How to register a business in Ivory Coast (2026)

The simplest route: register a sole proprietorship or an SARL (limited company) at the CEPICI one-stop shop, online via 225invest.ci (e-Entreprise). Official fees are 10,000 to 15,000 FCFA (2026), excluding lease registration, and one procedure gives you your trade register (RCCM) number, taxpayer number and CNPS employer number.

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

Where to register

CEPICI – Guichet unique des formalités d'entreprises (plateforme e-Entreprise, 225invest.ci)

Which legal form to choose

Entreprenant (OHADA status)

For whom	Small one-person activity (trade, crafts, services, farming) with modest turnover
Capital	None
Liability	Unlimited: your personal assets cover business debts
Tax	State entrepreneur tax of 4 or 5% of turnover incl. tax (5 to 50 M FCFA); below that, municipal entrepreneur tax

Sole proprietorship (entreprise individuelle)

For whom	Freelancer or sole trader registered in the trade register (RCCM)
Capital	None
Liability	Unlimited: personal assets at stake
Tax	Depending on turnover: entrepreneur tax, micro-enterprise regime (6% of turnover from 50 to 200 M FCFA) or standard regime

SARL / single-member SARL

For whom	Most common company form, one or more partners, to protect personal assets
Capital	Freely set by the partners (Ordinance No. 2014-161)
Liability	Limited to contributions
Tax	Same turnover-based regimes; under the standard regime, 25% profit tax and 18% VAT

The steps

Check with CEPICI or the relevant ministry whether your activity is regulated and needs prior authorisation.
Choose the legal form, then check and reserve your business name on 225invest.ci (e-Entreprise).
Secure premises: lease, title deed, domiciliation contract or free occupancy document, plus a location map.
For an SARL: draft the articles (CEPICI templates), the subscription and payment declaration and the list of managers. A notary is optional.
Have the lease (and SARL documents) registered and stamped at the one-stop shop before the file goes online.
Submit the complete file with the single form, online or at the one-stop shop (Cocody, Abidjan), and pay the fees.
Receive your RCCM, tax existence declaration (taxpayer account number), CNPS employer number and the published incorporation notice.
Create your account on e-impots.gouv.ci to file and pay taxes under your regime.
Declare every employee to CNPS on their first day; if self-employed, join the CNPS RSTI scheme.

Documents

Copy of ID (national ID card, passport, residence or consular card) + birth certificate if parentage is not shown
Criminal record under 3 months old, or a sworn statement followed by the record within 75 days
Certificate of residence under 6 months old (sole proprietorship)
Lease in 2 originals, or title deed, or domiciliation contract
Location map of the business premises
Single registration form (individual or company) completed and signed
SARL: 2 signed originals of the articles, 2 subscription and payment declarations, certified list of managers
If married: marriage certificate; if regulated activity: prior authorisation
Any foreign-language document translated into French by a sworn translator

How much it costs

CEPICI 2026 lists: sole proprietorship, RCCM 10,000 FCFA; privately drafted SARL (capital under 10 M FCFA), RCCM 10,000 + registry certificate 5,000 FCFA, optional minutes 25,000 FCFA. Plus: lease registration at 2.5% of total rent + 500 FCFA stamp per page; import-export code 30,000 FCFA if needed. Unique ID (IDU), CNPS and publication are free.

How long it takes

CEPICI states 24 hours at the one-stop shop for a complete file. Online, CEPICI's director general announced an average of 2.4 days (mid-2026), aiming for 24 hours. Incomplete files are rejected. Exact timing for the entreprenant status: à vérifier auprès du guichet (check with the one-stop shop).

Taxes

Regime depends on annual turnover including tax (DGI 2025 schedule): state entrepreneur tax, 4 or 5% of turnover between 5 and 50 M FCFA; micro-enterprise, 6% of turnover between 50 and 200 M FCFA; above that, simplified then standard regime (25% profit tax, 18% VAT). Since the 2026 tax annex, these flat taxes are paid in 4 instalments a year.

Social security

Employers: CNPS registration is done at incorporation; declare each employee from day one. Contributions: pension 14% (7.7% employer, 6.3% employee), family benefits 5%, maternity 0.75%, work accidents 2 to 5% (employer). Self-employed: compulsory RSTI membership, 12% of income, i.e. 3,600 to 21,600 FCFA per month.

Support and funding

GUDE-PME (SME development one-stop shop) — SMEs: training, financing, formalisation and market access
Agence Emploi Jeunes (AEJ, youth employment agency) — Young people: free training, internships and entrepreneurship programmes
GUIF – Guichet Investir au Féminin (CEPICI) — Women entrepreneurs: support, toolkits and expert directory

Find a professional (official directories)

Watch out

Incomplete files are rejected. The lease must be registered at the one-stop shop before the file goes online, with no crossings-out or corrections. If you use a sworn statement, provide your criminal record within 75 days or risk removal from the trade register. Also check whether your activity needs an authorisation.

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