+90 212 951 01 31 info@level-international.com Istanbul · Şişli
level-international.com ↗ EN
Doing Business in Türkiye by Level International
Doing Business · Why Türkiye

Cities & regions: where to set up in Türkiye

2 min read By Level International
In brief Most foreign companies start in Istanbul, Türkiye's commercial and financial centre. But the right location depends on what you do: manufacturers often choose the industrial belt around Kocaeli and Bursa, exporters look at Izmir's ports, public-sector suppliers go to Ankara, and tourism businesses to Antalya and the coast. Location can also change the incentives you receive.

Main business locations

City / region Best known for Typical investors
Istanbul Commercial, financial and media centre; regional headquarters; main international airport hub Regional HQs, sales offices, services, technology, e-commerce
Ankara Capital; government, defence and public institutions; universities Defence, public-sector suppliers, engineering, R&D
Izmir Aegean port city; exports, logistics, free zone Exporters, food processing, logistics, renewable energy
Bursa and Kocaeli Industrial heartland near Istanbul; automotive and machinery clusters Automotive suppliers, machinery, chemicals, manufacturing
Antalya and the coast Tourism and hospitality; agriculture Hotels, tourism services, agriculture, real estate
Gaziantep, Kayseri and other Anatolian centres Strong regional manufacturing and trade Textiles, food, furniture, export manufacturing

How location affects your business

  • Incentives: the 2025 incentive system still has a regional element, and some programmes exclude certain Istanbul projects. Less developed regions can offer stronger support.

  • Organised industrial zones and free zones: ready infrastructure and tax benefits, available in many provinces.

  • Costs: office rents and salaries are generally highest in Istanbul.

  • Talent: university cities offer engineers and graduates; Istanbul has the widest pool of English-speaking professionals.

  • Residence rules: some neighbourhoods are closed to new foreign residents, which affects where expatriate staff can live.

Choosing a location: questions to answer

  1. Where are your customers and suppliers?

  2. Do you need a port, airport or rail connection?

  3. Which incentives apply to your investment in each candidate location?

  4. Can you recruit the people you need there?

  5. Where will expatriate staff and families live?

Comparing locations?

Our Tax Advisory team compares incentives and costs across candidate locations for your project.

Get a location assessment

This page provides general information and is not legal or tax advice. Every situation is different; talk to us before you act.

Keep reading
All publications
Doing Business · Why Türkiye

Trade & customs: importing and exporting from Türkiye

Türkiye has been in a customs union with the European Union for industrial goods since 1996: goods travelling with an A.TR certificate move between Türkiye and the EU free of customs duty. Türkiye also has free trade agreements with many other countries, free zones for storage and manufacturing, and customs regimes that let exporters import inputs without paying duties. Imports are subject to import VAT and, for some products, additional duties.

2 min read
Company set-up

How much does it cost to set up a company in Türkiye in 2026?

The main cost of a Turkish company is its minimum capital: TRY 50,000 for a limited company (LLC) and TRY 250,000 for a joint stock company (JSC). On top of that come one-off registration costs — notary, trade registry, translations and adviser fees — and monthly running costs such as accounting and a registered address. Capital is not a fee: it stays in the company and can be used for its business.

September 2026 · 3 min read
Company set-up

LLC or JSC: which Turkish company should a foreign investor choose?

Most foreign investors choose a limited liability company (Ltd. Şti.): it needs less capital (TRY 50,000) and is simpler to run. A joint stock company (A.Ş.) needs TRY 250,000 but makes share transfers easier and is the only form that can list on Borsa Istanbul, so it suits larger investments, many shareholders or a planned exit.

September 2026 · 2 min read