How to Register a Business in Ghana [Step By Step Guide]

How to Register a Business in Ghana [Step By Step Guide]… This is a complete guide on how to register a company or business in Ghana – Requirements, Guidelines, Fees and General Procedures.

Business Registration in Ghana

Before starting a business in Ghana, you must have a business entity. Thereafter proceed to legalize the business entity at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD). Under the laws of Ghana, there are various forms of business entities that can be registered and it is therefore imperative to choose the right legal structure that is best for your business. Below are the various forms of business registration under the laws of Ghana

• Companies Limited by shares
• Companies Limited by guarantee
• Companies with unlimited liability
• External Company
• Sole Proprietorship

Business registration in Ghana has been made quite easy following the automation at the Registrar General’s Department (RGD).

All business registration forms are downloadable at http://rgd.gov.gh/index.php/forms/  or on-sale at GHS 10.00 at the RGD.

How to Register a Business in Ghana [Step By Step Guide]

You can now register your company in Ghana, simply by following the steps outlined below.

Registering a Company Limited by shares in Ghana

Below is a step by step guide to registering a company limited by shares in Ghana.

STEP 1 –  Company Name search at RGD

Before you register a company in Ghana, you must have a company name. Start by conducting your company name search to ascertain the availability of the proposed business name for the company.

After the name search, you can apply to have your business name reserved for a period of 30 days.

STEP 2 –  Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) Registration

Proceed with the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) registration for all your company directors, secretary, shareholders as well as a TIN number for your company. (How to apply for TIN Number in Ghana). TIN numbers are created within 24 to 48 hours at no charge at any Ghana Revenue Authority office.

With regards to TIN numbers for corporate organizations, the situation becomes necessary when the shares of the company being registered are held by a corporate entity.

In such cases, the corporate organization will need to obtain a TIN form for organizations and duly complete same and attach a letter of introduction. Subsequently, a TIN number will be created for the corporate shareholders.

STEP 3 –  Complete Forms 3, 4 and Company Regulations

After getting your TIN number, then proceed to download and complete the following forms.

1. Returns of Particulars of the company limited by shares registration form – Form
2. Form 4 for company registration
3. Regulations of a Private company limited by shares

The following information is required to complete the incorporation forms

• Company name
• Registered address
• Postal address
• Principal place of business
• Business objects or activities
• Contact
• Auditors details
• Authorised and issued shares
• Stated capital
• Shareholding structure
• Personal details of directors, secretary and shareholders (nationality, date of birth, occupation, residential address)

According to the Companies Act 179, all companies are required to have at least two initial directors and a secretary during the company registration process. At least one of the company directors or secretary must be resident in Ghana.

All directors, secretary, and shareholders are to append their signatures on relevant pages of duly completed forms before submission.

STEP 4 – Pay for Statutory Fees (Stamp Duty, Business Incorporation and Filing Fees)

There are two main statutory fees to be paid at the Registrar General’s Department during company registration; these are Stamp duty, Incorporation and filing fees.

• Stamp Duty: This is 0.5% of the stated capital. For example a stated capital of 100,000 Cedis is equivalent to a stamp duty of 0.5% x 100,000 Cedis = 500 Ghana Cedis. The minimum amount of stated capital for all 100% Ghanaian owned limited liability companies is 500 Cedis.

However, companies with joint foreign ownership, 100% foreign ownership have different stated capital requirements. The stated capital requirement for companies in this categories are;

• 100% foreign ownership – US $ 500,000
• A joint venture between foreigner and Ghanaian – US $ 200,000
• Trading enterprise (whether jointly owned or 100% foreign owned) – US $ 1,000,000
• Incorporation and filing fees are also required to be paid upon submission of business registration forms. The total cost is 330 Ghana Cedis, which is payable directly at the RGD by cash.

STEP 5 – Collect Business Registration Certificates

Once every form has been submitted, you are expected to have the process completed in 10 working days after which the following documents will be issued;

• Certificate of incorporation
• Certificate of commencement `               `
• Form 3 & 4
• Company regulations

These are the legal documents of proof of company’s existence in Ghana. The documents indicate clearly the business name, activities, business address, directors’ details, company TIN as well as shareholders information among others. The business certificates can be used for any business transaction or open a corporate bank account with any of the commercial banks in Ghana.