Edna Ptichka
How to check a Bulgarian company
Five minutes before you sign or pay a Bulgarian supplier, client or partner. What to look at, and where.
Last reviewed: 13 September 2026 · На български
What an EIK is
The EIK (ЕИК, unified identification code) identifies every trader and legal entity in Bulgaria — the equivalent of a company registration number. Companies get a 9-digit code, branches a 13-digit one. The last digit is a check digit calculated from the others, so a mistyped EIK is usually caught straight away.
You'll find the EIK on invoices, contracts and the company's website. A Bulgarian VAT number is normally BG followed by the same 9 digits.
Where to check
- The Commercial Register (Търговски регистър) kept by the Registry Agency — the official source for registered circumstances and filed documents. The portal is mostly in Bulgarian.
- VIES, run by the European Commission — whether the VAT number is valid for trade within the EU.
- Edna Ptichka — brings both sources together in English, in one place, organised by what matters.
What to look at
- Status. Is the company active, in liquidation, insolvent, or deregistered?
- Who can sign. The manager (управител), executive director or board — and whether they represent the company jointly or separately. A contract should be signed by them or by someone with a power of attorney.
- Ownership. Partners, the sole owner and the beneficial owners. Frequent changes of owner are worth asking about.
- Annual financial statements. Companies file them every year, by 30 September for the previous year. Several missing years suggest the company isn't meeting its obligations.
- VAT registration. If the company invoices with VAT, its number should be valid in VIES.
- Recent entries. A change of manager, address or name just before your deal deserves a closer look.
Common legal forms
- EOOD / OOD — limited liability company with one or several partners, the most common form.
- EAD / AD — joint-stock company with one or several shareholders.
- ET — sole trader: a person trading under a business name, liable with their own assets.
- KD / SD — limited and general partnerships.
What a register check doesn't tell you
The Commercial Register doesn't show tax debts, court cases or a credit rating. Those have their own registers and services — a check by EIK is the first step, not full due diligence.