The procedure for company registration in Zimbabwe is divided into 2 stages. There is the name search and reservation stage and then there is the incorporation and registration stage. The procedure is basically the same whether you are registering a PBC (Private Business Corporation) or a PLC (Private Limited Company). The name search stage is the same for both company types so we shall list it the same for both.
The procedure for registering a company in Zimbabwe generally follows two steps:
Stage 1: Name search
A request is made to the Registrar of Companies office (also called the DCIP – Department of Companies & Intellectual Property) for a search to be made in the Register of Companies. The following is applicable at the name search stage:
- The purpose of an application for reservation of name is to get the authority of the Registrar to use a particular name.
- If the Registrar approves your application to reserve a name, he will reserve that name for you for a period of up to two months to enable you to register your company. He will not allow any other person to use that name during that period.
- You are advised to give four names in your application so that if one name is not accepted, another one may be. You should list the names in order of preference.
- The Registrar will not accept a name which is similar to that of another company or PBC, or is likely to mislead the public or is indecent.
- The Registrar will give a written notice of whether any of your names were accepted or if they were rejected. This process takes 3 to 6 working days.
a) Reasons why names may be rejected
- Your chosen name is too close to a registered company or PBC either when written down or when pronounced e.g. OK and Okay.
- Your company name is likely to be offensive, blasphemous or indecent to any person or class of people.
- Your company name is likely to deceive or mislead the public e.g. a company called Ministry of Computers.
- Your company name suggests patronage of the Government or some other authority or organisation.
- Your company name is undesirable for any other reason.
Stage 2: Incorporation & registration
a) Procedure for registration as a PBC (Private Business Corporation)
- After your name has been successfully reserved, the documentation for the registration of the PBC must be submitted to the Registrar of Companies. This process involves the appointment of members (shareholders/ directors) of the PBC. Each member is assigned a percentage of ownership in the PBC. The total percentage for all members must add up to 100%.
- The Registrar will then register the PBC and assign to it a registration number. The Registrar will put his seal, his stamp and his signature to the PBC Incorporation Statement to signify its authenticity. The PBC is also entered into the Company registry and becomes searchable in the Registrar’s database. This process takes 3 to 6 working days.
b) Procedure for registration as a PLC (Private Limited Company)
- After your name has been successfully reserved, the memorandum and articles of association signed by the shareholders together with the CR6 and CR14 signed by either a director or secretary of the company are submitted to the Registrar of Companies. Each shareholder must sign in their own handwriting and specify the number of shares they have been allocated.
- The Registrar will then register the PLC and assign to it a registration number. A certificate of Incorporation is also issued. The Registrar will put his seal, his stamp and his signature to the Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum & Articles of Association and the CR6 & CR14 to signify their authenticity. The PLC is also entered into the Company registry and becomes searchable in the Registrar’s database. This process takes 3 to 6 working days.
I hope you liked this article, if you did let us know in the comments below.
Ready to register your own company?
Let our expert company registration consultants register your business in Zimbabwe.
Informative
Informative indeed
Do you also help register Trusts for charity? IF so, what are the requirements and charges?
Hi Ajuma. Very sorry but we currently don’t register trusts or PVOs.
Is there a minimum and or maximum in respect of the number of shares on registration of a private limited company?
Hi Shadreck. There is no maximum. The minimum should be one
what are the requirements if a south african company wants to open a business in zim.
Hi Kudakwashe. The requirements are the same for a local company with one additional requirement that at least one of the directors must be Zimbabwean or in the case of foreigners, be based in Zimbabwe.
In South Africa, you do not need to have a South African as a director. This is one of the reasons our economy is not growing. Turning away investment.
The same is true in Zimbabwe Rex, you just need a director based in Zimbabwe
very useful
if i have my names approved and i now ask for your services to register my company would you do it for me and at what cost. i want me and my wife to be the only directors.
Hi Timothy. That is possible. We simply subtract $5 from the total cost.
how much is it to register a PBC
Hi. A PBC costs $70
Can a PBC supply big corporations such as parastatals if so are there any requirements needed
It definitely can Joseph. The requirements are usually listed by the parastatal either through tender documents or requirements they set out
Whts diffèrence btwn pbc and a plc. I want to choose on whch one to open
Hi Bmak, the differences are listed on https://www.companyregistrations.co.zw/differences-between-pbc-plc
What documents are needed for registration of a company for the first time
Hi Joseph. No documentation is required. The requirements are as listed on https://www.companyregistrations.co.zw/#requirements
so documents required for company registration are:
Name search
memorandum and articles of association
cr6 form
cr14 form
certificate of incorporation?
Hi Emmanuel, kindly check requirements on https://www.companyregistrations.co.zw
Very useful information indeed!
May you help me with this one :I already have a registered company and I wish to open a shop in South Africa , What are the requirements:( in terms of permit and other.) Also I have lost my Original CR14, how may I get a replacement.
Hi Manhanda,
Unfortunately we only offer registration services in Zimbabwe only, we don’t have experience with South African requirements. About the CR14 replacement, kindly contact us using the ‘contact us’ section of our website
Hi
What are the requirements to register an association with 15 people who work as individuals?
They already have a name which they used to register with Zimra so is there a possibility that their name might change if they register with registrar of companies??
And what type of a company best suit them PBC or PLC please help.
How much are the costs??
Good day Ernest.
Kindly find the requirements for company registration on https://www.companyregistrations.co.zw/#requirements. That is true, the name that you are already using may not be available at the Registrar of Companies. Both a PBC and a PLC fit here but you may want to review the articles on https://www.companyregistrations.co.zw/business-tips to see which type fits your situation better. For prices kindly visit https://www.companyregistrations.co.zw/order.
Hi
What if another company’s name starts with “the” and yours doesn’t or the other company’s name is an abbreviation spelt like yours and all these companies are in other countries.
Hi Edward,
The company registration name search is valid only in Zimbabwe, it does not consider companies registered outside Zimbabwe.
Keep up the great work! You already know,
lots of individuals are searching around for this information, you
can help them greatly.
Thanks Kristy
What are the requirements to start a pvo in Zimbabwe and costs
Sorry Josh, we don’t do PVOs. You need to approach the social welfare for this
If I register my business as a pbc, is it possible to change that same business to a plc with time and how much would that cost?
Hi Tinashe,
It’s possible. The process will cost you $250.
My concern is on the Accounting officer of the PBC. Is he/she expected to be a member of PAAB. Do accounting graduates from Universities in Zimbabwe qualify to be Accounting Officers when they do not belong to professional bodies?
Hi Francis,
Accounting graduates from Universities do not qualify. Generally speaking, only accountants trained for public practise are accepted as accounting officers
Informative indeed, but if i may ask..is there any assets or minimum amount in my bank account required for me to register a company
Hi Richard. There are no amounts needed in your bank account to register a company.
Hi. Can i use my residential address as my company’s address
Hi Hope.
Yes you can
Are these the only steps you take to fully register the PLC because i have heard there are about10 steps?
Tes they are Themba
very informative,thanx
Everything is very open with a very clear explanation of the issues.
It was really informative. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing!
thank you…..a great source of information
After obtaining the certificate of incorporation for a PBC ,how then can one get a CR14 document?
Hi Stanley.
A CR14 document is only for a PLC, a PBC does not have this
do you register consultancy firms? If so can this be under PLC or PBC?
Yes we do Tendai. It can be either PBC or PLC. The PLC is recommended especially if you plan on working with corporates and also to do tenders
very informative. do you also register churches, if so what are the requirements
Yes we do Merlina, you can find more information on registering a church on this link – https://www.companyregistrations.co.zw/blog/how-to-register-an-ngo-in-zimbabwe
Hi, Thank you for an insightful article. What are the limitation of the disadvantages of a PBC? Basically, things which could be a holdback. thanks.
Hi Jimmy. This article on the differences between a PBC and a PLC should help you on this – https://www.companyregistrations.co.zw/blog/differences-between-pbc-plc
You Guys are doing good work. Thank you for your insights.
hie do you have to register a trading as name in zimbabwe?
Hi Aty. Yes you do. According to the new Companies and other Business Entities Act you have to register a trade name before you start using it
Hie! This is very informative indeed. Thank you for sharing such insightful information… please keep up the great work! My questions have been answered well, thank you once again.
Hie Angel and Walt. You certainly are indeed doing a great job in giving out this information and clarifying matters. How does one register as a sole trader? I would like to go into freelance proofreading business which is registered so that I can also underwrite business from corporate companies and organizations. Or should I register as PBC or PLC?
Hi Chris.
You are most welcome. The PBC is the type that allows you to register as just 1 person, so to register as a sole trader you would need to register a PBC
Hello there , can I register a company if I am not ready to trade?
Hi Vusumuzi. Yes you can
Great post! I found the information on company registration in Zimbabwe to be really helpful. I’m actually planning to start a business in Harare and this procedure has clarified many things for me.