What does a trade licence cost, and what do I pay in contributions?
Registering online is free — but the contribution holiday was cut in 2026. Notifying a free trade electronically costs nothing; doing it in person costs €7 per free trade and €22 for a craft or regulated trade. Health contributions run from the very first day of business — the minimum for 2026 is €121.92 a month. The big change from January 2026: the contribution holiday for new sole traders has been cut to 6 months. You begin paying social contributions from the first day of the 6th calendar month following the grant of the trade licence — and that applies regardless of what you earn. The minimum for 2026 is €131.34 a month.
📋 The rules
- A free trade notified online: free of charge
- In person: €7 per free trade, €22 for craft or regulated
- Health contributions from day one: min. €121.92 a month
- The contribution holiday is now only 6 months
- Social contributions then apply regardless of income: €131.34
🔓 Exceptions
- Craft and regulated trades require proof of professional competence
- Electronic notification needs an ID card with a chip and an electronic signature
- The minimum contribution amounts change every year
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The biggest change of 2026 is precisely the cut in the contribution holiday to 6 months: a new sole trader used to go a long time without paying social contributions, but now they start from the first day of the 6th calendar month after the licence is granted — even with no income at all. If you have not budgeted for that, an unpleasant surprise arrives in the shape of €131.34 a month. Health contributions, meanwhile, have been running since day one. Non-payment leads to arrears, penalties and a suspension of your health cover; the arrears are pursued by both the social and the health insurer through enforcement.
📎 Official sources
- slovensko.sk · Trade licensing →
- Social Insurance Agency · Sole traders →
- Slov-Lex · Trade Licensing Act (455/1991) →
❓ Frequently asked
What does a trade licence cost?
Notifying a free trade electronically is free of charge. Doing it in person costs €7 for each free trade and €22 for each craft or regulated trade.
When do social contributions start?
From January 2026 the contribution holiday was cut to six months. Social contributions therefore begin on the first day of the sixth calendar month after the trade licence is granted, regardless of what you have earned.
What are the minimum contributions in 2026?
Health contributions are a minimum of €121.92 a month and run from the first day of business. Social contributions are a minimum of €131.34 a month and start once the contribution holiday ends.
Do I pay contributions even with no income?
Health contributions, yes, from day one. And now social contributions too — once the six-month holiday ends they are payable regardless of whether you have earned anything.
What if I do not pay?
Arrears and penalties build up and your health cover is suspended. Both the social insurer and the health insurer pursue the arrears through enforcement, so the problem compounds by itself.
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