How to register a business in Senegal (2026)
The simplest route is to register as a sole proprietorship at APIX's Business Creation Support Office (BCE), which issues your trade register (RCCM) and tax ID (NINEA) within a few days for about 15,000 FCFA (2013 schedule). If you have partners or want to protect personal assets, set up a SARL or SUARL, whose capital you set freely.
Checked on 2026-10-28. Rules change: confirm with the official office before paying.
Where to register
APIX – Bureau d'appui à la création d'entreprise (BCE), Dakar
Which legal form to choose
Sole proprietorship (individual trader)
| For whom | Freelancers or small traders working alone who want a fast, cheap start |
|---|---|
| Capital | None |
| Liability | Unlimited: your personal assets cover business debts |
| Tax | Personal income tax, or CGU (5% of turnover for services, 2% for trade) if eligible |
Entreprenant (OHADA status)
| For whom | Small craft, farming, professional or trading activity formalised by a simple RCCM declaration |
|---|---|
| Capital | None |
| Liability | Unlimited |
| Tax | Regime and thresholds: check with the one-stop shop |
SARL / SUARL (limited liability company)
| For whom | The standard SME form, single owner (SUARL) or several partners |
|---|---|
| Capital | Free, set in the articles (Law 2015-07) |
| Liability | Limited to contributions |
| Tax | 30% corporate tax, minimum tax 0.5% of turnover (capped at 5M FCFA), 18% VAT |
SAS / SASU (simplified joint-stock company)
| For whom | Projects with investors or start-ups wanting flexible articles |
|---|---|
| Capital | Free, set in the articles (OHADA Uniform Act 2014) |
| Liability | Limited to contributions |
| Tax | 30% corporate tax, minimum tax 0.5% of turnover (capped at 5M FCFA), 18% VAT |
The steps
- Choose your status: sole proprietorship to start alone, SARL/SUARL or SAS to have partners or limit liability.
- Gather documents: ID card, residence certificate, sworn statement or criminal record extract, proof of premises.
- For a company: have a notary draw up and sign the articles, and deposit the share capital.
- File at APIX's BCE in Dakar (sole proprietorship); for a company, the notary handles the formalities.
- Pay registry fees and tax stamps, then collect the RCCM, NINEA notice and establishment declaration.
- File the declaration of existence at your tax office within 20 days of starting business.
- Open a business bank account in the company's name.
- Before your first hire: declare the establishment to the Labour Inspectorate and register with IPRES and CSS.
- File and pay taxes online via Mon Espace Perso (turnover up to 100 million FCFA) or SENTAX.
Documents
- National ID card (or consular card / foreigner's ID card)
- Residence certificate
- Sworn statement or criminal record extract (under 3 months old for foreigners)
- Marriage certificate if you are married
- Lease or title deed for the premises
- Company articles and notarised declaration of capital subscription and payment
- 2,000 FCFA tax stamps (RCCM and NINEA)
- To hire: employment contracts and establishment declaration
How much it costs
Sole proprietorship: about 14,400 FCFA (10,000 registry fee, stamps, certificates), plus 10,000 FCFA to protect a trade name (eRegulations 2013 schedule). Company via notary: about 400,000 FCFA; a 2014 decree cut notary fees to 20,000 FCFA for small SARLs. Check 2026 amounts with the one-stop shop.
How long it takes
Sole proprietorship: 2 to 3 days; company via notary: 4 to 6 days (eRegulations). The tax authority issues the NINEA in about 3 days. Employer registration with IPRES and CSS can take 28 to 40 days. Check current timelines with the one-stop shop.
Taxes
Companies: 30% corporate tax, minimum tax of 0.5% of turnover capped at 5,000,000 FCFA, 18% VAT. Small sole traders: Single Global Contribution (CGU) of 5% of turnover for services, 2% for trade; eligibility ceiling to check with the one-stop shop. Employers: CFCE of 3% of payroll (DGID rates consulted in 2026).
Social security
From your first employee: declare the establishment to the Labour Inspectorate, join IPRES (pensions) and register with the Social Security Fund, CSS (family benefits, work accidents). 2026 contribution rates and social cover for the owner personally: check with the one-stop shop.
Support and funding
- DER/FJ – General Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship of Women and Youth — Women and young people: funding, training and formalisation
- ADEPME – Formalisation & structuring — Project holders and informal businesses that want to formalise
- FONGIP – Priority Investment Guarantee Fund — Micro, small and medium businesses needing a loan guarantee
Find a professional (official directories)
- ONECCA Senegal members directory
- Chamber of Notaries of Senegal (official contact details)
- DGID – Tax service centres
Watch out
Some official online procedure sheets date from 2013 and the APIX website was unreachable when checked: confirm costs and documents at the BCE before paying. The old investinsenegal.com domain no longer leads to APIX. Forgetting the declaration of existence carries a 200,000 FCFA fine.
Business ideas for Senegal
Mundyo shows you the ideas that work in Senegal, with amounts in XOF.
See the numbers for my countryOfficial sources
- eRegulations Sénégal – S'enregistrer comme commerçant individuel
- eRegulations Sénégal – Dépôt du dossier de création (APIX, BCE)
- eRegulations Sénégal – Créer une société locale
- eRegulations Sénégal – Inscription employeur (Inspection du travail, IPRES, CSS)
- DGID – Fiche NINEA
- DGID – Fiche Déclaration d'existence
- DGID – Lois et règlements (taux d'imposition)
- DGID – Entreprises (obligations, Mon Espace Perso)
- Loi n° 2015-07 du 9 avril 2015 portant réglementation du capital de la SARL
- OHADA – Droit des sociétés commerciales et du GIE
- OHADA – Droit commercial général (statut de l'entreprenant)
- Annuaire | Onecca Sénégal