Company Registration in Cameroon

Company Registration in Cameroon

Why Register Your Company in Cameroon

Cameroon is the economic gateway to Central Africa (CEMAC), giving you direct access to a regional market of more than 55 million consumers across Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea. Registering a local entity gives you full legal personality, the right to invoice clients in XAF, repatriate dividends, open a corporate bank account, sponsor work permits, hire staff, sign government contracts and bid for public tenders. The country also benefits from a relatively low operating cost base, a young and trainable workforce (median age 18), the deep-water Kribi port for international logistics and direct flights from Douala to Paris, Brussels, Istanbul, Addis Ababa and Casablanca.

Available Legal Structures

Cameroon's company law is based on the OHADA Uniform Act and offers several vehicles. The SARL (Limited Liability Company) is the most popular for SMEs with a minimum capital from XAF 100,000 and is available as a single-shareholder SARL Unipersonnelle. The SA (Public Limited Company) suits larger ventures with a minimum capital of XAF 10,000,000. A Branch Office (succursale) lets a foreign company operate locally for up to two years before conversion. Entrepreneurs can also register as Entreprise Individuelle (sole trader), GIE (economic interest grouping), or set up an NGO/Association under the 1990 law of freedom of association. We help you select the optimal structure based on activity, capital, number of partners, tax profile and exit strategy.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

1. Discovery call to confirm activity, shareholders and registered address. 2. Name reservation at the CFCE (Centre de Formalités de Création d'Entreprises). 3. Drafting of statutes (articles of association) in French and English. 4. Notarisation of statutes and signature of shareholder resolutions. 5. Opening of a blocked capital account and deposit of share capital. 6. Filing at the RCCM (Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier). 7. Issuance of the Unique Identification Number (NIU) by the tax authority (DGI). 8. Affiliation as employer with the CNPS (social security). 9. Application for the business licence (Patente) at the municipality. 10. Activation of the corporate bank account and handover of the full incorporation pack.

Documents You Will Need to Provide

Certified copy of passport or national ID for each shareholder and director, two passport-size photos, criminal record extract less than three months old, proof of residential address, signed power of attorney if we act on your behalf, proof of registered office in Cameroon (lease or domiciliation contract), and the desired company name with two alternatives. For corporate shareholders, we also need certified articles of association, a recent certificate of good standing and a board resolution authorising the Cameroon investment.

Timeline & Pricing

Standard SARL incorporation is completed within 5 to 10 business days from receipt of all documents. SA incorporation takes 10 to 20 business days due to the capital deposit and statutory auditor appointment. Our all-inclusive fixed fee covers notary, registration fees, official stamps, CFCE charges and our professional services — there are no hidden costs. We accept payment in XAF, EUR or USD by bank transfer.

What Happens After Incorporation

We hand over a complete corporate file (statutes, RCCM extract, NIU, CNPS certificate, patente, capital deposit certificate, share register) and assist with the immediate next steps: corporate bank account activation, registration on the e-tax portal, signature of employment contracts, lease registration, work permit applications for expatriate staff, and onboarding to our monthly accounting and payroll services if needed.

Why Wainfen Holdings

Wainfen Holdings has been operating in Cameroon since 2010 and has supported hundreds of local and international clients. Our bilingual (English/French) team understands both the OHADA legal framework and the practical realities of doing business across Douala, Yaoundé, Kribi, Limbe and Bafoussam. We commit to fixed fees, transparent timelines, and a single dedicated account manager who keeps you informed at every step. Whatever the service, our promise is the same: no surprises, no hidden costs, and full local execution so you can focus on your business.