Whether you call it freelancing, sole proprietorship, sole tradership, individual entrepreneurship or individual proprietorship, or “egyéni vállalkozás” in Hungarian, being self-employed in Hungary gives you the flexibility to decide when and how much you work for who. But is it really for you? Get a quick overview of what to watch out for before you take the first step.
If you want to do business in Hungary, you can either set up a company of your own or become self-employed. Both procedures are quite fast, and you can get an EU VAT number immediately, without any extra requirement. Becoming self-employed in Hungary does not require a starting capital, while management and accountancy is a lot simpler and costs less than operating a company. At the same time, a sole proprietor is fully liable for damages, while the liability of an LLC is limited to their capital.
While company setup is allowed for anyone regardless their nationality, you can be self-employed in Hungary only if you are a citizen of the EEA or a resident of Hungary.
Please note: if you are an EEA citizen, you will need a Hungarian social security card (or TAJ card), which requires a Hungarian address, meaning you will need an EU registration card.
Moreover, you cannot become self-employed in Hungary if you are:
Before you register as self-employed, make sure to ask yourself the following questions, and have the answers ready by the time of registration.
Click here to have a closer look at these questions to make informed decisions about your Hungarian business.
Once you are ready to register your self-employment, you can take care of the entire procedure online if you have access to the Ügyfélkapu (or “Client Gate”).
Once you are registered for self-employment, your business related data can be publicly accessed in case a partner wishes to verify your business, just like in the case of companies. Search is possible based on tax number or business registration number.
You can become self-employed in Hungary only if you are already a citizen of either Hungary or the EEA, or at least a resident of Hungary. Registration is quick and easy, and you can immediately get an EU VAT number. Operation is relatively simple too – you might not even need an accountant, although the more complex your activity is, the more value an accountant can provide.
Helpers Hungary provides all kinds of administrative assistance to expats related to living, working, and doing business in Hungary, with a focus on company formation and application for various kinds of residence permits. Whether you need help with business setup, accounting, or residency application, we are happy to help.
Fill in the form below to contact us.
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