Quick answer: In Istanbul, the 2026 Trade Registry items for forming an LLC or JSC are a formation certification fee of TRY 2,160, a book certification fee of TRY 2,760, an announcement expenses fee of TRY 250, the Trade Registry Gazette notice at TRY 2.48 per word and the Competition Authority share of 0.04% of capital. Formation is exempt from harç. Share capital is not a cost. In practice, notary, sworn translation and other formation-related expenses typically total about USD 800–1,000 (an approximate range, not an official tariff); chamber registration and professional fees depend on the case. (İTO 2026 tariff and Ministry of Trade guide, checked on 28 October 2026.)

This article covers costs only. For the procedure itself, see our step-by-step company formation guide. For the registration service, see Company Registration in Turkey.

What makes up the cost of setting up a company in Turkey

A realistic budget separates three groups of items:

• Share capital: money committed by the shareholders. It stays with the company and is not an expense.
• One-time costs: trade registry fees, the Trade Registry Gazette notice, the Competition Authority share, notary, sworn translation, apostille and the first set-up of e-signature and e-documents.
• Recurring costs: accounting, registered address, e-document services, bank fees, chamber dues and, if there are employees, payroll and social security.

Minimum share capital in 2026

The minimum capital amounts set by the Presidential Decree in force since 1 January 2024 are restated in the Ministry of Trade guide for 2026:

Company type	Minimum capital	Payment timing
Limited company (Ltd. Şti.)	TRY 50,000	Cash capital may be paid in full within 24 months after registration (TTK art. 585)
Joint stock company (A.Ş.)	TRY 250,000 (TRY 500,000 initial capital for non-public JSCs in the registered capital system)	At least 25% of cash capital before registration, the rest within 24 months (TTK art. 344)

In an LLC, each share must have a nominal value of TRY 25 or a multiple of it (TTK art. 583).

Official one-time fees in Istanbul

The table lists the 2026 amounts published by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) Trade Registry Directorate. All amounts were checked on 28 October 2026.

Item	What it pays for	2026 amount	Source
Formation harç	Registration of an LLC or JSC	Exempt	İTO 2026 tariff; Ministry of Trade guide 2026
Formation certification fee	Kuruluş tasdik ücreti	TRY 2,160	İTO 2026 tariff
Formation book certification	Certification of statutory books at formation	TRY 2,760	İTO 2026 tariff
Announcement expenses fee	İlan giderleri ücreti	TRY 250	İTO 2026 tariff
Trade Registry Gazette notice	Publication of the formation	TRY 2.48 per word	TTSG tariff in force 1 January 2026
Signature declaration at the registry	Huzurda imza beyannamesi, per declaration	TRY 1,720	İTO 2026 tariff
Competition Authority share	Statutory share	0.04% of capital	Law No. 4054 art. 39

Trade Registry and İTO fees

Formation transactions for limited and joint stock companies are exempt from trade registry harç. The fees that remain are service fees: the formation certification fee (TRY 2,160), the formation book certification fee (TRY 2,760) and the announcement expenses fee (TRY 250). Membership of the chamber also involves a registration fee, set by İTO.

Trade Registry Gazette notice

The formation is published in the Turkish Trade Registry Gazette (TTSG). For company formation notices the 2026 rate is TRY 2.48 per word, under the tariff published in TTSG No. 11484 of 22 December 2025 and in force from 1 January 2026. The total depends on the length of the articles of association.

Competition Authority share

Under Law No. 4054 art. 39, 0.04% of the capital is paid to the Competition Authority. With minimum capital this is TRY 20 for an LLC and TRY 100 for a JSC. It can be paid at the registry together with the other fees.

Ledger certification and signature declaration

Statutory books are certified at formation for TRY 2,760. Managers or board members who sign for the company give a signature declaration; at the İTO registry this is TRY 1,720 per declaration. A declaration given at a notary is charged under the notary tariff instead.

Notary, sworn translation and apostille for foreign founders

These items have no single figure because they depend on the number of documents, pages and signatures:

• Individual shareholder: passport translation into Turkish by a sworn translator, notarisation of the translation, and a power of attorney if a representative will act.
• Corporate shareholder: certificate of incorporation or good standing, the board resolution on the investment and the power of attorney, each apostilled (or legalised by the consulate) in the home country and translated into Turkish.
• Notary fees: set by the official notary fee tariff and depend on the number of pages and signatures.
• Sworn translation: priced per page by translators; no official tariff.
• Apostille: fee set by the authority of the issuing country under the Hague Convention.

MERSIS, tax number and e-signature setup

The application is prepared in MERSIS, the Ministry of Trade’s central registry system; no separate MERSIS fee was identified in the sources reviewed. Foreign individuals obtain a potential tax number before formation. After registration, the company needs an e-signature for its authorised persons and, where it moves to e-Fatura or e-Defter, a financial seal (mali mühür) issued by Kamu SM. The mali mühür fee is set by Kamu SM.

Professional fees

Professional fees for formation and ongoing accounting depend on the shareholding structure, the number of foreign documents and the services required. They are quoted after the structure is known. For accounting work, SMMMs may not charge less than the minimum fee tariff under Law No. 3568.

Monthly costs after registration

• Accounting: subject to the 2026 SMMM minimum fee tariff; the actual fee depends on the volume of transactions.
• Registered address: office rent or a virtual office contract; market-priced.
• E-documents: integrator subscription for e-Fatura, e-Arşiv and e-Defter, where required by GİB rules; market-priced.
• Bank fees: set by each bank. See documents banks ask for when opening a corporate account.
• Chamber dues: annual İTO dues, set by the chamber.
• Payroll: if there are employees, salaries, social security and payroll filings. See payroll in Turkey.

LLC vs JSC cost comparison

Item	LLC	JSC
Minimum capital	TRY 50,000	TRY 250,000
Capital due before registration	None required	At least 25% of cash capital
Competition Authority share at minimum capital	TRY 20	TRY 100
İTO formation fee items	Same	Same
Formation harç	Exempt	Exempt
Contracted lawyer	Not generally required	Required above thresholds set under the Attorneys Act

Sample budget: one foreign individual, Istanbul LLC, remote setup

Assumptions: one foreign individual shareholder and manager, TRY 50,000 capital, formation through a representative under a power of attorney, one signature declaration at the registry. Only verified official figures are shown with amounts.

Item	Amount	Status
Formation certification fee	TRY 2,160	Verified (İTO 2026)
Formation book certification	TRY 2,760	Verified (İTO 2026)
Announcement expenses fee	TRY 250	Verified (İTO 2026)
Signature declaration at registry	TRY 1,720	Verified (İTO 2026)
Competition Authority share (0.04% × 50,000)	TRY 20	Verified (Law 4054)
Gazette notice	TRY 2.48 × number of words	Verified rate; total depends on text
Subtotal of verified fixed items	TRY 6,910 + Gazette notice	Calculated
Notary, sworn translation and other formation-related expenses	Approx. USD 800–1,000 in total	Estimate based on practice, not an official tariff
Capital (TRY 50,000)	Not a cost	Company funds

Fees should be checked again on the day of registration, as tariffs are updated each year.

How to reduce costs and avoid delays

• Prepare apostilled and translated documents in one batch to avoid repeat notary and courier costs.
• Keep the articles of association concise; the Gazette notice is charged per word.
• Decide early between LLC and JSC, since a later change of type has its own fee (TRY 3,440 under the İTO 2026 tariff).
• Prepare the bank account documents in parallel with registration.
• Check whether a double tax treaty or the transit trade deduction is relevant to the planned activity.

Related services: Company Registration in Turkey, foreign-owned companies, accounting and tax.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to form a company in Turkey in 2026?

The cost has three layers: share capital (the company’s own money, not a cost), one-time official and third-party fees, and recurring monthly costs. In Istanbul, the 2026 Trade Registry items for an LLC or JSC formation are a formation certification fee of TRY 2,160, a book certification fee of TRY 2,760, an announcement expenses fee of TRY 250 and the Trade Registry Gazette notice at TRY 2.48 per word (İTO 2026 tariff, checked on 28 October 2026), plus the Competition Authority share of 0.04% of capital. The registration itself is exempt from harç. In practice, notary, sworn translation and other formation-related expenses typically total about USD 800–1,000 (an approximate range, not an official tariff); chamber registration and professional fees are added on top and depend on the case.

What is the minimum share capital for an LLC and a JSC, and when must it be paid?

The minimum capital is TRY 50,000 for a limited company (Ltd. Şti.) and TRY 250,000 for a joint stock company (A.Ş.); TRY 500,000 applies as initial capital for non-public JSCs that adopt the registered capital system (Ministry of Trade guide 2026, checked on 28 October 2026). In an LLC, cash capital may be paid in full within 24 months after registration. In a JSC, at least 25% of the cash capital must be paid before registration and the rest within 24 months.

Is share capital a cost?

No. Share capital belongs to the company. Once paid into the company’s bank account it can be used for the company’s expenses and investments. It is a funding item, not a formation fee.

What official fees does the Trade Registry / İTO charge in Istanbul?

For an LLC or JSC formation, the İTO 2026 tariff lists a formation certification fee (kuruluş tasdik ücreti) of TRY 2,160, a formation book certification fee of TRY 2,760, an announcement expenses fee of TRY 250 and, where a signature declaration is given before the registry, TRY 1,720 per declaration. The Trade Registry Gazette notice is charged separately per word (checked on 28 October 2026).

What is the Competition Authority share?

It is 0.04% of the company’s capital (Law No. 4054, art. 39; Ministry of Trade guide 2026). For the TRY 50,000 minimum LLC capital this is TRY 20; for the TRY 250,000 minimum JSC capital it is TRY 100. It can be paid at the trade registry directorate together with the other formation transactions.

Is company formation subject to stamp duty or harç?

Formation of an LLC or JSC is exempt from trade registry harç: both the Ministry of Trade guide 2026 and the İTO 2026 tariff state that formation transactions are exempt from duties. The certification, book certification and Gazette fees listed above still apply, as do notary fees and any stamp duty on documents prepared outside the registry. Stamp duty on such documents should be checked case by case.

What do notary, sworn translation and apostille cost for foreign founders?

In our practice, notary, sworn translation and other formation-related expenses typically total about USD 800–1,000. This is an approximate range based on practice, not an official tariff; the actual amount depends on the number of documents, pages and signatures. Notary fees follow the official notary fee tariff. Sworn translation is priced per page by translators and is not set by an official tariff. Apostille fees are set by the country that issues the document.

Can I set up remotely, and what does a power of attorney add?

Yes. Foreign founders can form a company in Turkey through a representative holding a power of attorney. The power of attorney is usually signed before a notary or Turkish consulate abroad, apostilled if issued by a notary abroad, and translated into Turkish by a sworn translator in Turkey and notarised. These steps add notary, apostille and translation costs and some time.

How much is monthly accounting after formation?

Monthly accounting fees for SMMMs are subject to a minimum fee tariff set under Law No. 3568. The actual fee depends on the volume of transactions, staff on payroll and reporting needs.

What other recurring costs should I plan for?

Typical recurring items are a registered business address or virtual office, electronic signature and financial seal (mali mühür) renewals, an e-Fatura/e-Defter integrator subscription, bank account fees and annual İTO membership dues. Address, integrator and bank fees are set by private providers. Mali mühür fees are set by Kamu SM and İTO dues by the chamber.

LLC vs JSC: which is cheaper to set up and run?

The registry fee items are the same for both types in the İTO 2026 tariff. The differences come from capital: the JSC minimum (TRY 250,000) is five times the LLC minimum (TRY 50,000), 25% of JSC cash capital must be paid before registration, and the Competition Authority share is calculated on capital. Some JSCs must also appoint a lawyer under the Attorneys Act, which is a recurring cost.

How long does formation take?

The Ministry of Trade guide 2026 states that the registry step can be completed within one hour once the required documents are submitted. In our practice, the full process including document preparation abroad, registration, tax office set-up and bank account opening usually takes about 1 week; this is an observation, not an official time limit.

What hidden costs do people forget?

Frequently overlooked items are: the JSC capital that must be blocked in a bank before registration; translation and apostille of the parent company’s documents for corporate shareholders; notarised signature declarations; ledger certification; the per-word Gazette notice, which grows with the length of the articles of association; and the time cost of bank account opening.

Sources

1. Ministry of Trade, Establishing Company in Turkey 2026 guide: ticaret.gov.tr (accessed 28 October 2026)
2. İTO, 2026 Ticaret Sicili Harçları, TTSG İlan Ücretleri, Hizmet Bedelleri: ito.org.tr (accessed 28 October 2026)
3. TTSG İlan Ücret Tarifesi, in force 1 January 2026: ticaretsicilgazetesi.gov.tr (accessed 28 October 2026)
4. Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition, art. 39; Turkish Commercial Code No. 6102, arts. 344, 583, 585: mevzuat.gov.tr
5. İTO, Limited Şirketler: ito.org.tr (accessed 28 October 2026)

Contact

The steps to be followed, from incorporation to ongoing reporting, are determined in Turkish, English or Russian in an initial meeting based on the shareholding structure and business plan.

Phone: +90 506 271 43 48 · WhatsApp: 0506 271 43 48 · Email: info@yesiloutsourcing.com

Last updated: 28 October 2026 · Responsible professional: Ümit Çelik, SMMM