Company formation is more than completing a registration. The chosen structure affects owner liability, governance, how profits are used, accounting obligations and future investment options. A sound process therefore begins by understanding what the business will sell, who will own it and how money and documents will move.
Our specialist team offers in-person meetings in Sivas and coordinates documents and discussions remotely for businesses throughout Turkey. Our objective is not to place every founder into a standard structure, but to establish an accounting and tax setup that fits the current operation and a realistic growth plan.
Choosing between limited and joint stock companies
Limited and joint stock companies are capital companies with separate legal personality, but their governing bodies, share transfers, ownership arrangements and some tax consequences differ. Founder plans, future investors, authority, profit distributions and sector-specific permissions should be considered together.
The articles of association should reflect the real activity, representation model and ownership relationship. A standard template may enable registration without resolving future governance, financing or exit questions. Legal advice and financial planning can be coordinated where the ownership arrangements require both.
When a sole proprietorship may be considered
A sole proprietorship can provide a simpler start for one person testing a business model. Progressive income taxation, personal exposure to business obligations, financing needs and plans to introduce partners are equally important. Expected profit and commercial risk are more useful decision points than turnover alone.
Business bank activity and expenses should be separated from personal spending from day one. A simple registration does not remove the need for disciplined records. The consequences of moving to a capital company can be reviewed when the operation begins to hire, seek investment or assume greater contractual risk.
Trade registry, MERSIS and tax registration
For capital companies, the articles and registration are processed through MERSIS and the relevant Trade Registry Directorate. The name, registered activity, address, capital and representation arrangements are defined before filing. Foreign ownership, regulated activity or in-kind capital may change the document set.
After registration, tax registration, address verification, legal books, banking and signature processes need coordinated follow-up. For a sole proprietorship, registry and chamber requirements depend on the nature of the activity. The business activity code should accurately describe the work in every structure.
Preparing for E-Invoice and E-Archive
The business should identify which document it will issue, to whom and through which system. E-Invoice and E-Archive obligations vary with activity, transaction type and current transition criteria. The GIB Portal, a private integrator or direct integration can be assessed against volume and operational needs.
Invoice scenarios, descriptions, VAT treatment, returns and retention should be tested before the first sale. This is especially important for online sales, foreign clients, subscriptions and other models where one operational event may create several accounting records.
Accounting and tax obligations after incorporation
Bookkeeping, bank and ledger reconciliations, VAT and other returns, corporate or income tax, payroll and social security reporting are organized into a recurring calendar. Obligations do not disappear simply because a newly registered entity has not yet hired staff or generated sales.
Management reporting should also show cash, collections, payables, gross margin and tax provisions. As the company grows, inventory, fixed assets, related-party transactions, overseas payments and incentive files may require additional controls.
Reviewing the setup together
An initial discussion maps the proposed activity, customer locations, ownership, hiring, sales channels and payment flows. This makes the structure, document preparation and post-incorporation accounting plan easier to understand before commitments are made.
No structure guarantees a particular legal or tax result. Regulated activities, foreign ownership, incentive applications and cross-border transactions require a current review of the facts, documents and applicable Turkish legislation.
Let us review which structure may suit your business.
Share the activity, ownership plan and operating model. We can map the accounting and tax aspects of incorporation in a clear working plan.
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