Service by Acacia Consulting & Formations
Register Your Company in Cote d'Ivoire from Abroad -- 100% Remote
Whether you live in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, India or anywhere else, you can now register a company in Cote d'Ivoire without ever boarding a plane. ACF-CI handles your entire CEPICI file in Abidjan on your behalf. Company registration starts at $436. Zero travel required. Zero hidden fees.
🌍 Your Company in Cote d'Ivoire, from Abroad
Understand your options
Which business structure is right for you?
Before registering a company in Cote d'Ivoire, you need to choose the legal structure that matches your situation. ACF-CI -- a service of Sigma Capital SARL -- supports four structures: the LLC, the Sole Proprietorship, the Subsidiary and the Branch. Each one has a different purpose, cost and level of liability protection.
If you are an individual starting a business on your own -- freelancing, consulting, e-commerce, or a small trading activity -- the Sole Proprietorship or the LLC are usually the right fit. If you already run a company abroad and want to expand into Cote d'Ivoire, you are looking at a Subsidiary (a separate local company) or a Branch (a local extension of your existing company).
Since 2021, ACF-CI has supported 150+ entrepreneurs -- individuals and companies -- in registering the right structure in Cote d'Ivoire, most of them entirely remotely. See client reviews →
- ✓ No travel needed -- 100% remote registration
- ✓ Power of attorney included -- signed abroad, filed in Abidjan
- ✓ Bylaws / founding documents drafted by our legal team, OHADA-compliant
- ✓ Legal business address in Koumassi, Abidjan provided
- ✓ Tax optimization of 20–50% available from day one
- ✓ Official documents delivered by email (RCCM, DFE, IDU)
- ✓ Dedicated WhatsApp support, 7 days a week, 8am–8pm
- ✓ Payment in 2 installments available
| Structure | Best for | Liability |
|---|---|---|
| LLC | Small & medium businesses, several partners possible | Limited to capital contributed |
| Sole Proprietorship | Solo founders, freelancers, simple activities | Unlimited (personal assets exposed) |
| Subsidiary | Foreign companies wanting a separate local entity | Limited, protects the parent company |
| Branch | Foreign companies extending operations locally | Carried by the parent company |
You don't need to decide alone. ACF-CI offers a free, no-obligation initial consultation to help you choose between an LLC, a Sole Proprietorship, a Subsidiary or a Branch. Request free advice →
In detail
Understanding each business structure
A closer look at what each structure means in practice, so you can register the right one the first time.
LLC (Limited Liability Company)
The Ivorian equivalent of a private limited company (locally called "SARL"). Your personal liability is limited to what you invest as capital. It can be formed by a single owner or several partners, and is the most common structure for a serious, growing business. Minimum capital: 5,000 FCFA (about $9), though 1,000,000 FCFA is recommended for banking credibility.
Sole Proprietorship
The simplest structure: you and the business are legally the same person. No minimum capital, lighter paperwork, and you're taxed under the micro-business regime (a flat rate on turnover). The tradeoff is unlimited liability -- your personal assets can be used to cover business debts.
Subsidiary
A brand-new, fully independent Ivorian company (usually an LLC), majority or wholly owned by your foreign company. It has its own legal personality, so your parent company's liability stays limited to its investment. This is the most durable way to establish a lasting presence in Cote d'Ivoire.
Branch
A local extension of your existing foreign company -- not a separate legal entity. Under OHADA law, a branch must convert into a local company after 2 years (renewable once). It's a faster way to start trading locally, but your parent company remains fully liable for its activity.
No surprises
What's included in your package
Every registration handled by ACF-CI covers the full administrative process at CEPICI (the official one-stop business registry of Cote d'Ivoire), from your first document to your final official paperwork.
- ✓ Drafting of your bylaws / founding documents, OHADA-compliant
- ✓ Full CEPICI filing (RCCM, IDU)
- ✓ Tax registration (DFE) with the Ivorian tax authority (DGI)
- ✓ Power of attorney handling -- signed abroad, used in Abidjan
- ✓ Real-time WhatsApp follow-up, 7 days a week
- ✓ All official documents delivered digitally by email
For Subsidiaries and Branches, we additionally handle the legalization of your parent company's documents and their translation into French (required by Ivorian authorities -- see the "Required Documents" section below).
A transparent process
The 7 steps to register your company from abroad
Designed for entrepreneurs and companies based outside Cote d'Ivoire. You handle things from home, we handle things in Abidjan. See how it works →
First contact & free consultation
Reach out to ACF-CI by WhatsApp, phone or email. We review your project to confirm which structure -- LLC, Sole Proprietorship, Subsidiary or Branch -- fits your goals. The initial consultation is completely free, with no obligation.
Quote & order confirmation
You receive a clear, all-inclusive quote with no hidden fees. Once confirmed, you pay the first installment from anywhere in the world (bank transfer, Wise, PayPal, Western Union...). Your file starts immediately.
⏱ Day 1–2Document collection by WhatsApp or email
We send you the exact list of documents required for your structure. You send us high-resolution scans of your identification and supporting documents. Everything happens online -- no postal mail required.
Translation into French (if needed)
Ivorian authorities require all submitted documents to be in French. If your documents (passport, birth certificate, or -- for Subsidiaries and Branches -- your parent company's documents) are in English or another language, ACF-CI can arrange a certified French translation for you, quoted on request.
⏱ Day 5–7Drafting & power of attorney
Our legal team drafts your bylaws or founding documents. You review and sign your power of attorney remotely (legalized locally in your country of residence), authorizing ACF-CI to represent you at CEPICI in Abidjan.
⏱ Day 7–10Filing at CEPICI & follow-up
ACF-CI physically files your complete application at the CEPICI one-stop shop in Abidjan (Immeuble Grand Siecle, Cocody), and follows up daily until your RCCM (business registration number) and IDU (unique identifier) are issued.
⏱ Week 2–6Delivery of your official documents
Once your RCCM, IDU and tax registration (DFE) are ready, we send you digital copies by email. Your company is now officially registered, and you can start operating, opening a business bank account, or applying for optional tax optimization.
⏱ Week 4–8Clear & transparent pricing
Company registration pricing -- all-inclusive
Prices below are shown in US dollars for convenience and calculated using Wise's exchange rate. Official invoices are issued in FCFA (West African CFA franc) -- the USD amount may vary slightly depending on the daily exchange rate.
The complete package to register your LLC or Sole Proprietorship in Cote d'Ivoire, fully remote.
- ✓ Bylaws / founding documents drafted
- ✓ Full CEPICI filing (RCCM, IDU)
- ✓ Tax registration (DFE)
- ✓ Power of attorney handling
- ✓ 7 days a week WhatsApp support
- ✓ Payment in 2 installments possible
Register a fully independent local company, owned by your foreign company.
- ✓ Full CEPICI filing (RCCM, IDU)
- ✓ Tax registration (DFE)
- ✓ Parent company documents processed
- ✓ Power of attorney handling
- ✓ 7 days a week WhatsApp support
Extend your existing foreign company's operations into Cote d'Ivoire.
- ✓ Full CEPICI filing (RCCM, IDU)
- ✓ Tax registration (DFE)
- ✓ Parent company documents processed
- ✓ Power of attorney handling
- ✓ 7 days a week WhatsApp support
Before you start
Required documents
The exact list depends on your chosen structure, but here is what is generally required.
- ✓ Passport (valid, clear scan)
- ✓ Birth certificate
- ✓ Proof of address in your country of residence
- ✓ Criminal record extract (required if the manager was born in Abidjan; otherwise a sworn declaration is accepted, to be regularized within 75 days)
- ✓ For Subsidiaries and Branches only: your parent company's registration certificate, articles of association, and board resolution authorizing the local registration
Unlike some countries, Cote d'Ivoire does not require an apostille on your documents. The only requirement is that all documents be translated into French. ACF-CI can handle this translation for you -- the exact fee is quoted on request, depending on the number and length of documents.
Save on taxes, legally
Legal tax reduction up to −50%
By joining an Approved Management Center (Centre de Gestion Agree, or "CGA") -- a mechanism fully recognized under Ivorian law -- a business under the micro-business tax regime benefits from a 50% reduction on its business turnover tax: the rate drops from 5% to 2.5% of revenue.
In general terms, this represents a legal reduction of 20 to 50% of taxes over a minimum of 3 years, depending on your exact tax regime. ACF-CI handles the CGA enrollment as an optional add-on for $175, activated at the time of your company's registration.
Please note: this reduction applies to the business turnover tax under the micro-business regime. It should not be confused with the separate "Investment Code," which is a distinct mechanism reserved for large-scale investments above 50 million FCFA.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ -- Registering a company in Cote d'Ivoire from abroad
Answers to the questions most commonly asked by entrepreneurs and companies based outside Cote d'Ivoire, based on our experience since 2021.
Trusted since 2021
150+ entrepreneurs trust us
Founded in 2021 by Toussaint KPASSE, a specialist in OHADA law, ACF-CI -- a service of Sigma Capital SARL -- has supported entrepreneurs and companies from France, Belgium, Canada, Switzerland, the United States and beyond in registering their business in Cote d'Ivoire. See client reviews →
More Resources
All our company registration services
Explore our other dedicated resources for registering and running your company in Cote d'Ivoire.
Ready to register your company in Cote d'Ivoire?
Register your company in Cote d'Ivoire from anywhere -- start today
Over 150 entrepreneurs supported since 2021 -- many of them registering entirely remotely. Acacia Consulting & Formations, a service of Sigma Capital SARL, available 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm. Zero hidden fees. Zero travel required. Learn more about ACF-CI →
