COMPANY TYPES & COSTS
POST-REGISTRATION STEPS
⚠️ DisclaimerThis information is for guidance only. Costs and timelines change frequently. Always verify with the official registry before filing.
Business Registration in Africa — Key Facts
Business registration requirements vary enormously across Africa's 54 countries. Rwanda has the fastest registration in the world — same-day in 6 hours. At the other extreme, some countries still require in-person visits and manual submissions taking weeks.
- OHADA countries (17 francophone nations) use standardised company types: SARL (LLC), SA (joint stock), GIE (economic interest group)
- CAMA 2020 in Nigeria reduced minimum shareholders to 1 for private companies and enabled fully online registration via CAC
- South Africa's CIPC charges just R175 for company registration — one of the cheapest in the world
- Post-registration requirements (TIN, NSSF, pension, permits) are often more burdensome than the registration itself
- Kenya's eCitizen portal allows end-to-end business registration within 24 hours for straightforward company types
- OHADA's Acte Uniforme governs commercial law across Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, CAR, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Togo, and DRC
⚠️ DisclaimerThis tool provides general information only. Not legal advice. Consult a qualified lawyer for formal guidance.