5 November 2026 — Chrimson Consultants

Step 1: Choose the right structure

This is the decision that is hardest to undo, so it comes first. Here is how the options compare for someone starting in Namibia.

Structure	Best for	Owners	Can tender?	Our fixed price
Close Corporation (CC)	Most small and growing businesses, sole owners and partners	1 to 10 members, all natural persons	Yes	N$1,300
Private Company (Pty) Ltd	Businesses with investors, several shareholders or a parent company	Shareholders can be people or companies	Yes	N$5,500
Section 21 company (NGO)	Churches, charities, community and non-profit organisations	Members; no profit is distributed	Where the tender allows	N$5,500
Sole trader	Testing an idea before you register anything	Just you, trading in your own name	Rarely: most tenders ask for a registered entity	No company to register

Owners who live outside Namibia pay a different price because the work is different: a foreign-owned CC is N$3,500 and a foreign-owned Private Company or NGO is N$13,500. See registering from abroad.

Still unsure? Our side-by-side CC versus Pty Ltd comparison covers liability, tax and tenders in detail.

Step 2: Reserve the business name

Every CC and company starts with a name reservation at BIPA. Give three names in order of preference, because BIPA rejects names that are too close to an existing business or that use restricted words such as "bank" or "insurance" without the right licence. With us, a name is usually confirmed within 2 to 3 working days.

Tip: search the name on social media and as a website address before you reserve it. A name you cannot also use online is a name you will want to change later.

Step 3: Gather the documents

For a Close Corporation or Private Company you will need:

• A clear, certified copy of the ID or passport of every member, director and shareholder
• Each person's residential and postal address, phone number and email
• The business's physical and postal address in Namibia
• What the business will do (its main activity)
• For a CC: each member's percentage interest
• For a Pty: the shareholding and who the directors are
• For a CC: an accounting officer, which we arrange as part of the service

Owners abroad must have their passport copies notarised by a Notary Public in their home country; an ordinary certified copy is not accepted. It is the most common cause of delay for foreign founders, so we check every document before lodging.

Step 4: Lodge and receive the certificate

The founding documents are drafted, signed and lodged with BIPA. BIPA examines them and issues the registration certificate. Typical times with us, counted from the day we have your complete documents:

Structure	Typical time
Close Corporation	7 to 14 working days
Private Company	14 to 21 working days
Section 21 company (NGO)	21 to 30 working days

You do not need to be in Windhoek, or even in Namibia. The whole process runs online: you upload documents, sign, pay by card or bank transfer, and receive your certificate electronically.

Step 5: What to do after registration

A registration certificate on its own does not let you trade properly. In the first month, most businesses need:

1. NamRA tax registration to get a tax number (TIN). Banks, clients and every tender ask for it. VAT registration follows once your turnover requires it.
2. Social Security (SSC) registration as soon as you employ anyone, including yourself on a salary.
3. A business bank account in the business's name.
4. A sector licence if your business needs one: NTB for accommodation and tourism, NAMFISA for microlending, a municipal certificate of fitness for premises, or a liquor licence.
5. Good Standing certificates and an SME certificate if you plan to tender.

Each year after that, a CC or company must pay its BIPA annual duty to stay in good standing. Miss it and the business can be deregistered.

What it costs with us

For Namibian owners, our prices are fixed and all-inclusive: name reservation, drafting, BIPA lodgement and delivery of your documents, with no government fees added later. For owners abroad, the order page shows exactly what is included before you pay.

Service	Namibian owners	Owners abroad
Close Corporation	N$1,300	N$3,500
Private Company (Pty) Ltd	N$5,500	N$13,500
Section 21 company (NGO)	N$5,500	N$13,500
NamRA tax registration	N$300
Social Security registration	N$300
Full Compliance Bundle (tax, SSC, Good Standings, SME and Employment Equity)	N$1,200

Doing it yourself, or having it done

You can register directly with BIPA yourself; it is your right and many people do. What people pay us for is not the forms. It is not losing a week to a rejected name, not queueing in Windhoek, not having an application sent back for a missing signature, and having tax and Social Security done in the same go so the business can actually invoice and open a bank account.

Why registrations get delayed

• The name is rejected because it is too similar to an existing business. Always give three options.
• ID copies are unclear or not certified. Photograph them flat, in daylight, with all four corners visible.
• Details do not match across documents, such as a name spelled two ways or a different ID number.
• The wrong structure was chosen and has to be redone, for example a CC registered when an investor needed shares.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to register a business in Namibia?

With Chrimson, a Close Corporation typically takes 7 to 14 working days, a Private Company 14 to 21 working days, and a Section 21 company (NGO) 21 to 30 working days, counted from the day we have your complete documents.

How much does it cost to register a business in Namibia?

With Chrimson, a Close Corporation is N$1,300 and a Private Company is N$5,500 for Namibian owners, fixed and all-inclusive with no government fees added later. For owners living abroad, a CC is N$3,500 and a Private Company N$13,500.

Should I register a CC or a Pty Ltd?

Most small businesses should register a Close Corporation: it is quicker, cheaper and can tender. Choose a Private Company if you will have investors, more than ten owners, or a company as a shareholder.

Can a foreigner register a business in Namibia?

Yes. Foreign nationals can own a Close Corporation or a Private Company in Namibia. We register foreign-owned businesses fully remotely. Passport copies must be notarised by a Notary Public in your home country, and we check every document before lodging.

Do I need to be in Namibia to register a company?

No. The whole process runs online: you upload documents, sign, pay by card or bank transfer and receive the registration certificate electronically.

What documents do I need to register a business in Namibia?

Certified ID or passport copies for every member, director and shareholder, their contact details and addresses, the business address in Namibia, the main business activity, and the ownership split. For a Close Corporation an accounting officer is also needed, which we arrange.

What do I need after registering my business?

A NamRA tax registration (TIN), Social Security registration once you employ anyone, a business bank account, any sector licence your business needs, and Good Standing and SME certificates if you plan to tender. Each year the business must also pay its BIPA annual duty.

Can I register a business with BIPA myself?

Yes, you can register directly with BIPA. Using an agent saves the queues, rejected names and returned applications, and lets tax and Social Security registration be done at the same time.

Need help registering your business in Namibia?

Chrimson Consultants handles company registration, BIPA compliance, NAMRA tax registration, and tender-readiness for Namibian businesses. Contact us today.