How do you set up a business at the age of 18?

In this article, we explain how to set up a business at the age of 18. We also answer the question: ‘Is it possible for a minor to set up a business?’, whilst outlining the slightly more complicated procedure involved. We hope you enjoy reading it!

Can you set up a business as a minor?

According to the definition set out in Article 4 of the Act of 6 March 2018 – Entrepreneurs’ Law (i.e. Journal of Laws of 2024, item 236), an entrepreneur is:

“A natural person, a legal person or an organisational unit that is not a legal person, to which a separate Act grants legal capacity, carrying out economic activity”.

The above definition therefore literally indicates that legal capacity alone is sufficient to be an entrepreneur. Legal capacity is, in this context, the capacity to be the subject of rights and obligations, which, in accordance with Article 8 of the Act of 23 April 1964 the Civil Code (i.e. Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1610, as amended), every person possesses from the moment of birth.

It must therefore be assumed that full legal capacity, which is acquired only upon reaching the age of majority, is not necessary to carry out business activities. However, at least limited legal capacity is essential for this purpose. This, in turn, is acquired upon reaching the age of 13.

How can a 13-year-old set up their own business? We outline the entire procedure below.

How to set up a business at a young age? The procedure for setting up a business for minors

A minor who wishes to set up their own business in Poland will need the consent of their legal representatives for every step of the process.

By default, a child’s legal representatives are their parents, and it is they who must jointly decide whether to give such consent. A lack of agreement, in turn, means that the matter must be resolved by the guardianship court.

What is the step-by-step procedure for a minor setting up a business?

1. Firstly, an application must be submitted for registration of the business with the Central Register and Information on Economic Activity. In the case of a minor, however, this must be done in person at the local authority office. The application must be signed by both of the minor’s legal representatives (or by a person designated by the guardianship court, or, if one parent has had their parental authority revoked, by the parent who currently holds it). The minor wishing to set up a business does not, however, sign the application.
2. The second step involves a detailed verification process, which in the case of a minor usually takes longer as it also includes checking the authorisation of the legal representatives;
3. In the third step, the office sends the documents to the Ministry of Development and Technology, which then manually unblocks the minor’s PESEL number in the CEIDG and informs the office accordingly;
4. Shortly afterwards, the office converts the paper application into an electronic application, which ultimately results in the minor’s business being entered into the CEIDG.

How do you set up a business at the age of 18?

Reaching the age of majority means you can follow the standard route for registering a business.

The easiest way to go through this process is to use a specially designed, simple and extremely user-friendly wizard, available on the public website at the following address: https://www.biznes.gov.pl/pl/e-uslugi/00_0736_00.

Once the wizard has guided us through all the steps, it will also allow us to submit the completed application to set up a business to the relevant tax office, ZUS (or KRUS) and the Central Statistical Office.

Setting up a business at the age of 18? Or perhaps a business incubator?

Do you have a business idea and are considering setting up your own sole trader business? You can also realise your business plans through a business incubator – an organisation that lends its legal personality to interested third parties.

The highest-rated business incubator in Poland is the ‘Firma Dla Każdego’ Foundation.

The ‘Firma Dla Każdego’ Foundation is an organisation that supports entrepreneurship amongst Poles and foreign nationals, and will help you fulfil your business dreams!

Are you interested in our services? Find out more on our website: https://firmadlakazdego.pl/.

Sources:

• Act of 6 March 2018 – Entrepreneurs’ Law (consolidated text: Journal of Laws of 2024, item 236)
• Act of 23 April 1964 – Civil Code (consolidated text: Journal of Laws of 2023, item 1610, as amended)
• https://www.biznes.gov.pl/pl/portal/00170
• https://www.bankier.pl/wiadomosc/Czy-osoba-niepelnoletnia-moze-prowadzic-firme-3148431.html
• https://www.money.pl/gospodarka/zdolnosc-prawna-czym-jest-i-komu-przysluguje-6778296691198688a.html
• https://poradnikprzedsiebiorcy.pl/-zdolnosc-prawna-co-oznacza-i-czym-sie-rozni-od-zdolnosci-do-czynnosci-prawnych
• https://www.infakt.pl/blog/czy-osoba-niepelnoletnia-moze-prowadzic-dzialalnosc-gospodarcza/
• https://firmadlakazdego.pl/czym-jest-inkubator-przedsiebiorczosci/
• https://biznes.wprost.pl/poradnik/przedsiebiorca/11266582/jak-zalozyc-firme-w-kilku-prostych-krokach-przedstawiamy-poradnik.html
• https://www.biznes.gov.pl/pl/e-uslugi/00_0736_00