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  • Business Registration
  • Business Registration

Quick info guide

To get a company registered in Zimbabwe, one has to choose one of  two options; to register it as a Private Business Corporation (PBC) or Private Limited Company also known as Pvt (Ltd).

PBC  is meant to cater to small businesses. To register as a PBC an enterprise should have at least a single director. A PBC is ideal for single ownership.

Pvt (Ltd) on the other hand is meant to cater for medium to large business. To register a Pvt (Ltd), an enterprise should have between 2 to 50 shareholders and registering one will come with annual regulations and commitments to different financial bodies.

To register your company you should;

1. Have 1 to 4 preferred names for your company.

2. Choose whether your company will be a PBC or Pvt (Ltd)

3. Provide full names, addresses and IDs of the directors for a PBC or shareholders in a Pvt (Ltd)

4. Sign the incorporation statements that will be submitted at the registrar's office.


Estimated registration period: 5 working days


Make your submission for Company Name Search online and get the results in minutes!

Online Name Search Application 
Log onto www.zimeservices.pfms.gov.zw
Go to the zimconnect portal
Register yourself. Your ID No is your user name eg 63123456a01
Make payment online
Proceed to submission; you will receive a reference no. (80000054321)
The CV4 will be posted to you or can be collected from the companies office.


Contact information

Harare Office

Department of Deeds Companies and Intellectual Property
Century House , East , 38,
Nelson Mandela  Avenue,
Harare 
Tel:  +263 242 777 373 or + 263 242 775545/6 
Website: www.dcip.gov.zw

Bulawayo Office 

Tregold Building 
2nd Floor Room 222 
Fort Street / Leopold Takawira 
Bulwayo 
Tel: +263 9 616012

How to register a business in Zimbabwe

Business registration makes an enterprise formal. Formalization enables enterprises to operate freely without fear of regulatory authorities and penalties. Business registration also opens up opportunities such as markets in public sector, easier access to loans, and other services. In Zimbabwe an enterprise needs to register under one of the following business forms:

o Private company – Registration done by Registrar of Companies
o Private Business Corporation – registration done by Registrar of Companies
o Cooperative – Registrar of Cooperatives

When starting an enterprise, the choice of the form of business to be adopted is important and can make a difference with regards to the:

  • Cost of a start-up and the amount of legal fees for registering the business
  • Simplicity or complexity of starting and administering the business
  • Financial risks for the owner of the business
  • Possibility of having business partners
  • Decision making process in the company
  • Taxation of business profits
  • Registration for taxation is done by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra)
  • Council Licensing – Respective council in the area where the enterprise is operating from
  • Registration with National Social Security Association (NSSA) if the enterprise employs people (done by NSSA)

Registration procedures/required documents

angle-left Documents required for tax registration

Documents required for tax registration

Below is a list of documents that should be attached to the application for registration. In the case of a:

Company

  • Stamped current bank statement
  • Stamped printout of mobile platform used for business transactions
  • Letter appointing public officer stating name, National Identification Number, residential address and a statement confirming the designated public officer as a signatory to the company's bank account(s)
  • Certified copies of:
  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Memorandum of Association (the 1st 3 pages and last page) and Articles of Association (the 1st 3 pages and last page)
  • CR6 & CR14
  • National identification documents for any two directors

Director

  • Certified copies of National Identification Documents for at least 2 directors
  • Proof of residence in the form of utility bills, support with affidavit if utility bill is not in the directors names.

Individual/Sole Trader

  • Copy of current bank statement
  • Certified copy of Identity Document
  • Proof of residence in the form of utility bills. Support with an affidavit if bill is not in your name

Partnership

  • Letter appointing public officer stating name, identity number, residential address and a statement confirming public officer as signatory to the Partnership bank account
  • Certified copies of:
  • Partnership Deed
  • Identification Documents for at least two partners and public officers
  • Current bank statement

Public Officer

  • Stamped copy of current bank statement
  • Stamped printout of mobile platform used for business transactions
  • Certified copy of Identity Documents
  • Proof of residence in the form of utility bills
  • Public officer should be a Zimbabwean

Cooperatives/Churches/NGOs/Schools

  • Certified copy of constitution
  • Certified copy of National Identity Document for the representative
  • Current bank statement
  • Stamped printout of mobile platform used for business transactions
  • Letter appointing public officer stating name, Identity Number, residential address and statement confirming that public officer is a signatory to the partnerships bank account

Private Business Corporation (PBC)

  • Certified copy of PBC 2- Private Business Corporation
  • Certified copy of National Identity Documents for any two members and for the public officer
  • Current bank statement
  • Stamped printout of mobile platform used for business transactions
  • Proof of residence for the two members and public officer

For manual registration

In the event that the circumstances do not allow for online registration then a person can register manually. This involves completing a manual registration form (REV1) and submitting to the office one intends to do business with.

The REV1 Form can be obtained from the Zimra website www.zimra.co.zw  or as a hard copy from the nearest Zimra office and relevant documents from Annexure (1) attached.

Confirmation of registration

A confirmation letter indicating BP numbers and relevant registered tax heads is sent to the applicant or collected from the nearest Zimra office.