Starting a Business - Cameroon

Foreigners may own 100% of a Cameroonian company in most sectors. Restrictions apply in sectors deemed strategic or sensitive by the government. Joint ventures and public-private partnerships are also permitted.

Registration is centralised at the CFCE (operated under the API), with branches in Yaoundé, Douala, Bafoussam, Bamenda, Garoua and Maroua. Filing through the electronic portal mybusiness.cm simultaneously registers the enterprise with the Commercial Register (RCCM), Tax Authority (DGI/NIU), and Social Security (CNPS), with documents issued within 72 hours.

For a SARL (private limited company), minimum share capital is XAF 100,000 (reduced from XAF 1,000,000 under reform). For an SA (public limited company), the minimum is XAF 10,000,000. Both forms are governed by the OHADA Uniform Act.

Foreign investors must submit a written investment declaration to the Ministry of Finance at least 30 days before commencing operations. International traders must also separately register with customs authorities.

A foreign branch must be attached to an existing or newly created OHADA-member-state company within two years of creation (extendable once by ministerial exemption). The 2024 Finance Law introduced fees for such exemption applications.

The World Bank estimates 14 procedures and approximately 82 days to fully set up a foreign-owned LLC in Douala, exceeding Sub-Saharan African and global averages despite the 72-hour CFCE window for core documents. Manual registration remains common due to unreliable internet connectivity.