To do business at home or abroad? Deciding after a consolidation package

More and more Slovak entrepreneurs are considering whether it still makes sense to do business at home. The third consolidation package has once again raised the topic – to stay in Slovakia or to move part of the business abroad? We discussed what the real options are today and what to consider in our Highgate Talks podcast with Peter Varga, Tomáš Dem and Lenka Buchláková.

Entrepreneurs between scepticism and realism

The business environment in Slovakia is increasingly marked by uncertainty. After the third consolidation package, even the biggest local patriots are starting to look for ways to open the “back door”. This is not a mass exodus of companies, but rather an interest in knowing the options and understanding what moving a company or assets abroad really means and what the advantages and disadvantages are.

However, not everyone has the same flexibility. While it is not possible to move a manufacturing factory from one day to the next, it is possible to move some of the revenue, investments or assets and owners of the company. It is these moves that entrepreneurs and business owners are increasingly considering today as ways to diversify risk.

Where are entrepreneurs looking?

The Czech Republic is most often mentioned because of its linguistic and geographical proximity, as well as natural business connections. Another frequently considered destination is Dubai, which offers an attractive tax environment and comfort for international structures. Luxembourg or Estonia also come into consideration in terms of a stable legal environment. Although these are more costly jurisdictions, their advantage is predictability – a businessman can count on the same rules even years later, whereas in Slovakia tax and legal regulations change in quick succession.

The decision to transfer is therefore not just a question of tax, but also of the degree of certainty and stability that a business needs in its long-term planning.

When to stay, so ready

Staying in business and investing in Slovakia can still make sense. However, the key is to be prepared and reduce the risks involved. For entrepreneurs, this means, for example, carefully separating corporate and private assets so that non-business assets are protected from unexpected events in the business – from tax audits, impending bankruptcy to foreclosure or bankruptcy.

Many entrepreneurs still hold their own real estate or other private assets directly on operating companies, thus unnecessarily exposing private assets to the risks of their business. Appropriate tax and legal set-up of the business, separation of individual assets and proper set-up of the ownership structure of companies are therefore essential to protect the assets of Slovak entrepreneurs.

Strike a balance between fairness and reality

While the third consolidation package does not bring fundamental systemic changes, it reinforces the overall sense of uncertainty. Businesses increasingly perceive that they need an environment that is predictable, stable and fair. If business in Slovakia is to make long-term sense, it must be worth playing fair – not just optimising in the short term.

That’s why, at Highgate Group, we help our clients set up business structures that are efficient, secure and sustainable, whether they choose to stay at home or expand abroad.

You can listen to the full episode of Highgate Talks here:

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If you are interested in this topic, we will be discussing it in more detail at our conference Protection of property and business – Slovakia or abroad? on 18 November 2025 at DoubleTree by Hilton Bratislava.

We are the Highgate Group – modern advisors for your law, tax and accounting under one roof.

If you are interested in this topic, please do not hesitate to contact us:

Peter Varga, e-mail: peter.varga@highgate.sk

Alternatively, you can address your specific questions in a consultation with our partner Peter Varga, who specialises in financial regulation and tax law. You can book a consultation here: