Company Registration in Benin

Business Entry Benin

Strategic Company Registration in Benin

Establishing a business in Benin requires navigating the Agence de Promotion des Investissements et des Exportations (APIEx) and the OHADA legal framework. Elidge Business Solutions CC handles the complexity of the one-stop shop at APIEx, ensuring your setup in Cotonou is fast, secure, and fully legal.

OHADA Legal Compliance

We draft Articles of Association (Statuts) that adhere strictly to the Uniform Acts of the OHADA Organisation.

APIEx One-Stop Shop

We facilitate your registration directly with the APIEx (Guichet Unique), streamlining the commercial registry (RCCM) and tax setup.

IFU & Fiscal Activation

Gain your Identifiant Fiscal Unique (IFU) from the Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI) for immediate tax compliance.

Local Notary Support

Access our network of local Notaries for the mandatory certification of company statutes and capital declarations.

Benin Legal Entities

Entity Formation & Licensing

Expert guidance for foreign investors entering the Beninese economy.

SARL (Limited Liability)

The standard choice for SMEs. No minimum capital requirement, but nominal capital is advised. Limited liability for partners.

SA (Public Limited Company)

Suitable for large investments. Requires a minimum capital of 10,000,000 XOF and an auditor.

Branch Registration

Establish a local branch (Succursale) for your foreign corporation to execute contracts in Benin.

Open a Branch →

The APIEx Workflow

Simplified 4-Step Setup in Cotonou

Statutes & Notary

Drafting of statutes and notarization of the acts with a local Notary Public in Cotonou.

Capital Deposit

Opening a bank account to deposit the share capital and obtaining a bank certificate.

APIEx Lodgement

Submission to the “Guichet Unique” for RCCM (Commercial Registry) and IFU (Tax ID).

Legal Publication

Publication of the company notice in a legal journal and final registration with the CNSS.

Expert Insights

Benin Setup FAQ

Through the APIEx One-Stop Shop, company registration can be completed within 24 to 72 hours.

Yes, foreign investors can generally own 100% of a company in Benin in most business sectors.

There is no longer a statutory minimum capital for a SARL in Benin, but a nominal amount is required.

The IFU (Identifiant Fiscal Unique) is the unique tax identification number required for all businesses.

Yes, a registered physical address in Benin (e.g., Cotonou) is required to obtain the RCCM and IFU.

The standard corporate income tax rate in Benin is 30%.

Yes. French is the official language. All legal documents must be in French or translated by a sworn translator.

The RCCM (Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier) is the official trade register number proving legal existence.

While optional for small SARLs, involving a Notary Public is highly recommended for drafting and filing statutes.

Yes, a local bank account is necessary to deposit the share capital and obtain the bank certificate for registration.

Scale Your Business in Benin

Start your journey in West Africa. Get your RCCM and IFU with Elidge’s expert local assistance in Cotonou.

Start Registration Now