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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 How to register for taxes in Zimbabwe

How to register for taxes in Zimbabwe

The fiscal laws of Zimbabwe require any person carrying or deemed to be carrying on trade in Zimbabwe or any person in receipt of income to register for tax purposes. The following are the tax heads under which a person is required to register. These are administered by Zimbabwe Revenue Authority  (Zimra): 
  Corporate Income Tax (CIT)
  Pay As You Earn (PAYE)/Personal Income Tax (PIT)
  Withholding Tax (WHT)
  Value Added Tax (VAT)
  Mining Royalties
  Capital Gains Tax (CGT)
  Presumptive Tax (P/Tax)

Some persons are required to register with Zimra in order to collect/withhold specific taxes for government. This applies to all Withholding Taxes. 

The Thirteenth Schedule of the Income Tax Act (Chapter 23:06) states that every person who becomes an employer shall apply to the Commissioner in such form as may be prescribed for registration as an employer within fourteen (14) days of becoming an employer. Employers are required to withhold PAYE from their employees and remit it to Zimra.

The Zimra e-services portal provides further guidance on the registration process. Taxpayers are required to register with Zimra within 30 days of becoming eligible for registration.

Other persons that should register:

  • A public officer in his/her personal capacity
  • A representative taxpayer appointed by a non-resident
  • A registered tax consultant or any tax intermediary

How to register with Zimra

  • Registration is done electronically (online) by first applying for an e-services account and then register for a BP number choosing appropriate contract accounts e.g. Income Tax, PAYE, Withholding Tax, Capital Gains Tax, Presumptive
  • VAT is only registered manually because of the pre-checks that must be conducted by Zimra before registration
  • Manual registration can also be done where taxpayers have no access to the internet
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