Complete guide to doing business in Poland, for growing startups and entrepreneurs

If your UK business is eyeing the EU, Poland can feel like the practical choice that still has room for big ambition. It offers stable economic growth, easy routes into neighbouring markets, and a talent pipeline that suits everything from product teams to operations centres.

This guide covers the Poland market from a UK perspective, including opportunities, challenges, best locations to do business in, and the business culture you’ll want to understand before you land the first deal.

When money starts moving in multiple directions, though, the admin can get messy fast. That’s where Wise Business fits in: one place to receive, hold and pay in multiple currencies, with the mid-market exchange rate and fees shown separately before you convert or send.

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Why expand business to Poland?

Poland has become a serious European hub for business. It’s large enough to support growth without relying solely on exports, but central enough to act as a launchpad into other EU markets. When UK founders talk about expanding business in Poland, the appeal usually comes down to three things: customers, capability and controllable costs.

Here are the biggest opportunities for you to consider.

A large consumer base plus EU access

Poland offers a domestic market of around 38 million consumers and access to the EU Single Market of almost 500 million customers.¹ For many UK businesses, that means you can test product-market fit locally, then scale distribution across the region without reinventing your operating model. Poland is already plugged into wider trade flows, with main export partners being Germany (27.2%), the Czech Republic (6.1%), France (6.1%) and the UK (5.2%) in 2024, highlighting how connected the economy is to established European demand.¹

A strong infrastructure and logistics

Location only matters if things can actually move. Poland offers a developed infrastructure, including multiple airports and major ports, plus extensive rail and road networks.

Globally, the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index ranks Poland 26th out of 139 countries in 2023, with an overall score of 3.6.² For ecommerce, manufacturing, or any business juggling suppliers and delivery promises, that ranking helps explain why Poland is often viewed as a reliable operations base.

Talent that supports tech, services and scaling

Poland’s workforce is one of its most reputable advantages - it is an academic hub, with over 350 higher-education institutions, over 1.2 million students, and nearly 300,000 graduates each year.¹

It also highlights a mature business services sector, with more than 1,300 centres and employment exceeding 300,000 people, around 70% of all BSS centres in CEE.¹ The number of ICT specialists in the EU rose 62.2% from 2014 to 2024, signalling sustained demand and a strong ecosystem for digital roles.³

Tax rates and incentives that can support growth

Poland’s corporate tax is commonly 19%, but smaller taxpayers and new businesses may qualify for 9% on income other than capital gains if they meet the EUR 2 million threshold.⁴

Poland’s special economic zones are also integrated into the Polish Investment Zone, making certain tax exemptions and investment support available nationwide.⁵

Taken together, these can improve the cost-to-scale equation for startups and SMEs that want a base in the EU with relatively low operating costs compared to Western European countries.

Challenges of doing business in Poland

Whilst Poland is attractive, it can be operationally demanding, especially for UK businesses used to less complex tax and regulatory compliance rules. If you’re weighing up the pros and cons of doing business in Poland, these are common challenges worth planning around early.

Complex compliance and reporting requirements

Many regulatory changes have come into force in the past year which have been designed to simplify and modernise the Polish tax and corporate compliance regimes. However, even as the changes are making their way through the system, the regulatory environment remains highly complex. This can be seen in reporting timelines, documentation standards, and regulations from VAT registration, relatively strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, to consumer protections.

E-invoicing became obligatory for enterprises with annual revenue exceeding PLN 200 million from 1 February 2026.⁵ Even if your business sits below that threshold, it’s a signal that Poland is pushing toward more structured, digital compliance, which can affect invoicing systems and customer billing expectations.

Language and documentation friction

Even if your meetings run in English, paperwork often won’t. It’s crucial to note that legal documents and contracts often need to be written in Polish.

For UK companies, that can mean slower legal review cycles, added translation costs, and more back-and-forth to ensure commercial terms survive the trip between languages. This is manageable, but businesses should probably consider using a professional translation service as an on-going expense.

Hiring and payroll can be document-heavy

Employment law in Poland is governed by the Labour Code and requires contracts to be prepared in writing with specific details such as type of contract, start and end dates, terms of employment and remuneration, type of work, place of work and working hours .⁵ There are also labour-law and payroll-related reforms that have increased complexity in recent years such as an overhaul of the taxation system for corporations, entrepreneurs and employees, in addition to the way in which salaries are calculated .⁵

If you’re building a team on the ground, you’ll want local HR and payroll expertise early, plus realistic timelines for hiring, onboarding, and compliant salary calculations.

Currency and payment management across PLN, GBP and EUR

Poland uses PLN, so part of the Poland market experience will invariably be dealing with multiple currencies. If your UK entity sells in EUR, pays Polish suppliers in PLN, and reports in GBP, FX can quietly chip away at margins. A clean, repeatable approach to conversions, settlement timing and supplier payments can help avoid expensive last-minute transfers.

Using a platform like Wise Business makes it easy to manage international finances. A multi-currency account allows businesses to pay for incorporation costs, registration fees, and government taxes in local currency without paying high exchange rate fees.

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How to set up a business in Poland?

Setting up business in Poland is usually straightforward when you follow the expected order and bring in local support early.

You’ll still want local professional legal and tax advice, but the steps below help UK businesses understand what the setup typically involves, from registration to payments: ¹,⁵

• Choose a legal structure and confirm whether your activity is regulated: The most common structure for domestic and foreign businesses is a limited liability company (sp. z o.o.). Rules depend on the type of economic activity and whether it’s restricted by law.
• Prepare incorporation documents and company details: Gather shareholder and management details, registered address, and any required statements, then decide how you’ll sign and file.
• Register with KRS (National Court Register): Company registration can now be done electronically.
• Arrange tax and accounting setup: This typically includes identifying your tax obligations, choosing an accounting approach, and preparing for reporting deadlines. Poland has adopted IFRS, with requirements set out in the Polish Accounting Act.
• Register for VAT and assess ongoing compliance: AML/KYC obligations are among the compliance requirements.
• Set up business banking and payment rails for PLN and cross-border flows: Most operating models will require a business account to pay suppliers, run payroll, and collect revenue. A multi-currency account can also reduce friction when you’re paying in PLN but selling in GBP or EUR.
• Build your payment workflow early: That includes local payment preferences, invoicing, and clear instructions for customers and partners. Useful read: 9 ways to get paid into your Wise Business account.
• Set up payroll and hiring processes: Written employment contracts are required, with specific contract terms included.

What cities and areas in Poland are best for businesses?

The best locations in Poland for business depends on what you’re building: a sales office, a tech hub, an operations centre, or a logistics base. That said, some cities consistently score highly on the things startups and scaling SMEs care about such as talent, connectivity, business environment, and investment momentum.

Warsaw

Warsaw is Poland’s biggest business hub and a natural choice if you need proximity to national institutions, large corporations, and international networks. In fDi’s 2025 ranking, Warsaw places in the top three among major cities, and ranks second in both Human Capital and Lifestyle and Business Friendliness, sitting just behind London in those subcategories.⁶

If you’re expanding business in Poland with a focus on enterprise deals, partnerships, or a regional HQ model, Warsaw can offer the best of all worlds.

Kraków

Kraków is reputable for business services and skilled talent.

Krakow’s business services and technology sectors are among the fastest developing in Central Europe.⁷ It is a major hub for shared services centres, which is relevant if your UK business wants to scale finance operations, customer support, or IT services with multilingual capability. For startups, Kraków often feels like the best fit: strong employer brand, good talent density, and a mature services ecosystem.

Wrocław

Wrocław retains its title as the winner of fDi’s European City of the Future in the mid-sized cities division. Wrocław is frequently associated with engineering and tech-led growth, and it has even gained the nickname of the Polish Silicon Valley. It attracts the second-largest capital investment among all the Polish cities.⁶

Wrocław can be a compelling option, especially for product development, QA, and technical operations. The city’s investment profile and competitiveness make it a strong candidate for businesses prioritising execution and hiring velocity.

Business etiquette and culture in Poland

Business culture in Poland often starts more formally than in the UK, then relaxes once relationships are established. Getting the etiquette right helps you move faster in negotiations, avoid unforced errors, and build credibility with partners who prefer clarity over hype.

Here are some business etiquette tips to handle business right in Poland.⁸

• Confirm meetings in advance - it’s worthwhile confirming meeting details the day before too.
• Use titles and surnames at first - address counterparts using their title or “Pan” (Mr) or “Pani” (Ms) plus surname until invited otherwise. This is typically more formal than UK norms in early-stage meetings.
• Dress smartly for formal meetings - dark suits for men and business trouser or skirt suits for women are common for first meetings.
• Handshake, eye contact, greet everyone - a firm handshake and a greeting to each person individually is expected.
• Be punctual - meeting times are treated as strict arrangements, with up to five minutes late widely tolerated.
• Expect direct communication - Polish counterparts are often direct and open with opinions, including focusing on what needs improvement. UK teams may find this less vague than typical British phrasing.
• Be patient with decision-making - negotiations can move slowly and decisions may be made across multiple levels.
• Bring business cards - the exchange of business cards is still popular, and you should bring enough for everyone present.
• Keep boundaries clear, but expect late emails - boundaries between work and personal life are not always strict, so messages after hours can happen.

Tips for doing business in Poland

Doing business in Poland goes more smoothly when you design your processes around how the market actually works: PLN pricing, structured compliance, and relationship-building that rewards consistency.

Here are practical tips UK businesses use to reduce friction and grow faster, without overcomplicating the first six months.

Plan for PLN, EUR and GBP payments strategically

If you plan to sell locally, pricing in PLN is often the simplest path for customers, but it introduces FX exposure. Define who owns FX decisions, when conversions happen, and which currency you keep reserves in. This avoids panic conversions that happen after a busy sales month, when rates are least convenient. A Wise Business account allows your business to be paid in the currencies you need.

Build payment rails that match your cashflow

A Poland launch often means paying suppliers in PLN while receiving revenue in GBP or EUR. The smarter move is to set up a system that lets you hold and pay in the currencies you actually use, rather than converting every invoice on arrival. That can help keep margins stable, especially for agencies, importers, and subscription businesses with predictable outgoings. 40+ currencies.

Standardise invoicing and contracts early

Poland’s compliance and documentation expectations reward standard templates. Build Polish-language invoice formats where needed, clarify payment terms, and keep a clean record of VAT-related details. With VAT registration and AML/KYC compliance requirements, clean documentation is a necessity.

Choose a city based on hiring reality, not just rent

Warsaw, Kraków and Wrocław all have strong business cases, but the best city in Poland for business depends on your needs. Run a pilot recruitment campaign before committing to a longer lease. You’ll learn salary ranges, candidate availability and time-to-hire faster than any spreadsheet can tell you.

Set up a business account that supports cross-border operations

Opening a business account is a required step in most markets, especially once you’re paying staff or suppliers and collecting revenue across borders. Wise Business can help by letting companies create local account details in 8+ currencies and hold and manage money across 40+ currencies.

This makes it easier to receive and send money like a local business and to set up quickly online, which is useful when your expansion plan moves faster than traditional banking timelines.

Grow your business in Poland with Wise Business

Expanding into the Poland market usually means running a mixed-currency operation from day one, from PLN supplier bills, EUR customer contracts, to GBP reporting back home. Wise Business helps UK companies keep that complexity under control without slowing growth down.

Wise shows the mid-market exchange rate and Wise’s fee separately before you convert or send, so pricing and cashflow decisions can be based on clear numbers. Businesses can also hold money in 40+ currencies and get local account details in 8+ currencies, which helps Polish payments behave more like domestic transfers and keeps collections simpler for customers.

If your next step is setting up and growing a business in Poland, Wise Business can support the whole payment process, from getting paid, to paying suppliers and managing multiple currencies in one account.

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*Disclaimer: The UK Wise Business pricing structure is changing with effect from 26/11/2025 date. Receiving money, direct debits and getting paid features are not available with the Essential Plan which you can open for free. Pay a one-time set up fee of £50 to unlock Advanced features including account details to receive payments in 22+ currencies or 8+ currencies for non-swift payments. You’ll also get access to our invoice generating tool, payment links, QuickPay QR codes and the ability to set up direct debits all within one account. Please check our website for the latest pricing information.

Sources used:

1. Polish Investment and Trade Agency (PAIH), Doing Business in Poland: Investor’s guide 2025 - (PDF)
2. World Bank, *Logistics Performance Index (International LPI)
3. ICT specialists in employment - Statistics Explained - Eurostat
4. Biznes.gov.pl (Polish government), *CIT rates and 9% eligibility threshold
5. TMF Group, *Doing business in Poland
6. fDi Intelligence (Financial Times), European Cities and Regions of the Future 2025
7. Krakow - Eurocities
8. Trade.gov.pl - Business culture in Poland

Sources last check: 31-Mar-2026