How to register a business in Cameroon (2026)

In Cameroon, you register your sole proprietorship or SARL (limited liability company) at your regional CFCE, a one-stop shop issuing the trade register entry, taxpayer card and certificate of incorporation in an announced 72 hours. Published fees (2026): 41,500 FCFA for a sole proprietorship, about 63,000 FCFA for a SARL without a notary.

Checked on 2026-10-28. Rules change: confirm with the official office before paying.

Where to register

CFCE – Centres de formalités de création d'entreprises (un par région, présentés par le ministère des Finances)

Which legal form to choose

Entreprenant (OHADA micro-entrepreneur status)

For whom	Very small one-person business (trade, crafts, farming, services) with modest turnover
Capital	None
Liability	Unlimited: your personal assets cover the debts
Tax	Free declaration under OHADA law; general synthetic tax (IGS) based on turnover. Exact CFCE procedure: check with the registration office

Sole proprietorship (individual trader, RCCM)

For whom	Trader or craftsperson working alone, with no partners
Capital	None
Liability	Unlimited: your personal assets are at stake
Tax	IGS if turnover before tax is under 50 M FCFA, otherwise the actual-profit regime

SARL or single-member SARL

For whom	Most common form, alone or with partners, to protect your personal assets
Capital	100,000 FCFA minimum, shares of at least 5,000 FCFA (Law 2016/014); notary optional if single-member or capital up to 1 M FCFA
Liability	Limited to contributions
Tax	IGS under 50 M FCFA turnover, otherwise actual-profit regime: corporate tax 25% (30% above 3 billion) and VAT 19.25%

The steps

Check with the CFCE or the relevant ministry whether your activity is regulated and needs a licence or approval.
Choose your status: entreprenant, sole proprietorship (individual trader) or SARL.
Find your premises, prepare a location map and register your lease at the tax office.
SARL: draft the articles of association (template available at the CFCE) and have the CFCE head authenticate them within 24 hours.
File your complete application at the CFCE in your region and pay the registration fees.
Collect the trade register entry (RCCM), the taxpayer card with your NIU and the certificate of incorporation.
Check your tax regime on impots.cm, then file and pay the IGS online every quarter.
If you hire: register your business and each employee with the CNPS, online or at a branch.

Documents

2 photocopies of your national ID card (or birth certificate); if you are a foreigner: passport or residence permit
Criminal record extract, or a sworn statement filled in at the CFCE reception
Location map of the business
Photocopy of your marriage certificate if you are married
A cardboard folder
SARL: 5 + N copies of the articles (N = number of partners) and the declaration of regularity and conformity
SARL: criminal record or sworn statement and ID copy for each partner and the manager
SARL: a post office box and a phone number

How much it costs

Published fees (checked in 2026): sole proprietorship 41,500 FCFA (21,500 trade register + 20,000 registration duties). SARL without notary: 41,500 FCFA + legal notice 13,125 FCFA + stamps on the articles (about 9,000 FCFA). Entreprenant declaration free under OHADA law. Lease registration extra: amount to be checked with the registration office.

How long it takes

The Ministry of Finance announces 72 hours at the CFCE for a complete file; eRegulations estimates 1 to 3 days for a trader. The CFCE head authenticates SARL articles within 24 hours (2017 decree). Tax registration must then be completed within 15 working days of starting business.

Taxes

General synthetic tax (IGS) if your turnover before tax is under 50 M FCFA (30 M for liberal professions): flat annual amount from 20,000 FCFA (turnover under 500,000) to 2,000,000 FCFA (30 to 50 M), paid quarterly online. Above that: actual-profit regime, corporate tax 25 to 30%, VAT 19.25% (2026 Tax Code).

Social security

Employer: register the business and each employee with the CNPS. Family benefits 7% paid by you, pension 8.4% shared with the employee, on salaries capped at 750,000 FCFA a month; work accident rate to be checked with the registration office. Self-employed: CNPS voluntary insurance, 8.4% of declared income (5,040 to 63,000 FCFA a month).

Support and funding

FNE – Funding for self-employment and micro-enterprises — Job seekers registered with the FNE: loan up to 5 M FCFA (self-employment) or 20 M FCFA (micro-enterprise), 20% own contribution, 6% interest
Approved management centres (official DGI directory) — Accounting and tax support; IGS is halved if you must keep accounts and join an approved centre

Find a professional (official directories)

Watch out

The website mybusiness.cm, a former online portal still mentioned on some pages, is now a domain for sale: do not enter any data or pay anything there. File at the CFCE. Late IGS payment means automatic closure and a 50% penalty. Keep your tax clearance certificate (attestation de non redevance).

Business ideas for Cameroon

Mundyo shows you the ideas that work in Cameroon, with amounts in XAF.

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