Please note: this article is not accounting or legal advice. Always check the details with an accountant and with the relevant authorities, as rules and fees can change.
Who this is for: psychotherapists, psychologists, counsellors and coaches in Slovakia who are starting their own practice for the first time and want to know exactly what needs doing. It isn’t meant for doctors, or for therapists who only work as employees of an organisation. Working in the Czech Republic instead? Read our guide to getting a trade licence in the Czech Republic.
You’ve finished your training, you have your first clients, and now you’re finding out that a private practice also needs a business licence. If being self-employed in Slovakia is new to you, getting a trade licence (živnosť) can look like a wall of unfamiliar terms. In reality it’s a handful of clear steps, and you can do most of them online.
The short answer: you register a trade with a trade licensing office (živnostenský úrad), in person or online, and you should receive your trade licence certificate within 3 working days. For psychotherapy, though, first check whether you need a separate authorisation – in Slovakia it can only be practised with a licence.
Is a trade licence enough for psychotherapy?
No. Psychotherapy is regulated in Slovakia and requires a licence (L1A, L1B or L1C) issued by the Slovak Chamber of Psychologists. The trade licence is the next step, the one that sets up the business side.
Which trade should you register?
The quick rule: if you want to practise psychotherapy, you need the licence first and the trade licence comes second. If you offer counselling or coaching without psychotherapy, an unregulated trade (voľná živnosť) is enough, and you don’t need any professional qualifications for it.
With an unregulated trade, you name your line of business after what you actually offer clients. According to Podnikajte.sk, the list of unregulated trades is only a recommendation, and you can use a different description as long as it’s specific and clear enough. From the recommended list, options worth considering include business, organisational and economic consultancy, extracurricular education, or personal services.
In practice, before you register, write down the services you offer clients and will invoice for, and match each one to a line of business. The name of the service on your contracts and invoices should match what you’ve registered. Most people starting out need just one trade licence with a few lines of business, and you can add more later.
You’ll also come across counsellors and therapists who work under an unregulated trade and describe their services as consultations or counselling. This article doesn’t judge or recommend that – it only describes what the offices will tell you. If you’re not sure whether your service can be done under an unregulated trade, ask the trade licensing office directly before you register. One phone call can save you from having to correct your registration.
Getting a trade licence in Slovakia, step by step
- Check what you’re entitled to do. Get your proof of qualifications and your licence ready.
- Register your trade. In person at the trade licensing office, or online through slovensko.sk, where you’ll need a qualified electronic signature.
- Name your health insurer. If you fill it in on the form, the trade licensing office notifies them for you.
- Wait for your certificate. The office issues it within 3 working days.
If you’d rather not fill in the forms yourself, Firmaren.sk can set up a trade licence or a limited company online and handle everything for you.
What to sort out once your trade licence is issued
- Tax office: for licences issued since 1 January 2022, the tax office registers you automatically.
- Health insurance: tell your health insurer you’ve started within 8 days of the licence being issued, if you didn’t name them on the form.
- Social insurance: you don’t need to report the new trade licence to the Social Insurance Agency (Sociálna poisťovňa). Contributions only start from 1 July of the following year, and only once your income passes the set threshold.
- Bank account: a separate account for your practice makes it easier to keep track of client payments.
How Lumi helps you run your practice
Once your licence is in place, the second part begins: actually running the practice. Lumi is a practice management tool for therapists that brings your calendar, clients, online booking and payments together in one place. The basic setup takes about 10 minutes, you can import clients in bulk, and it’s free for up to 10 sessions a month. Every subscription starts with a free 14-day trial. You can find out more on the Lumi website, where you can also sign up for free and try Lumi for 14 days.
Summary
You get a trade licence in Slovakia by registering with a trade licensing office, in person or online through slovensko.sk, and you should have your certificate within 3 working days. Psychotherapy, however, requires a licence (L1A, L1B or L1C) from the Slovak Chamber of Psychologists, and the trade licence is the step after that. Name your health insurer on the form, or tell them yourself within 8 days. For licences issued since 1 January 2022, the tax office registers you automatically.
If you’d like your calendar, clients, bookings and payments in one place, you can try Lumi free for 14 days.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a trade licence in Slovakia?
The office issues the trade licence certificate within 3 working days.
Can I register a trade online?
Yes, through slovensko.sk with a qualified electronic signature, or with help from Firmaren.sk.
Do I have to register with the tax office afterwards?
For licences issued since 1 January 2022, the tax office registers you automatically – you don’t need to do it yourself.
When do I have to tell my health insurer I’ve started?
Within 8 days of the licence being issued. If you name your insurer on the registration form, the trade licensing office notifies them for you.
Do I need a licence for psychotherapy as well as a trade licence?
Yes. Psychotherapy is regulated in Slovakia and requires a licence (L1A, L1B or L1C) issued by the Slovak Chamber of Psychologists. The trade licence is the next step, the one that sets up the business side.
How much will I pay in contributions as a self-employed person?
According to Podnikajte.sk, the minimum monthly payment in 2026 is €425.03 in total: €303.11 for social insurance and €121.92 for health insurance. The actual amount depends on your income and on when your obligation to pay contributions begins.
