The registration of a company in Cameroon necessitates the obtainment of a business licence (patente) in conjunction with formal legal registration at the Trade and Personal Property Credit Register (RCCM). Key requirements include the payment of a registration fee of 41,500 FCFA, the provision of identity documents, a location plan, and a non-conviction certificate. The process, which typically takes between 10 days and one month to complete, involves the reservation of a company name, the preparation of notary-certified articles of association, and the obtainment of a Tax Identification Number (TIN).
Licensing requirements to register a company in Cameroon depend on the business structure and industry of the company concerned.
Key Licensing & Registration Steps (2026):
Business Registration: File for registration at the Trade and Person Property Credit Register at the Business Creation Space (RCCM).
Taxpayer Card & Attestation: Obtained during registration to establish tax compliance for the Cameroon company.
Business License (Patente): This is an annual license based on the business sector and turnover, secured from the Tax Department of the tax center under which the company is registered.
Operating Licenses/Permits: Sector-specific permits are required such as a banking license, insurance license etc.
IP Licenses/Permits: These are licenses which are obtained to secure the intellectual property of a company as it engages in business.
Types of Companies to Register in Cameroon
- Sole Proprietorship/Enterprise: An establishment or sole proprietorship is a business in Cameroon created by a single person. For this type of business, there is no distinction between the business's assets and those of the owner. The two are considered one and the same.
- Partnership: The OHADA law on Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups has distinguished three forms of partnership business in Cameroon – General Partnership, Limited Liability Partnership and Sleeping Partnership.
- Private Limited Company by Private Treaty: In other words, known as a private company with share capital of maximum 999,999 Fcfa is a company formed by private treaty.
- Private Limited Company by Notarial Deed: Also known as a Société à Responsabilité Limitée is a company with share capital of 1,000,000 Fcfa is a company formed through the office of a Notary.
- Public Limited Company: A company with minimum share capital of 10,000,000 Fcfa is a company formed through the office of a Notary.
Licensing Stages in the Cameroon Company Registration Process
- Licensing Prior to the Company Set Up Process in Cameroon (Health & Wood, Mining Companies)
- There are some companies in Cameroon which can not be registered without the prior existence of a license or authorization. This is the case of health companies in Cameroon as some of such companies like a pharmacy company require the existence of a pharmacy license from an accredited pharmacist who is registered in the National Order of Pharmacies in Cameroon. This licensed person must be part of the company shareholding.
- Licensing During the Company Registration Process in Cameroon (Qualified Management Personnel, Audit Personnel & Registration documents)
- This aspect of licensing in the company registration process of Cameroon is required to ensure that the management is duly constituted in line with the company objectives. Examples of such specific management licensing requirement are qualified managers for financial institutions, insurance companies, health companies etc.
- Licensing Prior to Company Operation in Cameroon
- This aspect of licensing in the company registration process of Cameroon is required to ensure the company can commence operation in a particular sector such as a mining license to permit a mining company operate in Cameroon, an import and export license to permit a company engage in international cross border trade in Cameroon, a banking license to permit a company operate banking services in Cameroon etc.
- Licensing to Protect Company Operations in Cameroon
- Every company or business registered in Cameroon must also ensure post registration licensing in view to protect company operations and dealings. Such licensing is usually sought to protect the following aspects of the company to wit:
- Trademark: A mark used for goods or products. For example, a company might register the name and logo of a specific product.
- Service mark: A mark used for services. A restaurant would use a service mark for its name.
- Patent: Patents is defined by the Bangui Accord on Intellectual property right which is also applicable in Cameroon to be the title granted for the protection of an invention.
- Tradename: Also known as business names or brand names.
- Utility Model: Utility models are implements of work or objects to be utilized or parts of such implements or objects in so far as they are useful for the work or employment for which they are intended on account of a new configuration, a new arrangement or a new component device, and are industrially applicable.
The IP licensing protection period is usually 10 years renewable.