Azerbaijan · South Caucasus

Business services in Azerbaijan

LLC registration, a registered address, a bank account and a work permit. Describe the task in one request and local partners send you offers, so you can compare price, scope and timing before you pay.

How it works
Checked on 12 October 20265 sources, linked at the bottom of the page

Azerbaijan for business, in brief

What to know before you send a request. Every point links to an official source.

  • The State Tax Service registers commercial companies, and the registration documents arrive in the company’s online account.1
  • Filed electronically, a local LLC is registered immediately in fast mode or within one working day in regular mode. A foreign-invested LLC takes two working days.1
  • There’s no state duty for electronic LLC registration. On paper it’s AZN 15, or AZN 300 for a branch or representative office of a foreign company.2
  • A foreign corporate founder attaches documents confirming its registration. Foreign official documents must be legalised or apostilled, and their translation must be notarised.1
  • VAT registration is required once turnover in any 12 consecutive months passes AZN 200,000, with the application due within 10 days.3
  • A non-VAT company with turnover of no more than AZN 200,000 in 12 months may use the 2% simplified tax on revenue if none of the Tax Code exclusions applies.3
  • Foreigners need a work permit, which the employer obtains. It isn’t needed for the head of a company with at least one foreign founder, or for a founder holding 51% or more in their own company.5

Special regimes: Alat, parks and startups

Three regimes with tax benefits, each for a different kind of business. The conditions sit right next to them.

Alat Free Economic Zone

A zone for export-oriented manufacturing next to the Baku International Sea Trade Port. The zone’s law and internal regulations take precedence over general legislation.

Taxes
Companies are exempt from VAT, withholding tax and other corporate taxes; employees earning up to AZN 8,000 a month pay no personal income tax.4
Customs and currency
No duties on imports into or exports from the zone, and no restrictions on currency or profit repatriation.4
Disputes
The zone’s own bodies hear commercial, labour and administrative disputes involving zone companies, and their decisions are enforced in the zone and on the mainland without further recognition. The zone has its own migration and employment rules.4

Technology and industrial parks

For residents of parks set up by the authorised state body.

Taxes
Income from activity in the park is exempt from profit tax for 10 years from the year of registration as a resident.3
IT outside the park
For technology park residents, the exemption also covers system integration and software development carried out outside the park.3

“Startup” certificate

For micro and small companies with an innovative project that hold the “Startup” certificate.

Taxes
Profit from innovation activity is exempt from profit tax for 3 years from the date the certificate is issued.3

Services in Azerbaijan

Partners accept requests in 4 areas: registration, corporate documents, legalisation and other services. For the rest we’re still finding partners, and you can leave a request now. Government costs are listed apart from the service price.

Legal address

Soon

We provide a registered address for company incorporation, as well as mail handling services

Timing
Stated in the partner’s offer
Format
Stated in the partner’s offer
Service price
Set by partners in their offers
Soon

Company registration

3 specialists

Register a company, branch, or business in your desired country

Timing
Electronically: a local LLC immediately or in one working day; a foreign-invested LLC in two working days.1
Format
Electronically or on paper; the registration documents arrive in the online account.1
Government costs
No state duty for electronic registration. For ordinary legal entities registering on paper, the state duty is AZN 15.2
Service price
Set by partners in their offers

Opening a bank account

Soon

We will open a corporate or personal bank account, including international EMI accounts

Checks
The bank reviews the owners, the source of funds and the business.
Documents
The partner lists them in the offer.
Format
The partner’s offer says whether the director has to visit the bank.
Service price
Set by partners; account fees follow the bank’s tariff
Soon

Licensing

Soon

We will help you obtain a license to conduct business in your required sector

Soon

Corporate documents

2 specialists

We will prepare all documents required for company formation and corporate management

Visa, immigration and residency

Soon

We will assist in applying for visas, residence permits, or obtaining residency status

Validity
Up to 1 year, extendable by up to 1 year at a time; extensions are filed at least 30 days before expiry.5
Not needed by
The head of a company with a foreign founder, and a founder holding 51% or more in their own company.5
Service price
Set by partners in their offers
Soon

Compliance and AML

Soon

We will help meet bank and regulatory compliance and due diligence requirements

Soon

Documents and legalization

2 specialists

We will translate, notarize, and prepare documents for international use

Other services

2 specialists

We will assist with any corporate changes within the company

How Lexicomb works

You choose between several offers, and the partner gets paid only after you accept the work.

  1. 1

    One request

    Tell us the legal form, the business activity and your deadlines.

  2. 2

    Offers in one format

    Price, what’s included and excluded, timing and mandatory costs, laid out so you can compare them.

  3. 3

    Payment through the platform

    The partner gets paid after you accept the work.

  4. 4

    The 7-day rule

    If the partner hasn’t started within 7 days of payment, the money goes back to you.

You can split a long task into separate orders, say registration, address and bank account, and each one has its own payment and acceptance.

What the service fee covers

You pay the fee on top of the partner’s price; it isn’t taken out of the partner’s payment.

  • The payment provider’s fee
  • Partner checks: identity and the right to provide the service
  • Offers in one format, so you can compare them
  • Payout to the partner only after acceptance
  • A dispute procedure if something goes wrong
Partner’s service $1,000
Lexicomb service fee, 14% $140
You pay $1,140
Government fees and mandatory costs separate line in the offer

Example only. You see the exact amount in the offer before paying.

FAQ

Can a foreigner open an LLC in Azerbaijan?

Yes. The State Tax Service registers a foreign-invested LLC electronically in two working days. A foreign corporate founder attaches its registration documents; foreign official documents must be legalised or apostilled, and their translation notarised.1

Does a foreign director need a work permit?

Not if at least one of the company’s founders is a foreign person or company. A founder with 51% or more doesn’t need one either when working in their own company. For other foreign staff, the employer obtains a permit for up to a year, which can be extended.5

How much does registration cost?

Electronic LLC registration carries no state duty. On paper it’s AZN 15, or AZN 300 for a branch or representative office of a foreign company. Separate document-preparation costs depend on the case. You see the partner’s fee and the full amount in the offer before paying.2

What taxes does a company pay?

Profit tax is 20%. Once turnover passes AZN 200,000 in 12 months, the company must register for VAT; the rate is 18%. A non-VAT company below the threshold may use the 2% simplified tax if it meets the regime’s conditions and exclusions. The general withholding rate on dividends is 5%, although the Tax Code provides specific exemptions.3

Should I choose a regular LLC, a park, the Startup certificate or Alat?

A regular LLC suits most trading and service businesses. Residency in a technology or industrial park gives 10 years without profit tax on park activity, and the Startup certificate gives 3 years to innovative micro and small companies. The Alat zone targets export-oriented manufacturing. A partner can check eligibility and compare the options.3, 4

Does Lexicomb guarantee registration or a bank account?

No. A state body or the bank makes that decision. Lexicomb helps you choose who does the work and fixes price, scope and acceptance terms before you pay.

Other countries

Compare business conditions in other jurisdictions.

KazakhstanAIFC and Astana Hub
KyrgyzstanHTP, CIP and Tamchy
UzbekistanIT Park and TIFC

Sources · checked 12 October 2026

  1. 1.
    State Tax Service of Azerbaijan: online registration of commercial legal entities and paper registration; Unified service standards for taxpayers. taxes.gov.az
  2. 2.
    State Tax Service of Azerbaijan: registration fees; Law on State Duty, Art. 20. taxes.gov.azin Azerbaijani
  3. 3.
    Tax Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan: Arts. 105, 106, 122, 155, 173, 218 and 220; official Tax Service guidance on taxes and park incentives. e-qanun.az
  4. 4.
    Alat Free Economic Zone: Incentives; Law on the Alat Free Economic Zone of 18 May 2018, No. 1143-VQ. afez.az
  5. 5.
    State Migration Service of Azerbaijan: Labour activity of foreigners and stateless persons. migration.gov.az
General information. This page isn’t legal or tax advice. The partner’s offer sets the exact terms, price and timing.

Setting up a company in Azerbaijan?

One request, several offers, the full price before you pay.