The European market remains one of the most popular directions for Ukrainian entrepreneurs. But at the start, many questions arise: how to legalize a business? Is it necessary to open a company? How to arrange supplies? To enter the European market, you need to prepare carefully and assess all risks, benefits, and potential challenges.
In this article, we will focus on opportunities for businesses located in Ukraine. Although migration is becoming increasingly popular, opening a company abroad is a complex process. So, you want to establish exports of your products to the EU — there are two business models for this:
You can conduct foreign economic activity as a private entrepreneur (FOP) or LLC. You need customs accreditation (for exporting goods) and a foreign currency account. Note that as an individual entrepreneur, you are limited by annual turnover depending on your tax group.
Pros: less bureaucracy, taxes are paid in Ukraine.
Con: not all EU companies want to work with foreign entities, logistics is complicated.
You will need a tax number, a residence permit (not always — Estonia, Lithuania, and Poland allow remote registration), a legal address, a local director or representative, and a local bank account. Each country has its own requirements — consulting with specialists is recommended.
Pros: trust from foreign partners, unlimited opportunities, access to grants and subsidies.
Con: a very complex process requiring thorough knowledge of laws.
It is better to start a startup with direct export shipments without investing in opening a branch or foreign company. This is a simpler path for beginners and helps test the market reaction without losses.
The next question is: who will be the distributor of your products? If you do not plan to open a retail point (offline or online), you need a business partner. How to enter the European market:
The most promising countries are Poland, Lithuania, Germany, and the Czech Republic.
The market is diverse, but several stable niches stand out:
Shipping goods from Europe to Ukraine can also be an intermediate step for exports to the USA or Canada. EU countries act as a transit or warehouse hub.
If you plan to launch an international business, be sure to use consulting from DiFFreight — we will explain how to legally start exporting abroad. We also provide warehousing services in Europe for your business.
Working in the EU is not as easy as it may seem at first. The European market is an area of strict regulations, so legal export requires quite a number of documents:
For most industrial goods, you need to obtain a Declaration of Conformity (CE Declaration), or CE marking. It is required for electronics, toys, medical devices, construction materials, machines, and mechanisms. For food products, a phytosanitary/veterinary certificate is required.
The EUR.1 certificate of origin is not mandatory, but you will want to obtain it if your product is manufactured in Ukraine. It provides reduced or even zero duties when importing goods into the EU.
The EU market requires a thoughtful development strategy: from establishing supply chains to marketing, attracting investment, and strictly following the rules. Regardless of the format you choose, here are useful tips:
Be especially attentive to tax regulations. Non-compliance leads to marketplace blocks, fines, and bans on sales.
Trade in the EU for Ukrainian businesses involves a large number of challenges, many of which are related to bureaucracy. But this does not mean you should give up new opportunities! We are ready to be your partner by offering:
Do not wait for the “right” moment — start preparing to enter the European market now, with the support of DiFFreight.
Key criteria include steady demand among consumers, compliance with European regulations and standards, profitability margin, shipping/logistics costs, and the potential to scale across EU markets.
Conduct market research: check trends on online marketplaces, examine sales statistics, reviews and competition. It’s also useful to start with small test batches before committing to large orders or a full launch.
Yes — very important. Many EU countries have strict standards for quality, safety, packaging, and labeling. Without proper certification or compliance, products may be banned or returned by retailers or customs.
Logistics is a key factor: the right shipping method, cost optimization, speed, secure packaging, and correct documentation affect final pricing and customer satisfaction. Poor logistics can lower competitiveness significantly.
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