GHBusinessDesk
Register a Business
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Start a business

Register the right business, the first time.

Three structures, compared plainly. Pick the one that fits how you trade, and we prepare, submit and track the registration for you.

Register a BusinessCompare structures

Private company · Not a government agency · Government fees shown separately

Illustrative image of a Ghanaian founder signing business registration paperwork with a registration officer

Three structures, side by side.

Liability, who each one suits, the people and documents you need, and what it costs. Government fees are paid to the Registrar at cost and shown separately.

Sole proprietorship

Business name

GHS 350GHBusinessDesk service fee+ GHS 160 government feesFrom abroad: US$79 service fee
Liability
Personal. You and the business are the same person in law.
Who it suits
One person trading on their own: a kiosk, a studio, a repair stand, a service.
People needed
  • You, the owner
Documents
  • Ghana Card, or passport plus Non-Citizen Card
  • Digital address for the business
  • Up to three candidate names
GHBusinessDesk time
Submitted within 1 working day of a complete, clean file
After registration
Renewed every year
Start a business nameBusiness name in detail
Two or more partners

Partnership

GHS 750GHBusinessDesk service fee+ GHS 300 government feesFrom abroad: US$129 service fee
Liability
Personal, and shared between the partners.
Who it suits
People who trade together and share the profit: a practice, a workshop, a family business.
People needed
  • At least 2 partners, each verifying their own details
Documents
  • Identity document for every partner
  • Digital address for the business
  • Your partnership terms
GHBusinessDesk time
Submitted within 1 working day of a complete, clean file, once every partner has approved
After registration
Renewed every year
Start a partnershipPartnership in detail
Separate legal entity

Company limited by shares

GHS 1,800GHBusinessDesk service fee+ GHS 615 government fees + 1% stamp dutyFrom abroad: US$399 service fee
Liability
Limited to what shareholders put in. The company owns its debts.
Who it suits
Growth, investors, bank finance, larger contracts and foreign shareholders.
People needed
  • At least 2 directors, 1 ordinarily resident in Ghana
  • A qualified company secretary
  • Shareholders and beneficial owners
Documents
  • Identity document for every officer and member
  • Registered office in Ghana with digital address
  • Stated capital and share allocation
  • Director and secretary consents, witnessed
GHBusinessDesk time
Submitted within 1 working day of a complete, clean file, after a second reviewer checks it
After registration
Annual return every year, beneficial ownership kept current
Start a companyCompany limited by shares in detail

GHBusinessDesk times cover our own work. The Registrar’s processing time is outside our control and never promised. Government fees are indicative and verified against the current schedule at checkout.

How to choose.

Most founders can decide with four questions. If you are still unsure, the guided questions in the application recommend a structure.

Answer the guided questions
  1. Are you trading on your own, and happy for the business to be you in law?A business name is the simplest start. Your personal assets stand behind the business’s debts.
  2. Are two or more of you sharing the work and the profit?A partnership fits. Liability stays personal and shared, so agree your terms in writing.
  3. Do you want limited liability, investors, bank finance or larger contracts?A company limited by shares is a separate legal person. It needs two directors, one ordinarily resident in Ghana, and a qualified secretary.
  4. Will anyone who is not Ghanaian own shares?You need a company, plus registration with the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority. See foreign founders.

Each structure in detail.

What we do, what you provide, and every line of the checkout.

Not in Ghana, or not Ghanaian?

Two routes built for founders outside the country. Both are priced in US dollars.

Before you start.

The questions founders ask most at this stage.

Register a BusinessAll questions

Private company · Not a government agency · Government fees shown separately

Registration is decided by the Registrar

GHBusinessDesk prepares, submits and tracks your application. The Office of the Registrar of Companies examines it and decides.

Are you the government?

No. GHBusinessDesk is a private company. We prepare and submit applications on your behalf and track them. Registration decisions are made by the relevant authority, such as the Office of the Registrar of Companies.

How long does registration take?

We guarantee our own steps: first review within 1 working day of payment, and submission within 1 working day of a complete file. The authority’s processing time is outside our control, so we never promise it. You see every status change as it happens.

What are government fees, and what is your fee?

Government fees go to the authority at cost, for example GHS 130 registration and GHS 30 name search for a business name. Our service fee is what we charge for the work. Any professional fee goes to a partner firm. Each appears on its own line before you pay.

Do I need a lawyer?

Most business name and company registrations do not. Where the law requires a licensed professional, such as a qualified company secretary or a commissioner for oaths, we arrange a vetted partner and show their fee separately.

Ready when you are.

No account needed until you’re ready to save. Most people finish the questions in about 12 minutes, and see every fee before they pay.

Register a BusinessTalk to a specialist

Private company · Not a government agency · Government fees shown separately

Illustrative portrait of a young Ghanaian founder planning her business at a desk