Conduct a name search
Agency: Registrar of Companies and Corporate Affairs
The entrepreneur must travel to Belmopan, the capital, to visit the Companies’ Registry and request a computerized name search of all existing Belizean company names, which takes a few minutes to complete as is free of charge. A request can also be done by e-mail, telephone or fax at a fee of BZD 50.
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Register company statutes, memorandum and articles of association
Agency: Registrar of Companies and Corporate Affairs
The company must register its statutes, memorandum, and articles of association at the Companies’ Registry. The applicable fees are BZD 500 for the certificate of compliance, BZD 10 for filing, BZD 50 for registration, BZD 12 (each) for registering the statutes, the memorandum, and articles of association, and BZD 13 for registering the directors to act on the company’s behalf. The fees are paid directly at the Companies’ Registry. After the payment, it takes one week to issue the certificate of registration.
According the Companies Act, a company can be formed with one director and one shareholder. In case of one or more directors each director must initially subscribe to at least one share, and for practical purposes, each share is worth BZD 1. For a company with 5 directors, in practice, the minimum start-up capital is BZD 5.
The documentation must include the following:
- Identification for all directors and their representatives, if applicable
- Company statutes
- Memorandum and articles of association
Time and cost: 7 days, see procedure details
Submit application for a trade license
Agency: City Council
The application prompts the City Council to send an inspector to visit the site. Although there are only four city council inspectors in Belize City, the inspector will usually arrive the next day.
The documentation to submit an application for trade license shall include:
- Certificate of compliance from the Companies’ Registry (obtained in Procedure 2)
- Proof of residency
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Receive inspection from City Council inspector
Agency: City Council
The city council inspector inspects the premises and submits findings to the council’s trade license board. By law, the board must meet every 3 months, but in practice, it meets every 2 weeks to manage the high volume of trade license applications.
The determination of the fees are based on a percentage of the annual rental value of the premises and are due within 30 days after receipt of the bill. Percentages range between 2% and 25% depending on the type of business.
At the end of the deliberation, the determination and assessment notice will be couriered to the entrepreneur. About 2 days after the trade license board’s decision and the entrepreneur’s payment, the license will be hand delivered to the entrepreneur at no additional charge.
Time and cost: 20 days, no charge
Pay for the trade license
Agency: City Council
Parties take the assessment notice to the City Council and pay up to 25% of the annual rental value of the premises, according to the inspector’s assessment.
Time and cost: 1 day (simultaneous with previous procedure), 25% of the annual rental value of the business premises
Make a company seal
Agency: Seal Maker
The company must make a company seal. This can be done at any stationary store and costs between BZD 50 and BZD 200, depending on whether it is rubber or embossed.
Time and cost: 2 days, BZD 50-200
Register the company for business tax
Agency: Income tax department
The founders must register the company with the income tax authorities by presenting a relevant certificate of compliance. The company receives the tax number in about 1 to 2 weeks. Operations may begin at this time but the company must withhold the taxes payable. Failure to do so results in penalties and interest payable.
Time and cost: 10 days, BZD 150
Register the company for General Sales Tax (GST)
Agency: GST office
The business must register with the general services tax authorities by presenting a relevant certificate of compliance. However, final registration will not be confirmed until a few weeks later. Operations can begin during this time, but the company must withhold the taxes payable. Failure to do so results in penalties and interest payable.
Time and cost: 17 days on average (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
Register the employees with the Social Security Board
Agency: Social Security Board
All employees must be registered with the social security authorities. Confirmation of registration will take a few months. Operations can begin in the meantime, but deductions must be taken during this time.
Time and cost: 2 days (simultaneous with previous procedure), no charge
