Business services for foreign-owned companies in İstanbul
Running a company here as a foreigner means a licensed accountant, a bank that asks questions about every incoming payment, customs documents for every shipment and work permits for every foreign hire — each in Turkish, each on its own deadline. The Business Operating Desk puts one coordinator between you and all of them, in your language and the bank's.
Company formation coordination
Ltd for a foreign founder. Filing by a licensed SMMM you retain; we coordinate tax number, translations, registry, ledgers, bank pack. ₺9,000
Bank account opening
Bank shortlist by appetite, document pack, KYC interview preparation, branch accompaniment. ₺15,000 first bank, ₺7,500 each further.
Bank compliance reply
Your bank's questionnaire answered in its structure, with documents indexed; you sign. ₺4,000 one-off, included in Desk tiers.
Import/export document pack
Per shipment: invoice, packing list, CMR/BL, origin, GTİP pre-check, red-flag screen, broker coordination. ₺5,000, included in Desk tiers.
Work-permit file preparation
Employer files via e-İzin with its own e-signature; we prepare the data pack and track the 30-day deficiency window. ₺6,500 per permit.
Accounting coordination
On top of your SMMM's tariff: monthly document collection, explanation of the accountant's requests in your language, tax calendar. ₺1,500/mo.
Business Operating Desk — three tiers
A monthly subscription that bundles the services above into one coordinator and one invoice. The SMMM tariff, bank fees, customs-broker fees and state fees are always separate and paid by you to them.
| Tier | Start | Trade | Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee (incl. KDV) | ₺12,000 | ₺25,000 | ₺40,000+ |
| Designed for | New companies in their first year | Active importers / exporters | Multi-entity groups |
| Bank compliance replies / month | up to 4 | up to 12, same-day | unlimited |
| Import/export shipment packs / month | 2 | 8 | unlimited |
| Work-permit calendar and renewal tracking | included | included | included |
| Accounting coordination with your SMMM | included | included | included |
| Coordinator | shared, 4 h ops / month | dedicated | dedicated + founder-level review |
| Customs-broker and forwarder coordination | on request | included | included |
| Work-permit file preparation | ₺6,500 per permit on any tier; Business Account ₺3,000/mo (≤10 foreign staff) or ₺7,500/mo (≤50) for employers without a Desk | ||
The notarial tariff is paid by you directly to the notary. We are not a notary and receive no remuneration from any notary.
Last verified: 24.10.2026 · source: TÜRMOB 2026 Asgari Ücret Tarifesi — turmob.org.tr; ITO formation cost example — ito.org.tr; 2026 Noterlik Ücret Tarifesi — higm.adalet.gov.trPilot prices, valid until 31.12.2026. Ten pilot Desks at founder pricing are open now — see For Business.
Who does the regulated work
| Act | Performed by | Our role |
|---|---|---|
| Articles, MERSİS filing, registry | Licensed SMMM (Law 3568) retained by you | Coordination, document chain, interpreter |
| Bookkeeping, tax returns, e-Fatura | Licensed SMMM | Collection, translation of requests, calendar |
| Bank account contract, KYC decision | The bank | Preparation, accompaniment, follow-up |
| Compliance declaration to the bank | You — signed by your authorised signatory | Drafting in the bank's structure, document index |
| Customs declaration | Licensed gümrük müşaviri retained by you | Document pack, pre-checks, coordination |
| Work-permit application | The employer, in e-İzin with its e-signature | Eligibility pre-check, data pack, deficiency tracking |
| Legal opinion on anything | A lawyer you retain directly | None — see legal information |
Why a desk rather than five suppliers
- One calendar. VAT return on the 28th, SGK on the last day, permit renewal 60 days before expiry, bank letter due in five business days — tracked in one place and chased by one person.
- One language pair. Your coordinator reads the bank's Turkish, the accountant's Turkish and the customs broker's Turkish, and writes back to you in English, Russian or Arabic.
- Institutional memory. Which bank opened accounts for which nationality and sector last quarter; which compliance wording the bank accepted last time; which GTİP the broker used for your product. Kept in your company file, not in someone's head.
- Nothing collected on anyone's behalf. No state fee, tariff or professional fee passes through us. This is both the law (Law 6493 on payment services, Law 1512 on notaries) and the reason our invoice is easy to audit.
Questions
Is the Desk an accounting service?
No. Bookkeeping, tax filings and formation filings are done by a licensed SMMM whom you retain directly at or above the TÜRMOB tariff (2026 İstanbul Ltd minimum ≈ ₺4,868 per month, including the +35% metropolitan uplift). The Desk coordinates: it collects what the accountant needs, explains what the accountant says in your language, and keeps the calendar.
Do you talk to the bank for us?
We draft the bank's compliance reply in Turkish in the structure the bank expects, with the supporting documents indexed. You review, sign and send it as your own declaration. We accompany you to the branch with a sworn interpreter where useful. We do not hold your internet banking credentials or move money.
Can you advise on which company structure to choose?
No. Choosing a structure is a legal and tax question. We lay out the official facts — Ltd minimum capital ₺50,000, AŞ ₺250,000, the ITO cost example — and if you want advice we tell you to retain a lawyer or your SMMM directly.
Can we start with one service and add the Desk later?
Yes. Formation, bank opening, a single compliance reply or a single shipment pack are sold one-off. Companies that find themselves ordering compliance replies every week usually move to Trade; the one-off fees paid in the previous 30 days are credited against the first month.
Related: For Business — pilot invitation and demo · translation & documents · our standard · all services
Describe the company
Opens in WhatsApp. A 30-minute call with the founder within two business days.