Bookkeeping in Croatia for Foreign-Owned Businesses
You opened a business in Croatia but do not speak Croatian. This page explains what records the law expects from you, what an accountant realistically costs in 2026, how to choose one, and how to keep your documents compliant in the meantime, or have FiskAI's own certified accountants handle the books for you.
Who must keep books, and what it costs
The bookkeeping obligation depends on your legal form. Lump-sum sole traders keep the simplest records, while companies (d.o.o. and j.d.o.o.) must maintain full double-entry bookkeeping. A sole trader whose receipts exceed 1,000,000 EUR in the preceding year must switch to profit taxation and double-entry bookkeeping.
| Business form | What the law expects | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|---|
| Lump-sum sole trade (paušalni obrt) | Simplest records: a transaction book (Obrazac KPR) and an annual PO-SD form | 50 - 150 EUR / month |
| Income-based sole trade (obrt na dohodak) | Single-entry records: receipts and expenditures, annual DOH return, possibly VAT | 100 - 300 EUR / month |
| d.o.o. / j.d.o.o. (small) | Full double-entry bookkeeping, VAT returns, payroll (JOPPD), annual statements (GFI-POD, PD) | 200 - 500 EUR / month |
| d.o.o. (5+ employees) | All of the above plus monthly payroll calculations for staff | 400 - 800 EUR / month |
Indicative 2026 prices. The actual cost depends on document volume, complexity and the accounting firm's location. Full details in the bookkeeping rules and deadlines guide.
FiskAI Računovođa: FiskAI's own accounting service, certified accountant included, arranged with the team after reviewing scope. Not available for lump-sum sole trades.
Finding an accountant when you do not speak Croatian
Before you start the search, know that you do not have to: FiskAI's own accounting service is an alternative for d.o.o. companies and income-based sole trades after the team reviews scope. If you would rather work with an independent firm, here is how the market looks.
Most Croatian accounting firms work primarily in Croatian. English-speaking firms exist, especially in larger cities, and availability and pricing vary. The bookkeeping market is not regulated by mandatory licensing for internal books, so quality differs from firm to firm.
Questions worth asking before you sign:
Keep your records compliant from day one
There are two ways to run your bookkeeping with FiskAI. With the FiskAI Računovođa service, FiskAI's own certified accountants manage your books, with monthly reviews, consultations and tax-filing preparation after the team confirms scope and pricing. Or bring your own accountant: FiskAI keeps the source records they work from clean and complete, so the monthly handover is painless and nothing is missing at year-end. Either way, the software side is the same:
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an accountant for a d.o.o. in Croatia?
Not by law: a d.o.o. may keep its books internally, for example through the director or an employee. In practice, double-entry bookkeeping, VAT returns and payroll filings require professional expertise, so almost all foreign-owned companies engage an external accounting firm. A licensed certification is legally required only for those providing accounting services to others.
How much does bookkeeping cost in Croatia?
Indicative 2026 prices: 50 to 150 EUR per month for a lump-sum sole trade, 100 to 300 EUR for an income-based sole trade, 200 to 500 EUR for a small d.o.o., and 400 to 800 EUR for a d.o.o. with five or more employees. The exact price depends on transaction volume, VAT status and the firm's location.
Can I find an English-speaking accountant in Croatia?
Yes, though most Croatian accounting firms work primarily in Croatian. English-speaking firms exist, especially in larger cities, and availability and pricing vary. When choosing, ask about experience with foreign-owned companies, e-invoicing readiness for the 2026 fiscalization rules, and how you will exchange documents each month.
Can I do my own bookkeeping in Croatia?
For a lump-sum sole trade, yes: the transaction book is simple enough to manage on your own. For an income-based sole trade it becomes demanding, and for a d.o.o. the double-entry requirements make professional help the practical choice.
Does FiskAI do my bookkeeping?
It can. FiskAI offers its own accounting service by arrangement: a certified accountant manages your books, with monthly reviews, consultations and tax-filing preparation. Scope and pricing are confirmed with the team and the service is not available for lump-sum sole trades. If you prefer your own accounting firm, FiskAI keeps every document organized so that the monthly handover takes minutes instead of hours.
Start with compliant records
Sign up for free and explore FiskAI. Plans start at 6.99 EUR/month, and you only pay when you issue your first real invoice. No contracts, no setup fees.
Related resources
- Bookkeeping in Croatia: Rules, Costs and How It Works - single vs double-entry, records and deadlines
- d.o.o. in Croatia: How to Open an LLC - formation, capital and taxes
- VAT Threshold in Croatia 2026 - when you must register for PDV
- Croatian Invoicing Software - what compliant invoicing requires