Slovak teenagers who are already programming websites, creating graphics, or editing videos while still in high school must currently wait until they turn eighteen to obtain their own živnosť (business license). However, a draft bill currently being prepared to amend the Civil Code introduces a groundbreaking change that should allow young people to start their own businesses earlier.
What Will Change and Who Is Affected
Current legislation in Slovakia is among the strictest in Europe. According to the existing Business Activities Act, reaching the age of 18, legal capacity, and an unblemished reputation are prerequisites for obtaining a business license.
The government’s new draft Civil Code, which is currently undergoing its second reading in the National Council of the Slovak Republic, proposes a change in the legal status of minors. The Ministry of Justice proposes to implement the new legal framework effective July 1, 2027.
Practical Obstacles and Expert Criticism
Although the intention to open doors for young entrepreneurs is noteworthy, experts and the opposition point to several serious shortcomings. Critics note that the coalition’s draft does not yet amend the Business Activities Act or the Commercial Register Act themselves.
Consequently, a situation could arise where a minor, although granted special legal capacity for entrepreneurial activity, would be denied a permit by authorities due to age restrictions in other laws. Other concerns include:
- The lack of specific safeguards against the misuse of property or restrictions on high-risk industries.
- The lack of tax support or fee exemptions for young, aspiring entrepreneurs.
- The need to resolve issues regarding court approval and the consent of legal representatives.
How Youth Entrepreneurship Works in Other Countries
While in Slovakia, the draft bill under consideration—or everyday life in general—is subject to strict rules for minors, in neighboring Czechia, the model has been functioning successfully for years. Local legislation there allows young people aged 16 and older to obtain partial or full legal capacity based on a court decision and parental consent, which opens the door to entrepreneurship for them. Similar models with a lower age threshold are also used in other European countries, while Slovak students are still forced to rely on part-time jobs or the complicated process of managing their assets through their parents.
