Start a Business in North Macedonia: High Potential in the Balkans

🌍 Start a Business in North Macedonia: Low Taxes, Big Opportunities in the Balkans

Published in June 2025 – by Mauro Benigno

🇲🇰 Why North Macedonia?

If you’re looking for a cost-effective way to grow your business in Europe while keeping access to regional markets and avoiding bureaucratic headaches, North Macedonia might be your best-kept secret. This small but strategic country has everything entrepreneurs and international investors need: low taxes, pro-business policies, and an ideal location at the crossroads of the Balkans.

With a corporate tax rate of just 10%, one of the lowest in Europe, and simplified regulations for new businesses, North Macedonia is positioning itself as a go-to destination for startups, manufacturers, and service providers that want to scale efficiently.

🏛️ A Business Climate That Encourages Action

What impressed me most is how quickly things can move here. Company registration is simple and transparent, and the legal framework makes it relatively easy to get started—even for foreign founders. If your background is in manufacturing, logistics, tech, or agriculture, you’ll find incentives that go beyond paper promises.

North Macedonia’s government has made foreign investment a priority, supporting projects with grants, reduced taxes, and custom-built industrial zones. This isn’t just talk—they’ve created Technological Industrial Development Zones (TIDZs) that give your business access to real advantages: tax breaks, infrastructure, and ready-to-use facilities designed to help you launch faster.

🧭 A Strategic Location in the Heart of the Balkans

Geography matters in business, and this is where North Macedonia shines. With borders touching Serbia, Greece, Bulgaria, and Albania, and trade routes that connect you to both the EU and non-EU Eastern markets, it’s a natural base for logistics, import-export, or regional sales.

Whether you’re shipping products to Central Europe or receiving supplies from Asia, you’ll benefit from the country’s growing infrastructure. International airports in Skopje and Ohrid, improved highways, and railway connections make doing business across borders smoother than ever.

💡 Real Incentives You Can Actually Use

In North Macedonia, the incentives aren’t hidden behind red tape. If your business operates in one of the country’s development zones and exports most of its production, you can enjoy up to 10 years of corporate tax exemption. There are also VAT deferrals, customs exemptions for imported machinery, and hiring subsidies for growing teams.

This isn’t just beneficial on paper—it can significantly reduce your operational costs in the first few years, allowing you to reinvest in scaling faster.

💼 Let’s Talk Numbers: Costs, Salaries, and Daily Operations

What makes North Macedonia truly attractive is how far your budget can go.

Salaries are low compared to Western Europe, but the talent pool—especially in areas like engineering, manufacturing, and IT—is solid. On average, a skilled worker earns between €650 and €850 per month, while junior developers and engineers range from €1,000 to €1,800 depending on specialization.

Office space in Skopje, the capital, is also affordable, with rents typically around €8–€12 per square meter. Monthly internet packages are fast and reliable, usually between €25 and €50, and electricity for business use remains under the European average at around €0.10 per kWh.

All of this adds up to a cost structure that lets you operate lean, without sacrificing quality or competitiveness.

🌐 Trusted by International Investors

Over the last decade, dozens of companies from Germany, Italy, the U.S., and Turkey have invested in production or logistics operations in North Macedonia. With free trade agreements covering the EU, Turkey, and Ukraine, it’s easy to export products without dealing with excessive customs complications.

This kind of access is rare for such a small country—and it’s a huge plus for anyone thinking about building a regional export hub.

🙌 Why I Recommend It

If you’re exploring how to expand in the Balkans or simply want to reduce overhead without compromising on quality or location, North Macedonia is worth your time. I’ve supported several clients in their move to this market, and every time, I’ve seen the same outcome: faster growth, easier setup, and strong long-term advantages.

With the right guidance and local partnerships, getting started is smoother than you might expect.

📞 Ready to Explore the Possibilities?

Let’s talk.

Whether you’re considering outsourcing, opening a new office, or relocating production, I’ll walk you through the steps and help you make an informed decision—based on real experience.

📅 Book your free consultation today and let’s explore whether North Macedonia is the right fit for your business journey.