The myth of the sluggish Croatian bureaucracy

You know those ads "Get rid of extra pounds with these 5 steps" and similar ones? If you type the term "opening a business" into the Google search engine, you will come across the same articles, instructions, tips and steps that will make you think you will fly through the entire process like Usain Bolt. And it all seems quite simple - but is it really so?

As people have different attitudes, plans, desires and ambitions, I believe that the process of starting your own business depends largely on the individual, that is, the person or association of partners who dare to undertake such an undertaking. My experiences with the Croatian bureaucracy, as well as my own challenges when starting a business (in my case – a small trade), confirm the assumption that it is a simple process, no matter how shocking it sounds.

First of all, you need a clear vision, or as my grandmother used to say - "so that you know where you are headed, son". Recently, a colleague of mine from a joint industry asked me for some advice related to starting her own business. Through the conversation, we have realised that she doesn't really know if she wants to be independent, start "something of her own" or be an employee of a company. Conclusion? "Don't rush like geese in the fog" - when you clearly define what you want, everything will naturally fall into place.

I had a vision and a plan, so the steps in realising that plan were clear and realistic - I managed to "see the forest for the trees". And so, like most Croats who decide to do something similar, the first step was submitting a request for self-employment support. I won't lie to you, the whole process took about two months, but that made the official positive evaluation of my application even sweeter.

I used that period to connect with potential clients, create a business plan, financial projections and business identity (visual, creative and content). Additionally, apart from a clearly defined goal, you must think in advance about your product, in my case – services, and about the market where you will place them. My "safety net" was a network of associates whom I met through previous work experience and who greatly helped me in making my business successful today. I can freely say that without them I would be like Tom Hanks in "Cast Away" - hungry, desperate and on the edge of sanity.

Fortunately, I eliminated this potential threat, and after two months of waiting, the opening of my trade, bank account and application to the necessary registers, membership fees, etc. followed. I must point out that this phase passed unexpectedly easily and quickly. Through the e-Trade service, I submitted an application for the establishment of a trade in just a few minutes. The very next day, a lady from the Croatian Chamber of Crafts called me to further clarify some segments of the application - yes, yes, this is for the "believe it or not" section. In the blink of an eye, I became the proud owner of a trade for business services!

The only thing I could complain about in this process are the banking services. I wanted to open my business account in the same bank where I have a private account. I succeeded in that, but it was a thorny path, filled with inexplicably long waits and protocols. So our infamous state bureaucracy pales in comparison to banking procedures. But I believe this is an exception, since banks have different business policies...

Finally, I want to emphasize how important each successfully completed step of this not-at-all Kafkaesque process was to me. Don't forget to look forward to the "small" things, from your first official trademark, through the approval of subsidies or similar certificates to the opening of a company/trade and the first clients. They are a confirmation of your goals and ambitions, a symbol of a fresh, uncertain but also exciting turning point in your business life, which, whether you like it or not, also affects your private life.