Search for the company name and reserve the proposed name
Agency: Registry of Commerce in FUNDEMPRESA
The existence of the company name can be verified through the website (http://www.miempresa.gob.bo/). The name reservation expires after 10 days.
Time and cost: Less than 1 day (online procedure), no charge
Hire an attorney to draft the articles of incorporation, bylaws and constitution act, which includes the appointment of the provisory board
Agency: Lawyer
Professional fees may vary. The lawyers association’s fee schedule (Colegio de Abogados) establishes that the minimum fee for the company incorporation should be BOB 6,000. The fee for processing the formalities at the registry may also vary.
Time and cost: 1 day, BOB 6,000 legal fee + BOB 1,300 procurement for processing of documents with Registry
Notarize the Articles of Incorporation “escritura de constitución”
Agency: Notary
The notary must draft the document and the partners must appear before the notary to sign and set their fingerprint in the documents. Several notarized copies of public deeds are required for filing according to the procedures discussed here. Most other documents required for registration must also be notarized.
Time and cost: 1 day, BOB 350 + BOB 30 per copy (3 copies)
Publish company deed “titulo de constitución” in the electronic gazette (Gaceta Electronica)
Agency: Electronic Gazette of the Registry of Commerce of Bolivia
Pursuant to the proceedings undertaken by the Registry of Commerce, the publication of the incorporation deed needs to contain at least the following information:
- Notarial introduction
- Transcription of clauses regarding: Place and date of the signature; Name, age, marital status, nationality, profession, domicile, id number for natural persons that are shareholders and name, nature, nationality and domicile of the juridical persons that are shareholders
- Denomination and domicile of the incorporated company
- Purpose of the company
- Amount of the capital
- Amount contributed by each shareholder. In sociedades anónimas, also is necessary to establish the authorized capital, the subscribe capital and the paid in capital
- Term of duration of the company
The firm must wait until the documents are actually published before filing the request to obtain legal capacity with the Registry of Commerce.
The publication is done on the electronic gazette of the Registry of Commerce (http://www.gacetadecomercio.gob.bo).
Time and cost: 1 day, BOB 192
Register at the National Tax Service to obtain the tax identification number (Número de Identificación Tributaria, NIT)
Agency: National Tax Service (Servicio de Impuestos Nacionales)
All companies must obtain a Tax Identification Number which will allow them to pay and declare all corresponding taxes, including the VAT. This procedure is partially carried out online with the creation of an online temporary user that allows the access to the Virtual Office and to the MASI-001 form. The business founders must fill in this form and once it is submitted, a file number will be provided.
After registering online, the legal representative needs to present and sign the following original documents and stamp his or her fingerprints at the National Tax Service:
- Public deed of the company’s articles of incorporation,
- A utility (electricity or water) bill to evidence the domicile of both the
- Company and the legal representative,
- Public deed of the power of attorney granted in favor of the company’s legal
- Representative,
- Representative’s identification document,
- Sketch of the company’s domicile.
After the registration, the National Tax Service will issue the certificate of registration, the display document of the NIT, access card to the Virtual Office and an identification sticker
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Register the company deed with the Registry of Commerce to obtain legal capacity (Matricula de Comercio)
Agency: Registry of Commerce in FUNDEMPRESA
Since 2002 a concession for the Registry of Commerce has been granted to a private operator (Fundación para el Desarrollo Empresarial, FUNDEMPRESA).
Since January, 2018, an online application form need to be filled at the www.miempresa.gob.bo The information that is required to complete the online form is (i) company information details; (ii) commercial address; (iii) contact details; (iv) commercial information; (v) information of the legal representative; (vi) opening balance sheet; (vii) financial reporting and fiscal closing date.
For registering the company, the following documents need to be provided in person at the Registry: (a) the online application of the new registration file, (b) public deed of incorporation, comprising the charter documents, by-laws and the deed whereby the provisional board of directors is appointed, (c) power of attorney granted to the legal representative, (d) publication at the electronic gazette of the incorporation deed.
After the submission of documents, it will be paid the fees for registration. In the next days, an officer will analyze and scan the documents to issue the certificate (Matricula de Comercio).
Time and cost: 3 days, BOB 455
Obtain a municipal business license and a municipal registration card (Padrón Municipal) from the municipality where the business is located
Agency: Municipality
The municipal business license can be applied through the online platform iGob 24/7 or at the municipal office. The following documents can be uploaded to the online platform:
- Copy of the public deed of incorporation;
- Copy of the certificate of registration at the Registry of Commerce (Matricula de Comercio);
- Copy of the Tax Identification Number;
- Sketch of the domicile and layout of the offices;
- Copy of the public deed of the power of attorney granted in favor of the company’s legal representative;
- Copy of the representative’s identification document.
Once the documents are submitted, the original documents should be presented and verified at the municipal office. Once that the technical inspection is conducted, the municipal business license can be directly downloaded at the iGob 24/7 platform.
Time and cost: 12 days, no charge
Municipal Government inspects the technical and environmental characteristics of the venue
Agency: Municipal Government
All new businesses must pass inspection by the Municipal Government for adequate technical and environmental characteristics of the venue.
Time and cost: 1 day, simultaneous with previous procedure, no charge
Register at the appropriate Chamber of Commerce or Industry
Agency: Chamber of Commerce or Industry
Pursuant to Article 54 of Supreme Decree 16833 (dated July 19, 1979) and to Supreme Decree 17242 (dated March 3, 1980), all companies must be registered at their respective chambers of commerce, however, in practice it is not done and there are no penalties.
Time and cost: 1 day, BOB 493
Register at the Ministry of Labor, enroll in the “Registro Obligatorio de Empleadores-ROE”
Agency: Ministry of Labor
The following documents need to be presented to the Ministry Office for registration:
- Copies of the form “ROE- Registro Obligatorio de Empleadores”. This form can be filled trough the website: www.mintrabajo.gob.bo
- Deposit of BOB 145- to the Bank Account Nº 1-6036425 in the “Banco Unión.”
It is mandatory to register within 30 days of obtaining the tax identification number (NIT).
Time and cost: 1 day, no charge
Register employees with the pensions system (Sistema Integral de Pensiones)
Agency: AFP
New employees must register within 10 days of starting employment. If an employee fails to register during this time, the employer must fulfill the requirement.
Time and cost: 3 days, no charge
Register for national health insurance and short-term disability coverage
Agency: Any health insurance institution
The employer may register with any health insurance institution (Caja Nacional de Salud, Caja Petrolera de Salud, Caja de Salud de la Banca Privada, etc.). The employer fills and submits the required forms, attaching copies of the proof of identification for the company’s legal representative, the articles of incorporation, the commercial registry certificate, the tax identification number (TIN), the opening balance sheet (duly registered) and payroll, and employees’ civil status (along with names, proof of identity, and names of dependents). Three forms must be completed for the employer and two for each employee.
Time and cost: 15 days, BOB 15 per form, 3 forms
