Consulting

Start and run a company in Cameroon — without guessing your way through it

From the first plan to a registered, banked, branded and running business. We handle the formation paperwork and then build the systems the company actually operates on. For founders in Cameroon, and for the diaspora and foreign investors setting up from abroad.

Book a consultation See the process
Who we work with

Three situations, one process

The steps are broadly the same. What changes is how much has to be done on your behalf, and how much can be done by you in person.

Founders in Cameroon

You are here and ready to start, but you would rather not lose weeks learning the formation process by trial and error. We do the filings and hand you a company that is ready to trade.

The diaspora

You live abroad and want a business at home — a school, a clinic, a shop, a property venture. You cannot fly back for every signature. We act locally so you do not have to.

Foreign companies

You are entering the Cameroonian or wider CEMAC market and need a compliant local entity, a bank account and books that satisfy both your auditors and ours.

What we do

Everything between an idea and a trading company

You can take the whole package or any single piece of it.

Planning & structure

  • Business plan and financial projections you can take to a bank or an investor
  • Choosing the right OHADA structure — SARL, SA or sole trader — for your ownership and risk
  • Shareholding split, director appointments and governance decided before filing, not after
  • Name availability checked and alternatives prepared

Legal drafting

  • Articles of association drafted for your structure
  • Memorandum and constitutive documents prepared
  • Shareholder agreements where more than one party is involved
  • Notarisation coordinated where your structure requires it

Registration & compliance

  • Company registration and your RCCM number
  • NIU taxpayer registration with the tax administration
  • Business licence and sector permits where your activity needs them
  • Employer registration for social contributions once you hire
  • Support opening the corporate bank account

Brand identity

  • Name, logo and full visual identity
  • Letterhead, invoices and document templates carrying your RCCM and NIU
  • Brand guidelines so the identity survives contact with other suppliers
  • Trademark preparation for OAPI registration

Books & payroll

  • Accounting set up on the revised SYSCOHADA chart of accounts
  • Invoicing that satisfies your clients' finance departments
  • Payroll calibrated to the Cameroonian labour code, with statutory deductions
  • Handover and training, or ongoing bookkeeping support

The software to run it

  • Sector systems — school, hospital, retail POS, logistics, real estate
  • ERP where finance, stock and operations need to be one system
  • Website and business email on your own domain
  • Mobile Money collection wired into whatever you sell

On fees and timelines: official costs and processing times depend on your structure, your capital and your sector, and they change. We quote your specific case in writing after the first consultation rather than publishing a figure that may not apply to you.

The process

How a formation actually runs

Most delays come from incomplete documents, not from the registry. We front-load that work.

1

Consultation

We work out what you are building, who owns it, whether you will hire, and where you are based. That determines the structure — and it is much cheaper to decide now than to restructure a registered company later.

2

Document checklist

You receive an exact list for your structure. Nothing generic. If you are abroad, this includes what needs certifying where you are, so it is done once and correctly.

3

Drafting

Articles of association, the memorandum and any shareholder agreement are drafted and sent for your review before anything is signed or filed.

4

Filing and registration

We file, follow up and collect. You get your RCCM and your NIU, and we tell you what each document is for rather than handing you a folder without explanation.

5

Banking and identity

Corporate account opened, logo and document templates delivered with your registration numbers already on them.

6

Systems and handover

Accounting, payroll and your operational software configured and your team trained. You finish with a company that is registered and able to operate.

Questions

Starting a company in Cameroon

Can I register a company in Cameroon if I live abroad?

Yes. Living outside Cameroon does not prevent you from owning a Cameroonian company. What it does mean is that several steps normally done in person — filing at the registry, opening a bank account, collecting certificates — need someone acting locally on your behalf. We handle that, working from documents you send electronically, and keep you updated at each stage.

What business structure should I choose?

Cameroon follows OHADA company law. Most small and medium businesses register as a SARL (limited liability company), while larger ventures and those expecting outside investors often use an SA. A sole trader may operate as an Entreprise Individuelle. The right choice depends on how many owners there are, whether you plan to bring in investors, and your liability appetite — we work through that with you before anything is filed.

What is the RCCM and why does my company need it?

The RCCM is the Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier, the commercial register. Your RCCM number is the proof that your company legally exists. Banks, corporate clients, public tenders and most suppliers will ask for it before doing business with you, and it appears on your invoices and official documents.

What is a NIU and do I need one?

The NIU (Numéro d'Identifiant Unique) is your taxpayer number, issued by the tax administration. Every registered business needs one. It is required to invoice corporate clients, to open a business bank account, and to file returns. Registration and the NIU are handled together in our formation service.

How long does registration take?

Straightforward registrations move quickly once the paperwork is correct and complete. What causes delay is almost never the registry — it is incomplete documents, names that clash with an existing company, or unclear shareholding. We front-load that work, which is why we start with a document checklist rather than a filing.

Do you only register the company, or can you help run it afterwards?

Both. Registration gives you a legal entity; it does not give you a working business. We also set up your brand identity, accounting on a SYSCOHADA-compliant system, payroll aligned to the Cameroonian labour code, and whatever operational software your sector needs — school, hospital, retail, logistics or general ERP.

What documents do I need to start?

Typically identification for each shareholder and director, proof of address, your intended company name with alternatives, the shareholding split, and a description of the activity. We send an exact checklist for your specific structure at the start, so nothing is discovered missing halfway through.

Do I need a Cameroonian partner or shareholder?

For most commercial activities, no — foreign nationals can wholly own a Cameroonian company. Some regulated sectors carry specific conditions. We confirm the position for your particular activity before you commit to a structure, rather than after.

Tell us what you want to build

One consultation is usually enough to work out the right structure, what it will involve and what it will cost. Wherever you are in the world.

Book a consultation

Or email contact@opesware.com · WhatsApp +237 670 416 238