Benin Company Formation & Entity Choice

Entity types and company formation

Company law in Benin follows the OHADA Uniform Act on Commercial Companies (Acte Uniforme OHADA relatif au droit des sociétés commerciales). The most common forms are the SARL and SA. Registration runs through the APIEx one-stop shop (guichet unique).

• Common entity types — SARL (private limited), SA (public limited), SAS (simplified), SUARL (single-member SARL), succursale (branch), entreprise individuelle / entreprenant (sole trader) (Acte Uniforme OHADA relatif au droit des sociétés commerciales — https://chandrawatpartners.com/incorporation-of-limited-liability-company-llc-in-benin/)
• SARL minimum share capital — No statutory minimum — freely set in the articles (the former XOF 1,000,000 minimum was abolished) XOF (Acte Uniforme OHADA relatif au droit des sociétés commerciales — https://chandrawatpartners.com/incorporation-of-limited-liability-company-llc-in-benin/)
• SA minimum share capital — XOF 10,000,000 (approx — confirm) XOF (Acte Uniforme OHADA relatif au droit des sociétés commerciales)
• Registration body — APIEx (Agence de Promotion des Investissements et des Exportations) — guichet unique / one-stop shop (APIEx guichet unique de formalisation des entreprises — https://tradecouncil.org/country-guides/doing-business-with-benin/)
• Core incorporation steps — 1) Draft articles of association; 2) deposit capital and obtain bank certificate (if capital contributed in cash); 3) register at the APIEx one-stop shop (RCCM registration); 4) obtain tax ID (IFU/NIF) (APIEx guichet unique; Acte Uniforme OHADA — https://chandrawatpartners.com/incorporation-of-limited-liability-company-llc-in-benin/)
• Incorporation timeline — As fast as 8 business hours to a few days via the APIEx one-stop shop (APIEx guichet unique — https://tradecouncil.org/country-guides/doing-business-with-benin/)
• Registration cost — Approximately USD 100 (registration fee) plus notary/professional fees; reduced fees for SARL (approx — confirm current fee schedule) USD (APIEx guichet unique — barème des frais — https://chandrawatpartners.com/incorporation-of-limited-liability-company-llc-in-benin/)
• Tax identification number — Companies must obtain an IFU (Identifiant Fiscal Unique) / NIF from the DGI (Code Général des Impôts (Bénin) — IFU — https://taxdo.com/resources/global-tax-id-validation-guide/benin)
• Accounting framework — SYSCOHADA (OHADA accounting system) financial statements required (Acte Uniforme OHADA relatif au droit comptable (SYSCOHADA))
• Core annual compliance — File annual financial statements (états financiers) with the RCCM/DGI, file the IS return by ~30 April, hold an annual general meeting, and maintain VAT and payroll filings (approx — confirm deadlines) (Acte Uniforme OHADA; Code Général des Impôts (Bénin))
• Statutory auditor (commissaire aux comptes) — Required for SA, and for SARL exceeding OHADA size thresholds (balance sheet, turnover, headcount) (approx — confirm thresholds) (Acte Uniforme OHADA relatif au droit des sociétés commerciales)