Freelance in Bulgaria

The freelance market in Bulgaria

Bulgaria has one of the lowest tax rates in the EU and a growing IT outsourcing sector in Sofia, Plovdiv and Varna. Developers, designers and support specialists work for clients across Europe. Since 1 January 2026 Bulgaria uses the euro, which makes invoicing EU clients simpler.

Taxes and legal status

Freelancers register as self-insured persons (самоосигуряващо се лице) and pay a flat 10% income tax. For liberal professions such as IT, design and translation, a standard 25% of income is deducted as expenses. Social and health contributions are paid on an insurable income between a minimum and a maximum. VAT registration is required above an annual turnover threshold. Many freelancers with high income open an EOOD company with 10% corporate tax.

This is general information as of 2026, not tax or legal advice. Rates and thresholds change, so check them with the tax authority or a local accountant before you register.

Getting paid

Clients in the EU usually pay by SEPA transfer in EUR, which is fast and cheap inside the European payment area. PayPal, Wise and Revolut are widely used for smaller amounts and clients outside the EU.

• SEPA transfers in EUR
• PayPal
• Wise and Revolut
• local bank transfers

Skills in demand

• software development
• QA
• customer support
• graphic design
• digital marketing
• translation between Bulgarian, English and Russian

Tips for freelancers in Bulgaria

• The 10% flat tax makes Bulgaria attractive: keep good records to use the 25% expense deduction.
• Since 2026 you invoice in euros, so remove leva from your price lists.
• Russian is widely understood: mention it for clients from the CIS.

Hiring a freelancer from Bulgaria

Local time in Bulgaria is UTC+2 (UTC+3 in summer), so agree in advance on the hours when you are both available for calls. Describe the task, the deadline and the budget in your first message, ask for examples of similar work, and fix what counts as done before work starts. If the work is for a local audience, a freelancer who knows the language and the market will save you rewrites.

Kits for freelancers in Bulgaria

Kits is an international freelance marketplace that is not tied to one country. Freelancers in Bulgaria can publish services with a portfolio and a clear price, or respond to clients' jobs, and talk to clients in the built-in chat. The first listing on each account is free, and the site works in nine languages, from English and Spanish to Russian, Turkish and Georgian.