Company registration

Register a company in Zambia without guessing the next step

If you want to start a business in Zambia, the first steps usually involve PACRA, the Patents and Companies Registration Agency, a tax number from ZRA and possibly a business licence. We help you understand the order, prepare the information and follow up on the paperwork.

Email us

Tell us what kind of business you want to run and who will own it. We will explain what is likely to apply and what we need from you.

  • Local company or foreign company
  • Name clearance and incorporation
  • TPIN and licence coordination
Business premises and traffic along Cairo Road in central Lusaka

What we help with

Company registration and business setup

You can ask for one step or for the whole setup to be coordinated. We will confirm what is included before work starts.

  • Company registration through PACRA

    Help preparing and coordinating an application to register a limited company in Zambia with PACRA, including the information needed from directors and shareholders.

  • Business name registration

    For a sole trader or a simpler trading name, we help you check the name and coordinate the business name registration.

  • Name clearance and reservation

    We help you propose names, check whether they are likely to be accepted and follow the reservation or clearance step before incorporation.

  • Registration for foreign companies

    If your company already exists outside Zambia, we help you understand the separate process for registering an external company or establishing a local subsidiary.

  • Guidance for foreign investors

    A plain-English explanation of the usual setup steps, the documents likely to be requested and the decisions you need to make before applying.

  • TPIN and ZRA account setup

    A TPIN is your taxpayer identification number. We help coordinate the application and explain why it is needed before you can trade, invoice or file taxes.

  • Business licences and permits

    We help identify the licence or permit your activity may need and coordinate the application with the relevant council, ministry or agency.

  • NGO registration assistance

    We help not-for-profit organisations understand the registration route, prepare information and coordinate with the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services. Legal or constitutional advice is referred to a qualified professional.

Two different situations

Registering a new Zambian company or an existing foreign company?

These are not the same process, and mixing them up costs time and money.

A new Zambian company is incorporated in Zambia. It can be owned by Zambian citizens, foreign nationals or a mix, depending on the rules that apply to the activity. The company is a separate legal entity registered with PACRA.

An existing foreign company was incorporated in another country. If it wants to carry on business in Zambia, it may need to register as an external company or set up a local subsidiary. The documents, fees and continuing obligations are different.

We will confirm which route matches your plan before you pay anything. If your situation needs legal or tax advice, we will say so and refer you to an appropriately qualified professional.

We are not PACRA and we do not make registration decisions. We coordinate the application and tell you what the authority requires.

What you may need

Information and documents to prepare

Requirements depend on the entity and current PACRA rules. This is the usual starting list, not a fixed checklist:

  • Two or three proposed company or business names, in order of preference
  • A short description of what the business will do
  • The registered office or business address in Zambia
  • Details of directors and shareholders, including copies of passports or national registration cards
  • The number and value of shares, and how ownership will be divided
  • For a foreign company, the certificate of incorporation and constitutional documents from the home country, often legalised or translated
  • Any sector licence or approval that must be obtained before or after registration
  • Contact details for the person who will deal with the application

We will confirm the current list with you before submission. Do not send original documents unless we have agreed how they will be handled and returned.

The process

From first message to registration

  1. Tell us your plan

    Explain what the business will do, who will own it and whether the company already exists outside Zambia.

  2. We confirm the route

    We explain whether a local company, an external company or another structure is likely to fit, and what it will cost.

  3. We check the name

    You suggest names, we help check them and coordinate the clearance or reservation step.

  4. We prepare and submit

    We collect the required information, check the application and submit or coordinate submission with PACRA.

  5. We follow up and explain what is next

    After registration, we help with the TPIN, licence checks and the statutory registrations or annual returns that may follow.

Costs

What it costs

There are usually two separate costs: the official PACRA fee and our service fee. Official fees are set by the authority and can change. We do not publish unverified amounts.

We confirm our service fee in writing before any work starts. If a step needs a licensed professional, a translator, a notary or a courier, we tell you that cost separately and only proceed once you agree.

Never pay a government fee to an individual without a receipt or an official payment channel. Ask us and we will explain how the payment is being made.

Important limits

What we can and cannot do

We provide coordination and assistance. We are not a law firm, an accounting firm or a government agency, and we cannot give legal or tax advice.

We can help you understand the process, prepare information, submit or coordinate an application and follow up. We cannot guarantee that a name will be approved or that a registration will be granted. The authority makes that decision.

Where your situation needs legal, tax or immigration advice, we will refer you to an appropriately qualified professional. You can then decide whether to engage them directly or ask us to coordinate.

We do not guarantee registration, licence, tax or immigration outcomes. The relevant authority makes the decision.

Official sources

Check the current requirements

Requirements and fees can change. These are the official starting points:

Requirements and fees can change. Check the official website before you rely on any detail.

Questions

Company registration questions

How long does company registration take?

It depends on the type of application, how complete the information is and how quickly PACRA processes it. We will give you an honest estimate after we see your information, and we will tell you if a step is waiting on the authority rather than on us.

Can a foreigner own 100% of a Zambian company?

Ownership rules depend on the sector and the law that applies. Many activities allow foreign ownership, while some are restricted or require local participation. We will help you check the position for your activity and refer you for legal advice where needed.

Do I need a physical office address to register?

An address is usually required, but it does not have to be a large office. Some businesses can use a serviced address or a suitable business location. We help you understand what is acceptable for your application. We do not advertise a registered office or nominee director service.

Why do I need a TPIN after registering?

A TPIN is a taxpayer identification number used by the Zambia Revenue Authority. It is normally needed to trade, invoice, import, employ people and file taxes. We help coordinate the application after the company is registered.

Do you guarantee that my company will be registered?

No. PACRA makes the decision. We check your information and coordinate the application carefully, but we cannot guarantee approval. We will tell you if we see a problem before submission.

Contact

Tell us what you need

WhatsApp is usually the fastest way to reach us. Email works too, and it is better if you want to send documents or a detailed schedule.

Email us
Address
Liberty Mall, Long Acres
Lusaka, Zambia

Messages are answered during Zambian working hours (CAT, UTC+2), Monday to Saturday. If you write outside those hours, you will get a reply on the next working day.

Helpful things to include

  • What you want to do, in your own words
  • Whether you are already in Zambia or still overseas
  • Your type of business or the service you need
  • Any deadline you are working towards

You do not need to have it all worked out. A rough outline is enough to start, and we will ask about anything we still need.