax
Standard rate 21%. Registration threshold: 65,000 USD. Foreign businesses providing digital services to Romanian consumers must register for VAT or use the EU OSS (One-Stop Shop) scheme. The standard 21% VAT rate applies to digital services.
Banking & payments for Drop Servicing
Opening a corporate bank account for a Romanian SA as a non-resident is highly challenging and almost always requires an in-person visit due to strict KYC and AML regulations. Traditional banks demand extensive documentation, including proof of local substance and detailed business plans. Fintechs like Revolut Business or Wise offer a smoother, remote-friendly alternative, but they still require the company to be fully registered and active first.
Supported payment gateways
Remote-friendly accounts
Revolut Business
A leading fintech option providing multi-currency accounts and remote onboarding for Romanian entities.
Wise
Excellent for international transactions and remote founders, offering local RON account details alongside other major currencies.
Romania incentives & advantages
Reinvested Profit Tax Exemption
16% tax exemption on the reinvested amount.
R&D Tax Deduction
150% deduction of eligible R&D expenses.
IT Salary Tax Exemption
0% personal income tax (normally 10%) on gross salaries up to 10,000 RON/month.
Joint Stock Company (SA) formation steps
Step 1: Choose and reserve a unique company name with the National Trade Register Office (ONRC) (1-2 days).
Step 2: Draft the Articles of Association (Statut) and have them notarized, detailing the complex governance structure (2-3 days).
Step 3: Open a temporary capital account and deposit the minimum share capital of 90,000 RON, ensuring at least 30% is paid upon registration (1-2 days).
Step 4: Obtain sworn statements and specimen signatures from the founders, board members, and statutory auditors (1-2 days).
Step 5: Secure a registered office address in Romania and provide proof of the lease or property ownership (1-2 days).
Step 6: Submit the complete incorporation file to the ONRC for registration and obtain the Certificate of Incorporation (3-5 days).
Step 7: Register for corporate tax, VAT (if applicable), and file the Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) declaration (2-4 days).
Step 8: Convert the temporary bank account into a fully operational corporate bank account, which may require an in-person bank visit (3-7 days).
Drop Servicing FAQ
Which country is best for a drop servicing company?
The US (LLC) and UK (LTD) are highly popular due to easy access to Stripe/PayPal, global credibility, and straightforward rules for paying international contractors.
Do I need to pay withholding tax when paying freelancers?
It depends on your company's jurisdiction and the freelancer's tax residency. For a US LLC, collecting a W-8BEN form from non-US contractors usually exempts you from withholding tax.
How do I handle VAT or Sales Tax?
You must track where your clients are located. If selling B2B, the reverse charge mechanism often applies. For B2C, you may need to register for VAT/Sales Tax in the client's jurisdiction once you cross specific revenue thresholds.
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