How to Register a Company in Zimbabwe — Complete Guide 2026

Company Registration in Zimbabwe — Overview

Company registration in Zimbabwe is governed by the Companies and Other Business Entities Act (COBE Act) [Chapter 24:31] and administered by the Registrar of Companies at the Companies and Deeds Registry in Harare. The COBE Act, which came into effect in 2020, replaced the old Companies Act and modernised the registration process.

Whether you are a local entrepreneur, a Zimbabwean in the diaspora, or a foreign investor, this guide covers every aspect of the registration process — from choosing an entity type to opening your bank account and commencing trading.

Key facts at a glance:

• Governing legislation: COBE Act [Chapter 24:31] — ZimLII
• Administering body: Registrar of Companies (Companies and Deeds Registry)
• Physical address: Block 1, Endeavour Crescent, Mount Pleasant, Harare
• Online portal: ZimConnect Portal
• Cost: From USD 70 (PBC) to USD 1,400 (foreign branch)
• Timeline: 2–4 weeks (local), 6–8 weeks (diaspora)

Types of Business Entities in Zimbabwe

Before you register, choose the right business structure for your needs. The COBE Act recognises the following entity types:

Entity Type	Min. Directors/Members	Limited Liability	Govt Fee (USD)	Best For
Private Limited (Pvt Ltd)	1 director, 1 shareholder	Yes	$100–150	Most businesses — professional image, limited liability, can raise investment
Private Business Corporation (PBC)	1 member (min 1 Zimbabwean)	Yes	$70–140	Solo operators who want limited liability without the formality of a Pvt Ltd
Public Limited Company (PLC)	2 directors, 7 shareholders	Yes	$200+	Large enterprises seeking public investment or ZSE listing
Partnership	2 partners	No	Prescribed fee	Professional practices (law, accounting). Registration is voluntary.
Foreign Company (Branch)	Local representative	Parent company liable	~$1,400	International companies expanding into Zimbabwe
Trust / NGO	1 founder, 1+ trustees	N/A	Per S.I. 76 of 2025	Non-profit organisations, family wealth, charitable work

The Complete Registration Process — 10 Steps

Step 1: Choose Your Entity Type

Review the comparison table above and select the entity that matches your business goals, ownership structure, and growth plans. Consider whether you need to issue shares to investors (Pvt Ltd/PLC), whether you are a solo operator (PBC), or whether you are a foreign company establishing a local presence (foreign branch).

Step 2: Reserve Your Company Name (CR21)

Submit a CR21 Name Search form to the Registrar of Companies. You can propose up to 5 names in order of preference. The Registrar checks for identical or confusingly similar names already on the register.

• Fee: USD 10–20
• Processing: 2–7 working days
• Validity: Approved names are reserved for 30 days
• Tip: Choose a distinctive name. Generic or descriptive names are more likely to be rejected or confused with existing entities.

Step 3: Prepare Constitutional Documents

While waiting for name approval, prepare your founding documents. For a Pvt Ltd, you will need:

• Memorandum of Association — defines the company’s name, objects (business activities), powers, authorised share capital, and subscriber details
• Articles of Association — sets out internal governance rules including director appointments, meetings, dividends, share transfers, and winding-up procedures
• CR14 Form — declares the names, national ID/passport numbers, residential addresses, and appointment dates of all directors and the company secretary
• CR6 Form — declares the physical and postal address of the company’s registered office in Zimbabwe

Step 4: Submit Documents and Pay the Registration Fee

Lodge the complete registration pack at the Companies and Deeds Registry in Harare (Block 1, Endeavour Crescent, Mount Pleasant) or via the ZimConnect online portal.

Documents required:

1. Approved CR21 name search result
2. Memorandum of Association (signed by subscribers)
3. Articles of Association
4. CR14 form (signed by all directors and the secretary)
5. CR6 form
6. Certified copies of national IDs or passports for all directors and shareholders
7. Registration fee payment

Step 5: Receive Certificate of Incorporation (CR2)

If all documents are in order, the Registrar issues a Certificate of Incorporation (CR2). This is the legal proof that your company exists as a separate legal entity. From this date, the company can enter contracts, own property, and incur liabilities in its own name.

• Processing: 7–14 working days
• The CR2 shows: Company name, registration number, date of incorporation, entity type

Step 6: Register with ZIMRA for Tax

After receiving your CR2, register on the ZIMRA TaRMS Self-Service Portal (https://mytaxselfservice.zimra.co.zw) to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN).

• Cost: Free
• Processing: 2–5 working days
• Documents needed: CR2, directors’ IDs, CR6, proof of business address
• Also register for: PAYE (if hiring employees), VAT (if turnover will exceed USD 25,000/year)

Step 7: Obtain a ZIMRA Bank Advice Note

New companies cannot get a Tax Clearance Certificate (ITF263) immediately because they have no tax history. Instead, ZIMRA issues a bank advice note — a letter confirming you are registered with ZIMRA. Banks accept this in lieu of the ITF263 for new company account opening.

Step 8: Register with NSSA

If you will employ staff (including yourself as a working director), register with the National Social Security Authority (NSSA).

• Registration cost: Free
• Pension contributions: 9% of insurable earnings (4.5% employer + 4.5% employee)
• Insurable earnings ceiling: USD 700/month
• APWCS (Accident Prevention): Employer-only, variable by industry risk
• Payment deadline: 10th of the following month

Source: NSSA — nssa.org.zw

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Visit a bank with the following documents:

• Certificate of Incorporation (CR2)
• Memorandum and Articles of Association
• CR14 (director particulars)
• CR6 (registered office)
• National IDs/passports for all directors
• Proof of residence for all directors (utility bill, max 3 months old)
• ZIMRA bank advice note (or ITF263 if available)

Source: First Capital Bank; CABS

Step 10: Obtain a Business Licence

Apply for a business licence from your local city or town council. The licence type depends on your business activity (shop licence, hawker’s licence, hairdresser licence, liquor licence, etc.).

• Harare small shop: USD 200–300/year (after 2025 fee reduction)
• Hawkers (non-food): USD 58/year
• Hairdresser (Class A): USD 230/year
• Processing: Varies by council — typically 1–4 weeks

Source: Harare City Council; AllAfrica

Government Registration Fees (S.I. 95 of 2023)

All fees below are prescribed by Statutory Instrument 95 of 2023 and payable in USD or ZiG equivalent at the prevailing interbank rate. These are government fees only — separate from professional/agent service fees.

Service	Fee (USD)	Source
Name search & reservation (CR21)	$10–20	S.I. 95 of 2023
Private Limited Company registration	$100–150	S.I. 95 of 2023
PBC registration (basic)	$70	Lucent Consultancy
PBC full package (bylaws, certificates)	Up to $140	Lucent Consultancy
Foreign company branch registration	~$1,400	M&J Consultants
Trust deed registration	Per S.I. 76 of 2025	Deeds Registry
Annual return filing	$55/year	Companies Registry
Late annual return penalty	Up to ZWL 1,000/year	Companies Registry

Source: S.I. 95 of 2023 — Veritas Zimbabwe

Total Estimated Startup Cost (Pvt Ltd)

Item	Cost (USD)
Name search	$10–20
Registration (statutory)	$100–150
Professional fees (document preparation)	$100–300
ZIMRA + NSSA registration	Free
Business licence (Harare, small shop)	$200–300
Company stamp/seal	$10–30
Bank account	Free–$50
Total	$420–850

Registration Timeline

Stage	Local (Harare)	Diaspora (from abroad)
Name search (CR21)	2–7 working days	2–7 working days (agent submits)
Document preparation	1–3 days	1–2 weeks (Power of Attorney + courier)
Registration at Registry	7–14 working days	7–14 working days
ZIMRA registration	2–5 working days	2–5 working days
Bank account opening	1–5 working days	May require director presence
Total	2–4 weeks	6–8 weeks

Source: CompanyRegZimbabwe — companyregzimbabwe.co.zw

Registering from Abroad (Diaspora)

Over 52% of our website visitors are from outside Zimbabwe. If you are in the UK, South Africa, Australia, UAE, USA, Canada, or Botswana, you can register a Zimbabwe company without travelling.

The diaspora process requires:

1. Power of Attorney (PoA) — notarised in your country of residence, appointing a local representative in Zimbabwe to act on your behalf at the Registry
2. Certified passport copy — notarised or apostilled depending on your country (UK requires apostille; South Africa requires notarisation)
3. Proof of address — utility bill or bank statement from your country of residence (max 3 months old)

We handle the full diaspora process remotely. Read the complete diaspora registration guide.

Post-Registration Obligations

After receiving your Certificate of Incorporation, you have ongoing compliance obligations:

Obligation	Deadline/Frequency	Penalty for Non-Compliance
ZIMRA tax registration	Within 30 days of incorporation	Fines and inability to trade
Annual returns	Within 21 days of anniversary	Up to ZWL 1,000/year of default
Tax clearance (ITF263)	Monthly renewal (valid 1 month)	Cannot tender or renew licences
Income tax return	30 April of following year	Up to 100% of tax due
VAT return (if registered)	25th of following month	Penalties + interest
NSSA contributions	10th of following month	Penalties + interest
Business licence renewal	Annual	Trading without licence is an offence
Company secretary	Continuously appointed	Non-compliance with COBE Act

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Based on our experience registering hundreds of companies, here are the most common pitfalls:

1. Incorrect CR14/CR6 details — names must match national IDs exactly. Even small discrepancies (middle names, date format) cause rejection.
2. No shareholder agreement — while not legally required, a shareholder agreement is critical for multi-owner companies. Without one, disputes follow the default COBE Act provisions which may not reflect your intentions.
3. Choosing the wrong entity type — PBCs cannot issue shares, which blocks future investment. If there is any chance you will take on investors or partners, register a Pvt Ltd.
4. Skipping ZIMRA registration — operating without a TIN creates problems when opening a bank account, tendering for contracts, or claiming input VAT credits.
5. Ignoring reserved sectors — foreign nationals cannot operate in sectors reserved by S.I. 215 of 2025 (taxis, salons, bakeries, etc.). Check before you register.
6. Not appointing a company secretary — mandatory for Pvt Ltd and PLC companies. Must be ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe.

Legislation and Official Sources

• COBE Act [Chapter 24:31] — ZimLII
• S.I. 95 of 2023 (Fees) — Veritas Zimbabwe
• S.I. 108 of 2025 (Re-Registration) — Companies and Deeds Registry
• S.I. 215 of 2025 (Reserved Sectors) — 3-MOB
• ZIMRA Tax Registration — ZIMRA
• NSSA Contributions — NSSA