How to register a business name in Ghana is not as hard as anyone, whether foreign or native citizen, starting a business in Ghana could think. All you need to really get your business name registered under the Ghanaian government requires no strenuous labor, except for the fact that you just need to go through some viable information like this one right here up in your face!
Being one of the considerably growing countries in West Africa, Ghana has maintained one of the freest and most stable governments on the continent and performs relatively well in metrics of healthcare, economic growth, and human development. No doubt, the country consequently enjoys significant influence in West Africa and even beyond. This means neighboring countries such as Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, to mention the least, still benefit relatively from the growing economic buoyancy of this specific African country.
How to Register a Business Name in Ghana.
Ghana is leading in digital financial services in Africa, and is set to increase financial inclusion to more than 85% until 2024. Ghana’s stock exchange is the 5th largest on continental Africa and 3rd largest in sub-Saharan Africa. Following this backdrop, it is then efficient for you to know that your idea of starting a business in Ghana will be a potentially profitable one. Hence the need for you to learn how to register a business name in Ghana:
1. General Business Registration Process and Walk-in Procedure
- Provide three business/company name for search for availability of a name
- Buy or download required Entity Registration form on the major website.
- Complete the Entity Form
- Pick a ticket per the Entity Type
- Wait till your ticket number is called
- Submit the completed form with all the supporting document for validation by inspector
- Payment slip is generated for payment to be made
- Document is left at the in-house Bank for onward process
- Decision is made to Approve, Query or Reject
- Certificate of incorporation and other supporting documents are issued when approval is given.
2. Online Business Registration
There is the possibility that business registration can be done online without even stepping into Registrar General’s Department where all businesses in Ghana are legally registered and certified to operate:
- Go to www.rgdeservices.com
- Search for the availability of your Business Name by clicking on Name Search
- Download forms of the Entity Type you want to register
- Print, fill, sign and scan the form and other supporting documents
- Create an account as a portal user
- Login with the user name and password given after the account creation
- Select Entity Registration link on the welcome page
- Select Entity Registration link again on the left pane
- Click on ‘Create New’ button if name has not been reserved or click on ‘Create From Name Reservation’ button if business name has been reserved
- Select entity type from the dropdown list
- Type business Name under Entity Name and click on Proceed button
- Certificate of incorporation and other supporting documents are issued when approval is given
- Input data, upload scanned and signed document and follow the instructions
- Pay online by clicking on ‘make payment online’
- The status of the registration will be communicated via SMS
3. Business Name and Sole Proprietor Registration
- Applicant may pick up a prescribed Form A from the in-house bank
- Submit filled forms at the Business names Registration Counter for Verification and Capturing
- Pay processing fee of GHS60.00 at the in-house bank
- Registrar examines, approves and issues Business name Registration Certificate
- CERTIFIED TRUE COPY(CTC) of Form A
- Renewal each year at GH 25 cedis.
4. Collect Business Registration Certificates
Once every form has been submitted, you are expected to have the process completed in 10 working days after which the following documents will be issued;
- Certificate of incorporation
- Certificate of commencement ` `
- Form 3 & 4
- Company regulations
These are the legal documents of proof of company’s existence in Ghana. The documents indicate clearly the business name, activities, business address, directors’ details, company TIN as well as shareholders information among others. The business certificates can be used for any business transaction or open a corporate bank account with any of the commercial banks in Ghana.
5. Subsidiary Business Name Registration
This is legally backed up under registration of business name, ACT 1962 (ACT 151). A company may carry on business under a business name which does not consist of its corporate name. This can be called a subsidiary of the parent Company with the Parent Company being the owner. A stamp of the Parent Company is required and signed by one of its existing directors or secretary. Below are some of the steps to follow in order to bring this to effect:
- Applicant may pick up a prescribed Form C from the in-house bank at GHS 3.50
- Submit filled forms at the Subsidiary Registration Counter for Verification and Capturing
- Pay processing fee of GHS60.00 at the in-house bank
- Registrar examines, approves and issues Subsidiary Name Registration Certificate
- CERTIFIED TRUE COPY(CTC) of Form A
- Renewal each year at GH 25 cedis.
6. Tax Identification Number Registration for your Business Name
The last of what you will do after choosing from the available options (bucket list of business registration processes) above is registering for your Tax Identification Number (TIN). The TIN is a unique number given to an individual, a registered business or incorporated companies for the purpose of tax payment. So, to learn how to register for Tax Identification Number for your business in Ghana, you need to visit here and do so immediately without stress.
