Business registration: sole traders and companies

Registration is the foundation a business rests on: it determines the ownership structure and the ability to work with banks and counterparties. Mistakes at this stage cost time and money later.

When to get in touch

• you are planning to register as a sole trader or to incorporate a company
• the name, the director, the address or the membership needs to be changed
• the registrar has refused to carry out a registration action
• the data in the register does not reflect reality

What the lawyer does

• chooses the best legal form and tax regime
• prepares the charter and the full set of registration documents
• handles the filing and the dealings with the registrar
• carries out registration changes: director, address, activities, membership
• analyses the grounds for refusal and prepares the challenge
• restores the accuracy of the data in the register

Legal basis

State registration is governed by the Law of Ukraine “On State Registration of Legal Entities, Individual Entrepreneurs and Public Formations”: the documents for registering a legal entity are set out in Article 17 and for an individual entrepreneur in Article 18; the procedure for registration actions in Article 25; documents are considered within 24 hours of receipt, excluding weekends and public holidays (Article 26); the grounds for refusal in Article 28; and the procedure for challenging decisions, acts or omissions in the field of state registration in Article 34.

Legislation and case law are updated over time; this page reflects the position as of August 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How long does registration take?

Documents for legal entities and sole traders are considered within 24 hours of receipt, excluding weekends and public holidays (Article 26 of the Law).

What if the registrar refuses?

The grounds for refusal are set out in Article 28 of the Law; the decision is challenged under Article 34, either administratively or in court.

Need legal assistance? Call us or leave a request — a lawyer will contact you and explain what to do in your situation.