How to Register a Company in Zimbabwe — Online Company Registration (2026)

How to Register a Company in Zimbabwe — Quick Answer

To register a company in Zimbabwe, you complete a name search, prepare your Memorandum and Articles of Association plus the CR14 and CR6 forms, and submit them electronically to obtain a Certificate of Incorporation (CR2). The entire process is now online and takes one to two weeks. We handle every step of the filing for you for a flat $150, with all government fees included.

Company Registration in Zimbabwe — Overview

Company registration in Zimbabwe is governed by the Companies and Other Business Entities Act (Chapter 24:31) and administered by the Registrar of Companies. The Act, which came into effect in 2020, modernised the registration process and made it fully electronic — today you can register a company online without ever visiting a registry office.

Whether you are a local entrepreneur, a Zimbabwean in the diaspora, or a foreign investor, this guide covers every aspect of online company registration in Zimbabwe — from choosing an entity type to opening your bank account and commencing trading. We handle the filing for you so you can skip the paperwork entirely.

Types of Business Entities in Zimbabwe

The Companies and Other Business Entities Act recognises five main entity types, but most businesses register a Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd) for its limited liability and professional image. Choose your structure before you register:

Entity Type	Min. Directors/Members	Limited Liability	Our Price	Best For
Private Limited (Pvt Ltd)	1 director, 1 shareholder	Yes	$150	Most businesses — professional image, limited liability, can raise investment
Private Business Corporation (PBC)	1 member (min 1 Zimbabwean)	Yes	$150	Solo operators who want limited liability without the formality of a Pvt Ltd
Public Limited Company (PLC)	2 directors, 7 shareholders	Yes	Contact us	Large enterprises seeking public investment or ZSE listing
Foreign Company (Branch)	Local representative	Parent company liable	Contact us	International companies expanding into Zimbabwe
Trust / NGO	1 founder, 1+ trustees	N/A	Contact us	Non-profit organisations, family wealth, charitable work

The Complete Registration Process — Step by Step

Registering a company in Zimbabwe is a six-stage process: name search, document preparation, electronic submission, Certificate of Incorporation, tax registration, and business banking. Here is exactly how it works — and where we take the work off your hands.

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)

A CR21 Name Search form is submitted to the Registrar of Companies. You can propose up to 5 names in order of preference, and the Registrar checks for identical or confusingly similar names already on the register.

• Processing: usually a few 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.
• We do this for you — the name search is part of your flat $150 fee.

Step 3: Prepare Constitutional Documents

While waiting for name approval, your founding documents are prepared. For a Pvt Ltd, these are:

• 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 Electronically

The complete registration pack is submitted electronically to the Registrar of Companies. We handle this filing for you — you do not need to deal with the registry yourself, queue, or visit any office.

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

Step 5: Receive Certificate of Incorporation (CR2)

Once 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.

• The CR2 shows: company name, registration number, date of incorporation, and entity type

Step 6: Register with ZIMRA for Tax

After receiving your CR2, register with ZIMRA to obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN).

• Documents needed: CR2, directors’ IDs, CR6, proof of business address
• Also register for: PAYE (if hiring employees) and VAT (if turnover will exceed the VAT threshold)

Step 7: Open a Business Bank Account

Visit a bank with the following documents to open your company account:

• 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 registration confirmation

New companies that have no tax history yet can use their ZIMRA registration confirmation in lieu of a tax clearance certificate for opening an account.

Our Pricing

We charge a single flat fee that covers the full filing, with all government fees included — no hidden extras.

Package	Price (USD)	What’s included
Private Limited Company (Pvt Ltd)	$150	Name search, all statutory documents, Certificate of Incorporation — all government fees included
Private Business Corporation (PBC)	$150	Full PBC registration — all government fees included
Business Package	$350	Company registration plus tax setup and additional compliance support
Diaspora Package	$500	Full remote registration including the notarised Power of Attorney process

See our full pricing page for what each package includes.

Registration Timeline

Because the process is fully electronic, most company registrations in Zimbabwe are completed within one to two weeks. Diaspora applicants registering from abroad should allow a little longer for the notarised Power of Attorney to be arranged and couriered.

Stage	Local	Diaspora (from abroad)
Name search (CR21)	A few working days	A few working days (we submit)
Document preparation	1–3 days	Allow time for Power of Attorney + courier
Registration & Certificate (CR2)	Within a week or two	Within a week or two
ZIMRA registration	A few working days	A few working days
Typical total	1–2 weeks	A few weeks

Registering from Abroad (Diaspora)

Over half of our website visitors are Zimbabweans in the diaspora, and yes — you can register a Zimbabwe company without travelling home. If you are in the UK, South Africa, Australia, UAE, USA, Canada, or Botswana, we register your company remotely on your behalf.

Because the system is fully electronic and tied to a Zimbabwean national ID, diaspora applicants cannot self-file — you need a local representative to submit on your behalf. That is exactly what we do. The diaspora process requires:

1. Power of Attorney (PoA) — notarised in your country of residence, appointing us as your local representative to act on your behalf
2. Certified passport copy — notarised or apostilled depending on your country (the 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 for $500. Read the complete diaspora registration guide.

Post-Registration Obligations

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

Obligation	Deadline/Frequency
ZIMRA tax registration	Within 30 days of incorporation
Annual returns	Within 21 days of the anniversary
Tax clearance (ITF263)	Renewed periodically
Income tax return	30 April of the following year
VAT return (if registered)	25th of the following month
NSSA contributions	10th of the following month
Business licence renewal	Annual
Company secretary	Continuously appointed (Pvt Ltd & PLC)

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 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. Not appointing a company secretary — mandatory for Pvt Ltd and PLC companies. The secretary must be ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe.

Legislation and Official Authorities

• Companies and Other Business Entities Act [Chapter 24:31] — the governing legislation
• Registrar of Companies — the body that administers company registration
• ZIMRA — the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, responsible for tax registration (TIN, VAT, PAYE)
• NSSA — the National Social Security Authority, responsible for employee pension and accident-prevention contributions