Bulgarian business is on the verge of a historic change. With the introduction of the euro in 2026 approaching, every online business is faced with the important question: how to integrate the euro into their website without losing customers or disrupting business processes?
According to the latest NSI data, over 78% of Bulgarian SMEs have an online presence, but only 23% have started preparing for Euro-ready solutions. This statistic reveals a huge opportunity for those who act in time.
The official fixed rate 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN has already been announced, which means the time to prepare is now. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover every aspect of integrating the euro into your website, from technical requirements to legal obligations and best practices for a seamless transition.
Whether you own a small business or run an online store, this article will give you practical steps, ready-made solutions and expert advice for a successful Euro-transformation of your digital presence.
Why Euro-Integration is Critical for Your Business
Integrating the euro into your website isn't just a technical change - it's a strategic advantage that can determine the future success of your business.
Early adapters are already reporting significant benefits. A study by the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry shows that businesses with Euro-ready websites recorded a 31% increase in international enquiries and a 18% increase in customer confidence.
The European market is suddenly more accessible. With the euro as the official currency, Bulgarian businesses gain automatic trust from European customers who see a familiar currency and feel secure in their purchase.
On the other hand, late adaptation brings risks. Businesses that do not prepare in time risk losing market share to more prepared competitors. The NRA has already announced that from January 2026 all online retailers must display prices in euros, with dual display with the euro mandatory by July 2026.
Technical complexity should not scare you. With proper planning and expert support, Euro-integration can be implemented smoothly, even improving the functionality of your website.
The Technical Foundations of Euro-Integration
Before you start the practical implementation, it is important to understand the technical components that make a website truly Euro-ready.
Architecture of the Dual Currency
Proper Euro-integration requires much more than simply multiplying prices by 1.95583. Effective architecture involves several key elements:
First, the database must support multiple currencies. This means that each price must be stored together with currency information, or have separate fields for BGN and EUR values.
Second, the content management system should allow easy editing of prices in both currencies. Many businesses make the mistake of only implementing automatic conversion, which can lead to awkward prices like €12.78 instead of the rounded €12.99.
Third, the user interface should provide an intuitive way to switch between currencies without reordering or reloading the page.
Currency Converters and Automation
Modern Euro-ready websites use intelligent currency conversion systems that go far beyond simple mathematical operations.
Quality solutions include dynamic rounding - algorithms that convert prices in a way that seems natural to consumers. For example, a price of £98 might show up as €49.99 instead of the mathematically correct €50.08.
Automatic location detection is another important feature. Visitors from Bulgaria can automatically see BGN prices, while international users are immediately directed to the Euro display.
Advanced systems also include memory for preferenceswhich remembers each user's currency selection for future visits.
Technical Standards and Integrations
Euro-integration should follow established international standards for maximum compatibility and reliability.
ISO 4217 currency codes (BGN for BGN, EUR for EUR) must be used consistently throughout the website. This ensures proper integration with payment systems, analysis tools and search engines.
Microdata (Schema.org) for pricing should include currency information, which helps Google and other search engines understand and properly display pricing information in your ads and results.
It is also important that the website supports proper formatting of currencies - €12.99 for euro with a dot as decimal separator, and €12.99 for euro with a comma.
Step by Step Plan for Euro-Implementation
Step 1: Analysis and Planning (Week 1)
Successful Euro-integration starts with a detailed analysis of your existing system and clear planning of changes.
Technical inventoryA: Start by mapping all the places on your website where prices are displayed. This includes product pages, shopping cart, order page, invoices, email notifications, and even social metadata.
Analysis of payment systems: Check if your current payment gateways support euros. Popular Bulgarian solutions like ePay.bg and PayPal already offer Euro support, but you may need to update your API integrations.
Legal analysisA: Consult a lawyer or accountant about your obligations for dual display of prices, fiscal receipts in euros, and necessary changes to terms and conditions.
User testing: Plan how you will test the new functionality with real users before the official release.
Step 2: Preparing the Data (Week 2)
Quality Euro-integration requires careful price data preparation that goes far beyond automatic conversion.
Strategic pricingA: Don't just convert at the rate of 1.95583. Analyze European prices of similar products and adjust your prices to stay competitive. A price of €195 could become €99 instead of the mathematically correct €99.70.
Psychological pricing: European consumers are used to prices ending in .99, .95 or .90. Adapt your pricing strategy to meet these expectations.
Management of promotionsA: Plan how discounts, promo codes and seasonal discounts will be processed in both currencies. The system must be able to apply percentage discounts in both currencies or convert fixed amounts at the correct rate.
Backup of dataA: Create a complete backup of your existing pricing data before you start making changes.
Step 3: Technical Implementation (Weeks 3-4)
This is where the practical work of integrating Euro functionality into your website begins.
Database modifications: Update the database structure to support multiple currencies. This may include adding new fields for EUR prices or creating a separate table for exchange rates.
Backend logicA: Implement currency switching logic, including conversion, rounding, and price formatting functions. The system must be able to process both BGN and EUR transactions.
Frontend componentsA: Create an intuitive currency switcher, update price display in all sections of the site, and implement dynamic refresh without page reload.
API integrationsA: Update integrations with payment systems, warehouse systems and other external services to support euro transactions.
Step 4: Testing and Optimization (Week 5)
Thorough testing is critical to the successful release of Euro functionality.
Functional testingA: Test all processes - from product review to order completion - in both currencies. Make sure currency switching works correctly across all browsers and devices.
Payment testing: Make test transactions in euros to make sure payment processes work smoothly. Check that invoices and email confirmations show the correct currency.
Performance testing: Make sure that adding Euro functionality has not slowed down the site. Currency switching should be instantaneous and not require a page reload.
User testing: Invite real customers to test the new functionality and give feedback on the user experience.
Step 5: Launch and Monitor (Week 6-7)
A successful rollout requires careful planning and continuous monitoring.
Phased release: Start with a limited group of users or products before enabling Euro functionality for all. This allows you to identify and troubleshoot issues before full release.
Monitoring metrics: Monitor key metrics such as load time, cart abandonment rate, and sales conversion in both currencies.
Customer support: Prepare your customer support team with information about the new Euro functionality. Create a FAQ section with answers to frequently asked questions about the currency.
SEO: Update meta descriptions, structured data and sitemaps to reflect new Euro functionality and improve search engine visibility.
Legal Requirements and Compliance
Bulgarian businesses must comply with specific legal requirements when integrating the euro into their websites.
NRA Requirements for Online Commerce
The National Revenue Agency has published detailed guidance for online retailers on Euro-integration.
Double price display will be mandatory from January 2026 to July 2026. During this period, all prices must be displayed in both BGN and EUR, and the conversion must use the official exchange rate 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN.
Fiscal notes must be issued in euro from January 2026, but duplication in lev will be allowed until mid-year. Your fiscal system must be updated to support Euro transactions.
Reporting and Tax will switch to the euro from January 2026. This means that your sales reporting systems must be able to generate reports in euro format.
GDPR and Currency Preference Data
Storing information about users' currency preferences falls under GDPR regulations.
Informed consentA: If you store currency preference cookies, you must inform users and obtain their consent. Update your cookie policy to include information about currency settings.
Right of access and deletionA: Users have the right to request information about their stored currency preference data and request its deletion.
User Protection
The Bulgarian Consumer Protection Commission has issued recommendations for Euro-integration in online trade.
Price transparencyA: Prices must be clearly marked with the currency, with no possibility of confusion. Avoid displaying prices only with numbers without a currency symbol.
Current coursesA: If you are using automatic conversion instead of fixed prices, you must display the date and time of the last rate update.
Rights in case of complaintA: Update your terms and conditions to include information on handling returns and refunds for transactions in euros.
Best Practices for User Experience
Technical Euro-integration is just the beginning. Successful implementation also requires an excellent user experience.
Intuitive Currency Switcher
The currency switcher should be visible but not dominant in the site design.
PositioningA: Best practices show that a currency switcher works best at the top right of the site or near the search engine. Avoid placing it in the footer, where users rarely notice it.
Visual designUse clear symbols (€ and BGN) together with the currency codes (EUR/BGN). Colour coding can help - for example blue shades for euro and green for lev.
Switch statusA: Users should clearly see which currency is currently active. Use bold text, different color or borders for the active currency.
Smooth Transitions and Animations
Switching between currencies should feel natural and professional.
Speed of changeA: Prices should be updated instantly or with a very short animation (maximum 300ms). Long animations annoy users and give the impression of a slow site.
Visual cuesA brief highlight or smooth color change can show users which prices have changed since the switch.
Preserving contextA: After switching the currency, the user must stay on the same page and position. Avoid reloading the page or scrolling up.
Mobile Optimization for Dual Currency
Mobile devices account for over 60% of Bulgarian internet traffic, so Euro-integration must work flawlessly on small screens.
Compact designA: On mobile devices, the currency switcher can be a dropdown menu icon instead of the two permanently visible buttons.
Touch-friendly dimensionsA: Currency toggle elements must be large enough for easy touch (minimum 44px height according to Apple HIG).
Local memoryA: Mobile users often close and open the browser. Save the currency preference in localStorage to avoid having to re-select.
Integration with E-commerce Platforms
Different e-commerce platforms offer different options for Euro-integration, each with its own advantages and limitations.
WooCommerce Euro Integration
WooCommerce is the most popular e-commerce platform in Bulgaria and offers solid multiple currency support options.
Built-in capabilitiesA: The latest versions of WooCommerce include basic support for multiple currencies, which can be enabled from Settings > General. This allows displaying prices in different currencies, but requires manual pricing management.
Recommended pluginsA: For more advanced functionality, WPML Currency Converter and WooCommerce Currency Switcher offer automatic conversion, geolocation and custom currency displays.
Payment gateway integrationA: Make sure your WooCommerce payment gateways support Euros. PayPal, Stripe and local solutions like ePay.bg offer Euro support, but you may need to update your settings.
PerformanceA: Multiple currency functionality can slow down WooCommerce sites. Use a quality caching plugin and optimize your database regularly.
Shopify Euro Readiness
Shopify offers some of the best built-in capabilities for international commerce and multiple currencies.
Shopify MarketsA: This built-in feature allows you to automatically display local prices based on the visitor's location. For Bulgarian sites this means BGN for local visitors and EUR for European customers.
Currency roundingA: Shopify allows custom rounding rules which are especially important for Euro conversion. You can set prices to end in .99 or .95 in any currency.
Automatic conversion: Shopify can automatically convert prices at real-time rates or use fixed rates like 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN.
LocalizationA: Besides currencies, Shopify allows different languages, which is useful for reaching international markets after Euro integration.
Custom E-commerce Solutions
For businesses with unique needs or existing custom systems, specialized Euro solutions can be developed.
API-based architectureA: Modern custom solutions use a microservices architecture where the currency logic is a separate service. This allows for easy updating and scaling.
Real-time conversionA: Custom systems can integrate with currency API services like Fixer.io or ExchangeRate-API for up-to-date rates, but for the Bulgarian market the fixed rate of 1.95583 is more appropriate.
Custom logicA: Custom solutions allow complex pricing strategies, such as different margins for different currencies or special rules for B2B customers.
SafetyA: In custom development, it is critical to implement proper security measures to handle financial data in multiple currencies.
Tools and Resources for Euro-Integration
Successful Euro-integration requires the right tools and resources for effective implementation and management.
Free Tools
Google Currency ConverterA: Although not suitable for real-time trading, the Google converter is excellent for planning and testing pricing strategies.
NBB Currency CalculatorA: The Bulgarian National Bank offers official conversion instruments which include the fixed Euro rate.
Browser Developer Tools: Use Chrome or Firefox Developer Tools for testing currency switching and debugging issues.
Google PageSpeed InsightsA: Test if the Euro integration has affected the speed of your site.
Professional API Services
Fixer.ioA: Offers reliable exchange rates with API access. Useful for reserve rates, although for BGN/EUR you will use the fixed rate.
Open Exchange Rates: Another popular API service for currency data with good documentation and support.
ECB API: The European Central Bank offers a free API with official Euro rates.
Development Frameworks
Vue Currency InputA: For Vue.js projects, this component offers ready functionality for currency input fields.
React Currency FormatA similar component for React applications with support for multiple currencies.
jQuery Currency SwitcherA: For older jQuery projects, this plugin offers basic currency switching functionality.
Testing and Monitoring
GTM Enhanced EcommerceA: Google Tag Manager allows tracking transactions in multiple currencies for better analytics.
Hotjar Session Recordings: Watch how users interact with the new Euro functionality.
A/B Testing Tools: Optimizely or Google Optimize can help test different currency displays.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When I convert my prices to euros, should I use the exact exchange rate 1.95583?
The official fixed rate of 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN should be used for all mandatory dual price displays, but you can adapt it for your pricing strategy. Many businesses use psychological pricing - for example 195 BGN becomes €99 instead of €99.70. The important thing is to be consistent and transparent with your customers.
Can I only show Euro prices after January 2026?
From January to July 2026 the dual display (BGN and EUR) will be mandatory by law. After July 2026 you can switch to Euros only, but we recommend offering the BGN display option to customers who still feel more comfortable with the BGN.
How do I process returns and claims for mixed currencies?
Establish clear procedures in your terms and conditions. If the customer has paid in euros, the refund must be in euros. For the dual display period, document the currency of the original transaction and use the same for the refund.
Do we need a special fiscal cash system for the euro?
Yes, fiscal devices have to support euros from January 2026. Most modern systems already offer firmware updates for Euro support. Consult your fiscal equipment supplier for the necessary updates.
What happens to my Google Ads campaigns after the Euro integration?
Google Ads will automatically start showing Euro prices in structured data if your site is configured correctly. Update Product feeds in Google Merchant Center with Euro prices and check if Currency parameter is set correctly.
Can I use different prices in EUR and BGN for the same product?
Technically yes, but you have to be careful with Bulgarian consumer protection legislation. If you offer different prices, they must be clearly justified (e.g. different versions of the product or services).
How do I test Euro functionality before official release?
Create a staging environment with a copy of your site, use test payment gateways for trial transactions, invite trusted customers for beta testing, and use browser developer tools to simulate different scenarios.
What happens to my SEO ratings after the change?
If you implement the Euro functionality correctly without changing the URL structure, the SEO impact should be minimal. You may even improve your position for Euro-related searches. Update the structured data with the new pricing information and submit an updated sitemap to Google Search Console.
Conclusion and Next Steps
Euro-integration into your website is not just a technical necessity, but a strategic opportunity to position your business for future growth and international expansion.
Key elements for a successful Euro-implementation include careful planning, proper technical architecture, compliance with legal requirements and a focus on user experience. Businesses that start preparing now will have a significant advantage over those that wait until the last minute.
The fixed rate 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN already provides scheduling stability, but successful integration requires much more than automatic conversion. Strategic pricing, a quality user experience, and reliable technical implementation are required.
Immediate Actions
In the next 30 days Take a technical inventory of your website, analyze the legal requirements for your business, and start planning your pricing strategy in euros.
In the next 60 days Choose a technical solution for Euro-integration, prepare your team for the changes, and start the implementation in a test environment.
By the end of 2025 Complete full Euro-integration, test all features, and prepare a marketing campaign for the new capabilities.
Why Choose Studio New Era for Your Euro Integration
At Studio New Era, we understand that Euro-preparation is critical to the future of your business. Our Euro-ready websites for €49/month include all items mentioned in this guide:
- Full dual currency functionality with exchange rate 1 EUR = 1.95583 BGN
- Ready in 7 working days without long waits
- Support and updates included for peace of mind
- Compliance with all BNB and NRA requirements
- Mobile-optimized currency switcher
- Integration with popular payment systems
For larger businesses, our Euro-ready Business plan for €149/month adds an advanced online store with full e-commerce functionality, personal consultant and priority support.
Start your Euro-transformation today. Contact us for a free consultation and find out how we can prepare your business for the euro without stress and technical complications.
