Micro and small businesses can apply for a Startup Certificate to the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SMBDA).

According to the Tax Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan, entrepreneurs engaged in micro and small businesses are exempt from income tax and tax on income from innovation activity for 3 years from the date of receiving the Startup Certificate. 

Applications to be submitted to the Agency directly (Baku city, Ziya Bunyadov avenue, 38C, 1969 block) or electronically (info@smb.gov.az). The appropriate application form and other required documents are available in this section.

According to the Startup Determination Criteria approved by the Cabinet of Ministers on January 29, 2021, a startup certificate is issued to taxpayers – micro or small businesses. If an applicant is a founder of a medium or large business, the share of this founder in the legal entity should not exceed 49 %.

A startup certificate is issued for a product manufactured (service provided) to generate income or profit based on an innovative initiative, and this product should be competitive and not identical to another (different) startup product (service).

The application for a Startup Certificate received by SMBDA is registered on the date of submission. The Agency considers the application and the documents attached within 30 days and submits it to the Expert Council for consideration. Based on the Expert Council conclusion, the Agency decides to issue or refuse to issue a Startup Certificate.

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3.2. The following documents (information) should be attached to the application:

3.2.1. copies of the applicant's taxpayer registration certificate and the ID Card of the applicant-individual, as well as, if the applicant is represented by an authorized representative, the original power of attorney confirming his/her powers,

3.2.2. a presentation prepared using the appropriate software to obtain a Startup Certificate, reflecting the name and detailed description of the project (hereinafter – the project),

3.2.3. commercial or product design,

3.2.4. a business plan containing the following information:

1. market research and marketing plan related to the product (service) share in the market, its market potential,

2. export or import substitution potential of the product (justified),

3. the product (service) uniqueness and competitiveness (justified),

4. investment plan,

3.2.5. the following HR information:

1. the experience and (or) education of the management members, if any,

2. the employees ensuring the product (service) designing, its release to the market, and further development if any,

3. consultants if any,

4. shareholders (stakeholders) and (or) investors if any,

3.2.6. grants, investments, or loans attracted to the startup if any,

3.2.7. a patent or patent application for a startup product if any, 

3.2.8. a technology business incubator registration certificate if any.

Note: to obtain a Startup Certificate, an applicant should submit the application and other documents to the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan directly (134, Ataturk Avenue, Baku, AZ1069) or electronically (info@smb.gov.az).

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Decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on approval of "Criteria for determining the startup"

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The Expert Council operates in the following composition:

- representatives of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Azerbaijan,

- representatives of the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan,

- representative of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan,

- representative of the Intellectual Property Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan,

- representative of the Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences,

- independent experts:

1. representative of the Public Association Azerbaijan Internet Development Forum,

2. representative of the Public Association Azerbaijan Innovation Export Consortium, 

3. representative of the Commission for Innovations and Digital Technologies under the National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

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