Company formation in Turkey requires more than registering a company name. Foreign founders must select the right legal structure, prepare compliant shareholder documents, obtain the necessary tax identification numbers, complete the MERSIS and Trade Registry process, establish a reliable accounting system and prepare the company for banking, invoicing and tax compliance.
SMMM Özgür Karadaş provides English-speaking company formation and accounting support for foreign individuals, overseas companies, entrepreneurs, e-commerce businesses, technology companies and international investors entering the Turkish market.
Our service is designed to take the company from the initial structure decision to an operational accounting and tax framework. Depending on the founder, country of origin, company type and bank requirements, many formation steps may also be coordinated from abroad through a properly prepared power of attorney.
Start Your Business in Turkey with a Clear Formation Plan
Send us your nationality, planned activity, number of shareholders and preferred company location. We will identify the appropriate company structure, required documents and post-registration compliance steps.
Can a Foreigner Establish a Company in Turkey?
Foreign individuals and foreign legal entities may establish and own companies in Turkey under substantially the same company-law framework applied to Turkish investors.
In ordinary, non-regulated business sectors, a Turkish citizen or local shareholder is generally not required. A company may therefore be wholly owned by one or more foreign individuals or overseas corporate shareholders.
Special ownership, licensing or management rules may apply in regulated sectors such as banking, insurance, financial services, civil aviation, broadcasting, energy and certain maritime activities. The intended activity should therefore be reviewed before the articles of association are prepared.
Foreign founders may use a Turkish company for activities such as:
- E-commerce and marketplace sales,
- Software development and technology services,
- Export and import operations,
- International consultancy and professional services,
- Manufacturing and wholesale trade,
- Logistics and supply-chain operations,
- Real estate investment and property management,
- Tourism and hospitality businesses,
- Advertising, media and digital services,
- Regional headquarters and holding structures.
Our Company Formation Services in Turkey
Our work is structured around both incorporation and operational readiness. The exact scope is confirmed after reviewing the shareholders, intended activity, company structure and foreign documents.
| Service stage | Our support | Business outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Initial structure review | Assessment of activity, ownership, management, funding and expected operations | A company form aligned with the founder's actual business model |
| Foreign-document checklist | Review of passport, corporate records, apostille, legalization and translation requirements | A registry file prepared before submission |
| Turkish tax IDs | Coordination of required tax identification numbers for founders and corporate shareholders | Founders ready for authorized formation steps |
| MERSIS preparation | Entry of company name, activity, capital, shareholders, managers and representation rules | A properly structured draft articles of association |
| Trade Registry coordination | Preparation and follow-up of the registration file with the competent Trade Registry | Legal incorporation of the Turkish company |
| Tax-office activation | Control of tax registration, activity codes, registered address and applicable tax obligations | A company prepared to begin taxable operations |
| Accounting onboarding | Bookkeeping setup, filing calendar, document flow and reporting plan | A controlled monthly compliance process from the first transaction |
| Bank and e-document readiness | Preparation for bank KYC, e-Invoice, e-Archive Invoice, e-Ledger and signature requirements | A company prepared to receive funds, issue invoices and maintain records |
Which Company Type Should You Choose in Turkey?
The most common corporate forms for foreign investors are the limited liability company and the joint-stock company. Branches and liaison offices may be more appropriate where an existing overseas company wants a direct presence in Turkey.
Limited Liability Company — Limited Şirket or LTD
A Turkish limited liability company is commonly selected by foreign-owned small and medium-sized businesses, e-commerce companies, service exporters, technology firms, consultants and trading companies.
An LLC may be established with a single shareholder and can generally have up to 50 shareholders. Shareholders may be individuals or legal entities and may all be foreign.
The statutory minimum share capital is TRY 50,000. The subscribed cash capital of an LLC may generally be paid within 24 months after registration.
Joint-Stock Company — Anonim Şirket or A.Ş.
A joint-stock company may be more suitable for businesses planning external investment, larger funding rounds, regulated activities, complex share structures or future share transfers.
A JSC may be established by one or more individual or corporate shareholders. Its management is carried out through a board of directors.
The statutory minimum share capital is TRY 250,000. For cash capital, at least 25% is generally deposited before registration and the balance is paid within 24 months.
Branch Office
A foreign company may establish a branch in Turkey. The branch is not a separate legal entity from the foreign parent and must generally operate within the business purpose of the parent company.
A branch requires a representative in Turkey and the foreign parent company remains responsible for the branch's obligations.
Liaison Office
A liaison office may be established by a foreign company after obtaining the required permission from the Ministry of Industry and Technology.
A liaison office cannot conduct commercial activities or generate local commercial revenue. It is generally used for market research, representation, coordination, technical support or regional communication.
LLC vs JSC in Turkey
| Comparison point | Limited Liability Company | Joint-Stock Company |
|---|---|---|
| Common abbreviation | Ltd. Şti. | A.Ş. |
| Minimum shareholders | One | One |
| Foreign ownership | Generally 100% foreign ownership is possible | Generally 100% foreign ownership is possible |
| Minimum capital | TRY 50,000 | TRY 250,000 |
| Cash capital payment | May generally be paid within 24 months after registration | At least 25% before registration and the balance within 24 months |
| Management | One or more managers | Board of directors |
| Typical use | SMEs, trading, e-commerce, services, software and owner-managed businesses | Investment structures, larger businesses, complex ownership and regulated activities |
| Share-transfer flexibility | More formal transfer and approval process | Generally more suitable for structured investments and share transfers |
Not Sure Whether You Need an LLC or JSC?
We review your shareholders, funding model, expected revenue, management plan and long-term objectives before recommending a structure.
Step-by-Step Company Registration in Turkey
1. Review the Business Model
The formation process begins with a review of the planned activity, customers, countries of operation, shareholders, management model, expected staffing and funding requirements.
This stage helps determine whether the founder should use an LLC, JSC, branch or another structure and whether the business activity requires a licence, permit or special corporate form.
2. Select the Company Name and Registered Address
The proposed company name is reviewed for availability and compliance. The company must also have a registered office address in Turkey.
The address may be a physical office or, where appropriate for the activity and accepted under the relevant arrangements, a properly documented serviced or virtual office.
3. Determine the Business Activities
The company's principal and secondary activities are defined and matched with the appropriate NACE activity codes.
Activity codes can affect tax registrations, professional-chamber requirements, licences, social-security classifications, incentives and electronic-document obligations. They should therefore reflect the company's actual operations.
4. Obtain Required Turkish Tax Identification Numbers
Foreign founders, managers, authorized representatives and corporate shareholders may require Turkish tax identification numbers for company formation and related official transactions.
Our dedicated Turkish Tax Identification Number acquisition service can be coordinated with the formation file.
5. Prepare Foreign Shareholder Documents
Documents issued outside Turkey may require notarization, apostille or consular legalization, followed by a certified Turkish translation.
The exact certification route depends on the country in which the document was issued, whether that country is a party to the Apostille Convention and the requirements of the competent Trade Registry.
6. Draft the Articles of Association in MERSIS
The company's name, registered address, business activities, capital, shareholders, managers or directors and representation rules are entered into MERSIS, Turkey's central commercial registry system.
The articles should be prepared around the intended business rather than treated as a generic template. Multi-shareholder companies may also require separate legal advice and a shareholders' agreement.
7. Complete Trade Registry Registration
The formation file is submitted to the Trade Registry Directorate responsible for the company's registered office.
The registry reviews the MERSIS application, articles, founder documents, signature records, capital information and other supporting documentation. Additional documents may be required where a shareholder is a foreign company or where the planned activity is regulated.
8. Activate the Tax Registration
After registration, the company's tax position, registered activities and tax-office records are reviewed. The company may also be subject to an address-verification or tax-office inspection process.
9. Establish the Corporate Books and Accounting System
The company must maintain statutory accounting records and applicable corporate books from the start of its operations.
We establish the monthly document flow, bookkeeping timetable, tax filing calendar and management-reporting requirements through our English-speaking accounting and bookkeeping service in Turkey.
10. Prepare for Invoicing and Electronic Compliance
The company's invoicing method and electronic-document obligations are reviewed before the first sale.
Depending on the entity, activity and applicable rules, the company may need e-Invoice, e-Archive Invoice, e-Ledger, electronic signatures or a financial seal.
11. Apply for a Corporate Bank Account
Corporate bank-account onboarding is a separate compliance process. Turkish banks review the company, shareholders, beneficial owners, expected transactions, source of funds and business substance under their own KYC policies.
Our corporate bank account setup support helps prepare the company file and coordinate the application. Final approval, timing and physical-presence requirements remain at the bank's discretion.
Documents Required for Foreign Individual Shareholders
The exact formation file depends on the company type, registry and shareholder circumstances. A foreign individual is commonly asked to prepare information or documents such as:
- Valid passport,
- Residential address information,
- Contact information,
- Turkish tax identification number where required,
- Proposed company name,
- Planned activities and NACE codes,
- Registered office information,
- Share capital and ownership percentage,
- Manager or director information,
- Power of attorney where the process is handled through an authorized representative,
- Certified translation, notarization, apostille or legalization where required.
Documents Required for a Foreign Corporate Shareholder
Where the shareholder is an overseas company, additional corporate documents are generally required to prove its existence, management and authority to invest.
The formation file may include:
- Certificate of incorporation or commercial registry extract,
- Certificate of activity or good standing,
- Current articles of association,
- Board or shareholder resolution approving the Turkish investment,
- Documents identifying directors and authorized representatives,
- Power of attorney for company formation in Turkey,
- Information on the ultimate beneficial owners,
- Turkish tax identification number for the corporate shareholder,
- Apostille or consular legalization,
- Notarized Turkish translations.
The documents should be reviewed before legalization. Correcting a document after apostille, translation and notarization can cause significant delays and additional expense.
Send Your Documents for a Pre-Formation Review
Before arranging apostilles, translations or travel, send a summary of the shareholders and planned structure. We will identify the documents that should be prepared for the intended registration.
Can a Company Be Formed in Turkey Remotely?
Many company-formation steps may be coordinated from abroad through a properly drafted and certified power of attorney.
Remote coordination may include tax-number acquisition, document preparation, MERSIS entry, registry filing, tax-office follow-up and accounting onboarding, depending on the shareholders, documents and competent authority procedures.
However, remote formation does not mean that physical presence will never be required. A bank, notary, registry authority, licensed-service provider or regulated-sector authority may request original documents, wet signatures, biometric verification or the physical presence of an authorized signatory.
The remote formation plan should therefore separate:
- Steps that may be completed through a power of attorney,
- Documents that must be apostilled or legalized abroad,
- Documents that require notarized Turkish translation,
- Bank processes that may require a personal visit,
- Work or residence permit steps applicable to active foreign managers.
Planning to Establish Your Company from Abroad?
We will separate the steps that may be managed remotely from the steps that could require your physical presence.
How Long Does Company Formation in Turkey Take?
Once a complete and compliant formation file is accepted, the Trade Registry stage may be completed quickly. The total project timeline, however, begins before the registry appointment and may continue after registration.
The overall timeline depends on:
- The number and type of shareholders,
- Whether a shareholder is an overseas legal entity,
- Apostille or consular legalization requirements,
- Certified translation and notarization,
- Availability of the proposed company name,
- Complexity of the articles of association,
- Trade Registry appointment availability,
- Sector-specific permits or approvals,
- Tax-office address verification,
- Corporate bank KYC procedures.
A realistic timetable should be provided only after the shareholder documents and intended activity have been reviewed. Bank-account approval should not be treated as part of a guaranteed registry timeline.
Company Formation Costs in Turkey
There is no single government fee or fixed package that applies to every foreign-owned company. The total budget depends on the company form, shareholders, city, capital, document origin and required professional services.
| Cost category | What may affect it? |
|---|---|
| Trade Registry and chamber costs | Company type, capital, articles, city and chamber tariffs |
| Translation and notarization | Number of foreign founders, document volume and language |
| Apostille or legalization | Country of issue and applicable international conventions |
| Share capital | LLC or JSC form and the capital selected by the founders |
| Registered office | Physical office, serviced office, deposit, rent and location |
| Electronic systems | Financial seal, electronic signature, e-Invoice provider and software |
| Professional formation support | Structure, shareholder documents, MERSIS, registry and tax setup scope |
| Ongoing accounting | Transaction volume, VAT, payroll, foreign-currency activity and reporting needs |
Share capital is not the same as a formation fee. Capital becomes a resource of the company and must be recorded and used in accordance with the applicable corporate and accounting rules.
Taxes for a Company in Turkey
A Turkish company becomes subject to local accounting, tax filing and document-retention obligations. The exact tax profile depends on the entity, activity, customers, transactions, employees and cross-border arrangements.
| Tax or obligation | General position |
|---|---|
| Corporate income tax | The general corporate income tax rate is 25% for 2026, subject to sector-specific and incentive-related rules. |
| Value added tax | VAT rates generally include 1%, 10% and 20%, depending on the goods, services and transaction. |
| Withholding taxes | May apply to rent, salaries, professional payments, dividends and specified domestic or cross-border payments. |
| Payroll and social security | Apply when the company employs personnel and must be included in the employer-cost calculation. |
| Stamp tax and transaction taxes | May arise from contracts, payrolls and other documents or transactions. |
| Electronic compliance | e-Invoice, e-Archive Invoice and e-Ledger requirements depend on the entity, activity and current rules. |
Cross-border payments, related-party transactions, service exports, imports, royalties, management fees and shareholder loans should be reviewed before implementation. Relevant double taxation treaties, transfer-pricing rules and withholding obligations may affect the correct treatment.
Company Formation Does Not Automatically Grant Residence or Work Rights
Owning shares in a Turkish company does not by itself grant Turkish citizenship, a residence permit or an unrestricted right to work in Turkey.
A foreign shareholder who will actively work, manage daily operations or represent the company may need an appropriate work permit. Non-resident board members of a joint-stock company and non-managing partners may fall within specific work-permit exemptions, depending on their role.
Company structure, management authority and the founder's physical presence in Turkey should therefore be reviewed together with the applicable immigration and labour rules.
Opening a Corporate Bank Account in Turkey
Company registration and bank-account approval are separate processes. A legally registered company does not automatically have a right to be accepted by a particular bank.
Turkish banks may request:
- Trade Registry Gazette and company registration documents,
- Tax registration and company tax number,
- Articles of association,
- Signature declarations or signature circulars,
- Shareholder and ultimate beneficial owner information,
- Passports and proof of address,
- Business plan or website,
- Source-of-funds information,
- Expected transaction volume and countries,
- Contracts, invoices or evidence of commercial substance.
The bank may also require the physical presence of authorized signatories. Approval, supported currencies, online banking access and transaction limits are determined independently by the bank.
Post-Incorporation Accounting and Compliance
Formation is complete only when the company has an operational compliance structure. Before the first invoice, payment or employee, the company should have a defined accounting and document workflow.
Post-incorporation support may include:
- Monthly statutory bookkeeping,
- Turkish tax return preparation,
- Bank, card, customer and supplier reconciliations,
- Foreign-currency accounting,
- e-Invoice and e-Archive Invoice setup,
- e-Ledger coordination,
- Payroll and social-security reporting,
- Corporate tax and VAT compliance,
- English-language management reports,
- Parent-company reporting schedules,
- Year-end closing and annual filing support.
Foreign-owned companies can continue with our tax, bookkeeping and accounting services in Turkey immediately after formation.
Who We Support
- Foreign entrepreneurs starting a business in Turkey,
- Non-resident founders establishing a company remotely,
- International e-commerce and marketplace sellers,
- Software, SaaS and technology companies,
- Foreign consultants and professional-service providers,
- Overseas companies opening a Turkish subsidiary or branch,
- Startups preparing for investment or expansion,
- Import, export and international trading businesses,
- Real estate and property-management companies,
- Businesses requiring English accounting and group reporting.
Why Work with SMMM Özgür Karadaş?
- Direct communication with an English-speaking Turkish CPA/SMMM,
- Company structure and accounting processes planned together,
- Experience with foreign individuals and corporate shareholders,
- Coordination of tax numbers, MERSIS and Trade Registry procedures,
- Clear identification of apostille, translation and notarization requirements,
- Remote coordination where legally and operationally possible,
- Corporate bank account preparation without unrealistic approval promises,
- Ongoing bookkeeping, tax and e-document support after formation,
- English reporting for overseas owners and finance teams,
- Referral coordination where separate legal or immigration advice is required.
Build Your Turkish Company on a Compliant Financial Foundation
Send your ownership structure, business activity and planned company location. We will define the required formation steps, documents and post-registration accounting scope.
