Software contractor on about €70k — should I register as a freelancer or open an EOOD?

For your profile — one client, no employees, 70k — freelance registration usually wins on both money and simplicity, but let us run honest numbers. As a registered freelancer, Bulgaria grants a flat 25 percent notional expense deduction, so tax applies to 75 percent of income: an effective 7.5 percent before contributions. Social and health contributions are the real cost, but they are capped — you insure on income up to the 2,300 euro monthly ceiling, so roughly 640 euro a month, call it 7,700 a year at the standard self-insured rates. Contributions also reduce your taxable base. All in on 70k you keep roughly 57 to 58k, with trivial accounting costs (many freelancers pay under 60 euro a month or just an annual-return fee). The EOOD pays 10 percent corporate tax, then 5 percent dividend tax on distribution — about 14.5 percent combined — plus you must insure yourself as managing owner (similar contribution money), plus real accounting fees of 100 to 200 euro a month, plus annual closing and more administration. On 70k you typically end up two to four thousand euro a year worse off than the freelancer, for no benefit you currently need. When does the EOOD win? Higher incomes where 14.5 percent beats 7.5-plus-contributions arithmetic shifts, significant deductible real expenses (the freelancer's 25 percent is notional — you cannot deduct more), hiring people, limited liability worries, or clients who insist on contracting with a company. Some German enterprises do prefer a company counterparty, so ask your client first. Full comparison tables at /guides/bulgaria-freelancer-vs-company-eood.