More and more creators earning from OnlyFans, Fansly, YouTube, Twitch, Patreon, TikTok and brand partnerships run their income through a company. Bosnia and Herzegovina is increasingly on their shortlist — especially creators who live in, or are moving to, the Balkans. Here is how it works, and what to check before you start.
Why creators use a company at all
- Lower tax on profits. Company profit in Bosnia is taxed at 10%, compared with personal income tax rates of 30–45% in much of Western Europe.
- Deductible costs. Equipment, studio rent, editing, travel for shoots, software and assistants are business expenses.
- Professional invoicing. Brands and agencies prefer to contract with a company.
- Separation. Business and private money, contracts and liability are kept apart.
- Privacy. Contracts and invoices carry the company name instead of your personal name.
How it works in practice
- A d.o.o. is registered in Sarajevo, owned by you — remotely, by power of attorney if needed. See register without travelling.
- The platform account or payouts are set up in the company’s name where the platform allows business accounts, with the company’s bank details.
- The company invoices platforms, agencies and brands, and pays its costs.
- You take money out as a director’s salary, as dividends (5% withholding tax in the Federation of BiH), or a mix — planned with your accountant.
Typical registered activities are artistic creation, video production or online advertising services. We choose the activity codes with you so that they match what you actually do and what the bank sees on the account.
The rule you cannot skip: where do you live?
A Bosnian company is taxed in Bosnia if it is managed from Bosnia. If you live in Germany, Austria, the UK or another high-tax country and create content there, your home country can tax the company’s profits as if they were yours. A company in Bosnia then saves little and creates risk.
The model works best for creators who:
- live in Bosnia or are moving here — Sarajevo, Mostar and Banja Luka have low living costs and fast internet;
- live in a country that does not tax foreign company profits of residents;
- or build a real team in Bosnia — editors, managers, assistants.
Read our tax comparison for the details and talk to a tax adviser in your country of residence before you decide.
Banking
Banks in Bosnia review where money comes from. Income from creator platforms is legitimate business income, but expect questions — especially for adult content. What helps:
- a clear description of your business and platforms at account opening;
- platform payout statements and contracts;
- consistent activity codes and invoices.
We prepare this file with you and tell you in advance which banks accept which types of creator income.
Residence for creators moving to Bosnia
If you want to live in Bosnia, your own company can employ you as director, which is the basis for a work permit and temporary residence.
Discretion
Many creators value privacy. We never publish or disclose who our clients are, and correspondence goes to our registered address. The public register shows the company’s owners and directors by law. See confidential company formation for what is and isn’t visible.
Request a fixed quote: tell us your platforms, your country of residence and your plans, and we reply with the structure and full cost in writing.
Sources
- Law on Corporate Income Tax of the FBiH — Art. 31 (10%), Art. 38 (5% on dividends)
- Law on Foreigners of BiH — temporary residence (Art. 48)