Ready-made freight forwarding company - 24 hours vs 6 months

The Polish TSL market in 2026 is one where there are three times more cargo offers than free trucks. New companies have potential, but entry requires a freight forwarding licence - and the GITD procedure takes 4-6 months. By then the market is already taken by someone else.

That is why more and more entrepreneurs choose ready-made freight forwarding companies over starting from scratch. This article shows exactly how the purchase of a ready-made company works - from verification through documents to takeover - and why this model dominates today.

What is a freight forwarding licence?

The licence for intermediation in the transport of goods (commonly known as "freight forwarding licence") is a document required by the Polish Road Transport Act of 2001 for every company that organises transport for third parties but does not perform it directly with its own vehicles.

In other words: if you accept an order from a client, find a carrier, sign a contract with them, and the cargo travels via that third company - you are a freight forwarder and you need a licence.

The freight forwarding licence is issued by the General Inspectorate of Road Transport (GITD) in Warsaw. Without it, your activity is illegal, and GITD fines start at PLN 8 000 and can reach PLN 30 000 per charge.

Formal requirements for a new freight forwarding licence

The application procedure usually takes 4-6 months. The applicant must meet four main requirements:

1. Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)

The transport manager must have the Certificate of Professional Competence. It is obtained through:

• State exam at the Provincial Inspectorate of Road Transport (WITD), 2-4 week preparatory course + exam session every 2 months
• OR 15 years of experience in the transport industry in a managing role

The certificate is issued to a natural person - not a company. If the person leaves, the company loses competence and has 30 days to hire someone with a certificate.

2. Financial standing

The applicant must document financial capacity:

• EUR 9 000 for the first vehicle (or freight forwarding activity without vehicles)
• EUR 5 000 for each additional vehicle

Form of guarantee: own funds in account, bank loan or bank guarantee.

3. Good repute

The applicant and manager must have no criminal record for economic crimes, tax fraud, illegal employment and transport violations (demerit-point scale in KREPTD).

4. Polish seat + operating base

The company must have a real registered address in Poland (no virtual office) and an operating base - a location where it conducts business (even without own vehicles - place for documents, office, archive).

What you get when buying a ready-made freight forwarding company

Unlike the "from scratch" path, taking over a ready-made company gives you a complete starter pack:

1. Active freight forwarding licence

Issued by GITD, with specified capacity (typically for freight forwarding activity without specific vehicles - so-called "standalone" licence). Indefinite validity, as long as the company meets requirements and pays KREPTD fees.

2. Certificate of Professional Competence

In the OpenCompany model - together with the company we provide a manager with a certificate. You can hire your own CPC holder or use our solution (contract with a certified person) during the transition period.

3. Verified VAT status

The company is registered as an active VAT taxpayer (NIP-VAT number). Status checked in BIK + Central Register of Taxpayers. We verify every company before sale in GUS, KRS, Active Taxpayers Register, KREPTD, BIG/BIK databases.

4. Bank account

The company has a business account in a Polish bank (PKO BP, ING, mBank, Pekao, Santander - depending on the specific company). Bank statements for the last 12 months are available for review before purchase.

5. Full KRS documentation

Articles of association, founding deed, list of shareholders, financial statements for the last 2-3 years, GITD decisions. All archived and handed over with the company.

6. ZUS and tax office certificates

Current (no older than 30 days) certificates of no arrears at ZUS and the Tax Office. No arrears - absolute standard in our offer.

Purchase stages - step by step at OpenCompany

Stage 1: Consultation (day 0)

We start with a free conversation - 30-45 minutes. We ask:

• What activity you plan (freight forwarding or transport)
• How many vehicles / drivers
• Where you operate (country, EU, third countries)
• Whether you have CPC, or need support
• What budget

Based on that we match a company from our offer.

Stage 2: Company presentation (day 1-2)

We show a specific company with an active freight forwarding licence. You receive:

• Bank statements (12 months back)
• ZUS and tax office certificates
• 2025 financial statement
• Copy of GITD licence decision
• Articles of association
• List of obligations (if any)

You can check all this with your tax advisor / lawyer.

Stage 3: Preliminary agreement (day 3-4)

We sign a preliminary agreement with a deposit (typically 10-20% of the company value). The company is reserved for you.

Stage 4: Notary verification (day 5-7)

The notary verifies all documents, checks for absence of encumbrances, drafts the notarial deed of share transfer.

Stage 5: Notarial deed or S24 online (day 7-10)

Depending on preference:

• At the notary - classic deed, 1-2 hours at the office, notary cost ~PLN 1500-3000
• S24 system (National Court Register), online, electronic signatures, cost ~PLN 150, time: 1 hour

Stage 6: KRS, ZUS, Tax Office filings (day 10-14)

After signing we file on your behalf the change of shareholders and board in KRS, ZUS, Tax Office. Entry usually appears in 5-14 days.

Stage 7: The company is yours (day 14-21)

You receive full control over bank account, documents, correspondence. Real start of operations: 24-48 hours after signing the deed - you do not wait for KRS, because the licence works from the moment of takeover.

Price - how much does a ready-made freight forwarding company cost in 2026?

The current market price depends on several factors:

Average 2026 price range for a freight forwarding company:

• Company with licence + documents + bank account + VAT status (no active history): PLN 35 000 - 55 000
• Company with active 2-3 year history (invoices, orders, employees): PLN 65 000 - 120 000
• Company with active 5+ year history and contracts: PLN 120 000 - 250 000

Standardly included in OpenCompany price: verification, documentation, notarial deed or S24, KRS changes, 3 months of operational support (accounting, advisory).

Red flags - what to avoid when buying a company

The ready-made company market is not fully regulated. Some "sellers" offer companies with serious flaws. Always check:

1. ZUS or Tax Office arrears - certificate no older than 30 days before sale
2. BIG/BIK entries - no credit encumbrances
3. GITD decisions - whether the company had penalties in KREPTD exceeding the good repute threshold
4. Bank statements - no traces of money laundering, unusual transactions
5. Financial statements - whether the company really has no debts (hidden obligations)
6. CPC validity - who is the manager and whether the certificate is expiring

At OpenCompany every company passes 7-point verification before joining the offer. What we sell, we are not ashamed to show.

Most common questions

Can I buy a company with licence but without drivers and fleet?

Yes. Most of our clients buy a freight forwarding company before fleet purchase - after takeover they register vehicles, sign contracts with drivers. The freight forwarding licence does not require owning vehicles.

Can a freight forwarding company also provide transport with its own vehicles?

Not directly. The freight forwarding licence covers intermediation. To provide transport with your own vehicles you need a transport licence (or community licence for international transport). These licences are separate and can be held in parallel.

Do I have to hire a manager with CPC?

Yes - every company with a freight forwarding / transport licence must have a CPC holder. This can be the owner (if they have a certificate), an employee or a contractor. No minimum working hours, but the person must actually perform transport management functions.

What about VAT in the first month after takeover?

The company continues operations as the same entity - only the shareholder changes. NIP, REGON, bank account number, VAT status - everything stays. The first VAT return you file is for the month in which you took over the company.

Can I buy a freight forwarding company as a natural person (B2C)?

Yes. A limited liability company is bought by a natural person who becomes a shareholder. You do not need to have another company or business activity.

Why now is a good time

A few market facts from April 2026:

• 75% of offers vs 25% of free vehicles on European exchanges (TIMOCOM) - operator's market for the freight forwarder
• Germany-Netherlands freight rates +8% MoM - the freight forwarder earns on rising freight rates
• Mobility Package 1 July 2026 - van operators are massively changing business model, demand for freight forwarding companies grows
• GITD licence procedure has extended to 5-6 months (from 4 in 2024) - the "from scratch" path is getting longer

Every month of delay = lost market. The competition that buys a company today secures its first contracts before you get a refusal from GITD.

What's next?

If you are considering buying a ready-made freight forwarding company:

1. Book a free consultation - 30 minutes of conversation, we match a company to your needs. Form or phone +48 731 555 069.
2. See the current offer - 5-7 companies available at any given moment. Go to offer.
3. Download the verification checklist (on request we send by email - PDF with 7-point checklist we use ourselves).

At OpenCompany we have run exclusively the TSL industry for 10 years. This is not a testing ground for us - it is our main business.

Legal status: May 2026. This text does not constitute legal or tax advice. Each company purchase case requires individual analysis. OpenCompany provides intermediation services in the sale of companies with transport and freight forwarding licences - formal procedures and verification.