Why CAEN codes matter when you incorporate an SRL
Business activity and CAEN codes (Romania’s national activity classification, aligned with EU NACE) tell the Trade Register what your company intends to do economically. They are not a box to tick quickly: they appear in the constitutive act, in the ONRC application, and remain visible to banks, partners, and authorities after registration.
A poor choice can trigger correction requests, mismatches with later licenses, or friction when invoicing certain services. This guide covers only CAEN and business activity - not the full ONRC dossier or registered office rules, which we address in other blog posts.
What CAEN is and how it links to business activity
CAEN codes describe types of economic activity at a defined level of detail (for example IT consulting, retail trade, software development).
The company’s object of activity is the wording in the constitutive documents listing what the SRL may do. In practice it ties to one primary CAEN code (the main planned activity) and usually one or more secondary codes for related activities you may run without immediately amending the statutes.
Primary vs secondary CAEN
The distinction matters at filing time and later when you report or justify activity to tax authorities or partners.
- Primary CAEN: the dominant activity at incorporation - what best describes what you will actually do in the first years.
- Secondary CAEN: additional activities the company may perform under the deed, not necessarily the core line of business.
- Avoid picking unrelated codes “just in case”; long unrelated lists can raise questions at reviews or when applying for sector licenses.
- The primary code shapes how your activity is read in the register; keep it aligned with the deed text and your launch plan.
How to choose codes in practice
Start from what you will sell or deliver in the next 12-24 months, not everything you might do in five years:
- Write a short plain-language description of your main offer (e.g. “B2B web application development”).
- Search the CAEN nomenclature for close matches; read official code descriptions, not just short labels.
- Check whether the target activity needs special authorizations (health, transport, financial, etc.) - CAEN does not replace those.
- Add secondaries only for activities you realistically plan (e.g. related training or ancillary trade).
- Ask your accountant or advisor if two similar codes both fit; choice can affect reporting and tax treatment.
Where CAEN and activity appear in the dossier
At incorporation, codes and activity wording typically sit in the articles / single-shareholder instrument and in the trade register application. Values must match across documents: same primary, same secondaries, same activity wording.
If you use software to prepare the file, CAEN fields should flow consistently into generated templates. Mismatch between the app screen and the final PDF is a frequent source of rejection or correction requests.
Common CAEN and activity mistakes
Founders often hit these issues on a first SRL:
- Primary code says trade while the real work is services-only (or the opposite).
- Generic deed text copied from a template, unrelated to chosen codes.
- Long preventive secondary lists, including regulated sectors you will not touch.
- Valid codes but wrong level of detail vs actual operations.
- Updated codes in one document only after a change of mind, without resyncing deed and application.
Can you change CAEN after registration?
Yes, but not as easily as editing a form field. Changing business activity and CAEN codes is typically a deed amendment filed with the trade register, with its own documents and fees.
If you already expect several pivots, a reasonable secondary set at incorporation beats an immediate cycle of amendments. Minimal upfront CAEN planning saves time and cost later.
CAEN in Lexter: selection and dossier consistency
Lexter includes flows to pick primary and secondary CAEN codes while preparing an SRL dossier, alongside founders, registered office, and share capital data. The goal is to keep the same values across generated documents and reduce manual copy/paste errors between deed and application.
The CAEN list in the product follows the nomenclature used for generation; choosing the right code for your activity remains your decision. Lexter does not provide tax or legal advice and does not guarantee a code is optimal for your case - validate with a professional when unsure.
Disclaimer
This article is general information on CAEN and business activity at SRL incorporation. Nomenclature and ONRC rules can change. For regulated activities, special structures, or tax optimization, consult a licensed accountant or lawyer before filing.
Frequently asked questions
- How many secondary CAEN codes can an SRL have?
- Law and practice allow multiple secondary activities in the object of activity, but how many you list depends on drafting. They should be relevant and coherent with real operations, not filler.
- Must the primary CAEN be my only line of business?
- No. Primary means the dominant declared activity at incorporation. You may also run secondary activities listed in the object, subject to law and any required authorizations.
- Where is the official CAEN list?
- Romania publishes the CAEN nomenclature through competent authorities (INS and related legislation). Confirm the version in force at incorporation; advisors and apps rely on the same classification.
- Can two companies in the same industry share a CAEN code?
- Yes. CAEN classifies activity types; it is not exclusive like a trademark. Many SRLs can share a code if they do similar work.
- Does Lexter auto-pick the right CAEN for me?
- No. In Lexter you select primary and secondary codes from the nomenclature available in the app. The platform helps propagate your choice consistently into generated documents; it does not recommend the fiscally or legally “best” code.