Cameroon company registration

DOING BUSINESS IN CAMEROON IN 2024

pay fee by instalmentsbusiness setup without travelGuaranteed solutions

Since 2003, Healy Consultants Group has assisted our Clients with business registration in Cameroon. Our services include i) Cameroon business registration ii) government license registration iii) corporate bank account opening services in Cameroon and abroad iv) employee recruitment v) visa strategies and vi) office rental solutions in Cameroon.

Summary LLC Fast setup solutions Free zone LLC Representative office Branch office
Also known as Sociétés à Responsabilité Limitée Sociétés à Responsabilité Limitée Sociétés à Responsabilité Limitée Bureau de liaison Succursale
Best use of company? All products and services Client to fast close local deal Manuf/ export trading Marketing/ research Specific projects
How soon to invoice Clients? 5 weeks 3 weeks 5 weeks Cannot trade 5 weeks
How soon can you hire staff? 5 weeks 3 weeks 5 weeks 5 weeks 5 weeks
How soon can you sign a lease agreement? 1 week 1 week 1 week 1 week 1 week
How long to supply corporate bank a/c? 6 weeks 3 weeks 6 weeks 6 weeks 6 weeks
How long to supply co. reg / tax numbers? 5 weeks 3 weeks 5 weeks 5 weeks 5 weeks
Corporate tax rate on annual net profits? 33% 33% 0% (for 10 years) Cannot trade 33%
Limited liability entity? Yes Yes Yes No No
Government grants available? Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Govt approval required for foreign owners? No No No No No
Res. director/partner/ legal rep. required? No No No Yes Yes
Minimum paid up share capital? US$175 US$175 US$1,750 None None
Can bid for Government contracts? Yes Yes Yes No Yes
Corporate bank account location? Citibank Société Générale Standard Chartered BICEC United Bank for Africa
Can secure trade finance? Yes Yes Yes No Yes
VAT payable on sales to local customers? 19.25% 19.25% Cannot trade locally Cannot trade 19.25%
Average total business set up costs? Request a proposal Request a proposal Request a proposal Request a proposal Request a proposal
Average total engagement period? 4 months 3 months 4 months 4 months 4 months

Cameroon company registration summary

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  • Advantages and Disadvantages

    Advantages of Cameroon company registration

    foreigners guide to doing business in Cameroon

    1. Our Clients can register a company in Cameroon with only i) one shareholder ii) one director and iii) a minimum paid-up capital of US$1,700 (XAF1 million), paid before incorporation of the Cameroon entity. Our Clients also do not have to travel to complete Cameroon company formation and corporate bank account opening;
    2. English and French are both national languages of Cameroon, reducing company formation costs in this country. Our French and English speaking Clients will also be able to communicate more easily with their local partners and customers in Cameroon;
    3. Cameroon is an attractive location for businesses in the oil and gas industry. The country is indeed is the 6th largest producer of petroleum in the petroleum-rich region of Sub-Saharan Africa. Oil reserves are estimated at around 400 million barrels with natural gas reserves also substantial;
    4. Cameroon is a rapidly growing market, with a GDP growth in 2014 of 5.6% (last figure available) according to the World Bank. The country’s population is 26 million and the country is relatively politically stable compared to its neighbor, making it safer to invest in Cameroon than the rest of the region;
    5. Cameroon has an adult literacy rate of 85% (as per 2015) and a minimum wage of US$64 per month. As a result, investors can easily hire a skilled labour force at affordable rates for conducting their business in Cameroon.
    6. Foreign companies entering the Cameroon market to do business, will enjoy a 0% corporate tax rate on annual net profits for the first two years of business. It is also possible to request an extension to this benefit;

    Disadvantages of Cameroon company registration

    1. Corporate income tax is high in Cameroon, with a standard rate of 33% and a minimum alternative tax of up to 5.5% of the turnover of the company. Companies remitting interest and dividends overseas are also subject to a withholding tax rate of 16.5% unless reduced by a double taxation avoidance treaty;
    2. Cameroon has signed only eight double taxation avoidance treaties, namely with i) Canada ii) Central African Republic iii) Chad iv) Republic of Congo v) Equatorial Guinea vi) France vii) Gabon and viii) Tunisia;
    3. Cameroon has been poorly ranked at the 153rd position (out of 180 countries) in the Corruption Perception Index 2017. Also, the Cameroonian government is infamous for its widespread bribery, nepotism, and corruption across all the sectors of its economy.
  • Best uses for a Cameroon company

    Cameroon is a good place to start a company providing services to the oil and gas industry or to run a business in the agro-forestry sector.

Tell us what you need








    Please tell us more about your business needs by completing the form below. One of our team members will then revert to you within the next working day.

    All information provided to our Firm via this form will remain confidential and will not be sold, shared or transferred to third parties. If you however prefer not to fill up the form, you are welcomed to contact us by email or phone.

    Our email address is healy@hawksford.com and our phone numbers are +65 6031 0332 for Singapore and +971 4266 4470 for Dubai. We are happy to answer your questions and assist you and your business.


    Contact us

    For additional information on our company registration services in Cameroon, please contact our in-house country expert, Mr. Kunal Fabiani, directly:
    client relationship officer - Kunal