The analysis is one of the first attempts to explore the phenomenon of private corruption in Bulgaria. A methodology (Private corruption barometer) has been developed and applied to assess levels of prevalence and specific characteristics of corruption in the private sector. The problem of private corruption is relatively new in terms of research practice as the prevailing view of corruption is that it is a governance problem and does not strictly apply to private sector management. Private corruption barometer data show that the practices and mechanisms observed in the private sector are very similar to the overall corruption situation in the country and should therefore not be neglected.