Do you live in Poland and have a good idea for a business? However, you should also have a clear understanding of how exactly you will conduct business activities in Poland and under what conditions. For example, sole proprietors usually pay 19% to the tax system, which can have a significant impact on your budget. This is especially true for small companies that are just starting out.
At first, you can start doing business without any registration thanks to Działalność nierejestrowa. However, in such a case, all your options are significantly limited. One of the best options used by many entrepreneurs in Poland are business incubators. In simple words, you act through intermediaries and legally save on taxes. In this article we would like to tell you more about all the peculiarities of doing business in Poland through business incubators. Here we go!
What is a business incubator in simple words?
![[object Object]](https://images.ctfassets.net/o5pzd75oy6c1/1tKvuRUoMOdmXJtRFSPn7x/6b9bb0a09c5a3d9266def91dee2d401e/33.jpg)
A business incubator is an organization that helps entrepreneurs start and operate without having to start their own company right away. It provides a legal structure, accounting support, and other resources necessary for operation.
Instead of registering an IE or a company, you enter into an agreement with the incubator and act as a participant in the project. That is, literally, the incubator takes you on as an employee under a civil law contract. Most often they hire clients under Umowa o dzieło and Umowa zlecenie. You can invoice clients on behalf of the incubator, receive payment and officially work while all legal and administrative matters are taken care of by the incubator. In simple words, it is an intermediary between you and all government systems.
Obviously, if you want to go to a leasing bank, they won't even start talking to you. If you are launching a big project, you can finish reading this article right at this point. Read this article to understand how it really works and what a business incubator is all about.
Cooperation with incubators: is it profitable?
![[object Object]](https://images.ctfassets.net/o5pzd75oy6c1/75kxjm1YutVoWQ5mypjdKj/567df2af02676ff75a13cfe4c32ddb84/1.jpg)
Firstly, cooperation with business incubators in Poland is very easy. However, the advantages of business incubators do not end there. It provides you with many advantages on the financial side as well. Especially for freelancers, IT specialists, designers and other self-employed people who don't need a full-fledged company. Incubators take a lot of commitment and reduce the risks of the entrepreneur.
Cost reduction. Instead of opening a JDG or sp. z o.o., you simply transfer 6% to 12% of your income to the incubator. For example, with an income of 10,000 PLN per month - that's 600-1200 PLN, without having to pay ZUS (social contributions) as IEs do.
Accounting support. Another important advantage for entrepreneurs is that incubators take care of all accounting.
Legal assistance. You also receive full advice on contracts and protection of your interests, you are given hours depending on the package within which you have advice.
Possibility of obtaining a residence card. From a legal point of view, the business incubator acts as an employer. Therefore, you can expect to receive a residence permit under a simplified procedure.
The most important thing is the exemption from having to pay taxes to ZUS. For example, IT specialists under this scheme can tax only half of their income. The other half of the income is completely clean and goes only into your pocket. The only thing is, you will have to pay PIT contributions, which is personal income tax. The only thing is, you will have to pay PIT contributions, which is personal income tax. Surely, you also get full support in various matters. Based on our practice, a business incubator is one of the most profitable ways to do business in Poland.
Step-by-step guide to working with a business incubator
To start an entrepreneurial activity through a business incubator in Poland, you just need to follow a few simple steps. Below is a brief algorithm of actions that will help you to start doing business through a business incubator faster and legally save on taxes.
1. Choose an incubator
Explore the available business incubators and choose the right one. Pay attention to the terms of cooperation, commissions and services provided. Among the popular incubators in Poland people choose the following organizations: Łatwy Start, KPT ScaleUp, AIP, Biznes Link and the popular Twój StartUp.
2. Submit an application
Go to the website of the selected incubator and find the application form. In the application form you need to specify a brief description of your activity (what you do), target audience or clients and expected profitability. But in most cases, all your services will be quoted as IT services, let you be an SEO-copywriter or a cryptocurrency arbitrageur, and withdraw them at 6% through the incubator.
3. Negotiate the terms
After the project is approved, the incubator will offer to conclude a contract. This document will specify all the terms of cooperation: the percentage of commission (most often 6-12% of income), your responsibilities, the rules of document flow and the scheme of financial interaction. You will get access to a personal account through which you can conduct business: send invoices to clients, upload documents and track receipts.
Please note! Differences in percentages exist for a reason. In the average market you will be asked from 6-8% for incubator services, where all your authorship belongs to the incubator. That is 51%, and at best you will need to give 12% to have your copyrights owned by you. So it's up to you.
4. Get to work
When all the formalities are taken care of, you can start work. The incubator provides you with a legal structure through which you issue invoices on its behalf. Clients pay into the incubator's account, and then the funds are transferred to you - minus a commission. In addition, you receive accounting and legal support, as well as assistance in administrative matters, including the processing of documents for a residence card.
5. Terms of the report
![[object Object]](https://images.ctfassets.net/o5pzd75oy6c1/6c5ALgk98hURG9tInMocms/9a5a3a41d40c841a70b5727af0ec0222/22.jpg)
Every month you will need to send reports of your work. Specifically a custom solution, i.e. code. We explain why and what for. The incubator has optimization due to the fact that it is an IT company. For this reason, the incubator has room to maneuver for tax calculations. As any IT company registered in Europe, it is necessary to provide the authorities with the reasoning of what they do. Employees in the Polish Urząd will sort out your code that was generated in GPT.
Obtaining a residence permit when cooperating with a business incubator in Poland
One of the key advantages is the possibility of obtaining a residence card. Since you are officially cooperating with the incubator, it can register you as an employee or contractor and provide you with the necessary documents to apply for a residence card. This is especially convenient for those who cannot immediately open a company. The incubator issues a certificate of income and letters of support - this is enough to prove a legal source of income in Poland.
Most importantly, in order to apply for a residence card, you need a minimum income in Poland (currently in 2025 it is 4,666 PLN). Thus, when you will work out a strategy to optimize your residence permit in Poland, take into account your income.
Read more about obtaining a residence card through employment!
How to terminate a contract with a business incubator in Poland?
Definitely a major benefit for any nomad who travels the world and if you need to close the hatchery, it's very easy. Before you leave the hatchery, the lawyers who drafted the contracts will point out to you the clauses that will cause confusion. So, if you are a professional in your business, keep this in mind to avoid confusion and sail off quietly into the sunset and most importantly quickly into the quiet winds.
There are many reasons that can cause you to initiate a termination with a business incubator. For example, closing a business or finding new partners to work together. It is important to know correctly how to stop working with a business incubator to avoid reputational and financial losses.
In fact, everything starts at the beginning of cooperation, as you draw up and sign the contract. As a rule, the clauses about the term of the contract and the termination of the contract are spelled out immediately. Therefore, it is recommended to study in detail any document you sign. Also, don't be afraid to ask and clarify, as a lot depends on it.
When you stop working through a business incubator, you are forbidden to conduct similar business activities with related PKD with a term of 5 to 15 years. We say right away, this is a rip-off. The right thing to do is to just forget about anything the incubator tells you, even if they threaten you. If you find yourself in this situation, you can let us know and our people at the bar can advise you. What is the solution? There are only two options - to officially register your business in Poland or to find a new incubator and start cooperation.
Where to get qualified assistance?
Have you just recently arrived in Poland or are you seriously considering doing business here? This topic can raise a lot of questions and doubts, especially for newcomers. How to choose the right form of doing business, how to register a company, what type of taxation to choose and many other questions may sit in your head for a long time. There is a solution - experienced aksis agents will gladly provide you with personalized assistance.
Our agency provides various consulting services for everyone who is planning to open a business in Poland or who has faced certain problems. We will approach your issue in a personalized way, examining it from different angles. Our experience in legal processes will allow us to find the best solution for you and your business. Would you like a free consultation? Contact us in any convenient way right now!
