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Registering a business in Nepal

Before starting any business, entrepreneurs should register their company. They will need a system which is efficient and accessible to all. Entrepreneurs should know their needs and the nature of their business to decide on what type of company to register. In Nepal, there are three popular types of businesses on the basis of ownership viz. Sole Proprietorship, Partnership business and Company- Public company and Private company. The process of registration and required fees are explained in details below:

Sole Proprietorship/ Private Firm

A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business owned by a single person. Sole proprietorships are easy and inexpensive to create and operate. The company is not even required to file a separate tax return—all profits and losses are reported on the owner’s personal return.

Sole proprietorships also have the following features:

• The owner of the business is responsible for all of the business’s debts. If the business institution cannot pay its suppliers, the owner is personally liable. This is known as unlimited liability.

• The owner of a sole proprietorship has limited options for financing one’s business. Debt is generally the owner’s only source of working capital because the owner has no stock or memberships to sell. If someone else brings in capital and helps with the management of the business, then it is a partnership, not a sole proprietorship. For this reason, sole proprietorships work best for small businesses without large capital needs.

Registration of a Private Firm

A Private Firm has to follow the procedures below to register a business in Nepal.

According to Section 3 of the Private Firm Registration Act, 2014, the sole proprietorship business institution needs to be registered either in Department of Commerce (in case of commerce related firm), Department of Cottage and Rural Industry in the case of cottage and rural industry, and Department of Industry for any other industry.

Any person who intends to register a private firm may submit an application in the prescribed legal format to the relevant Department along with the prescribed official fee. The application should contain the following information:

i. The name of the Private Firm

ii. The address of the Firm

iii. The objectives, functions and the particulars of goods or commodity to be transacted by the private firm.

iv. The name and address of the owner, and the name of his/her father, mother and grandfather, grandmother.

Registration Fee

Based on the capital of the firm, the registration fee needs to be paid which is as follows:

S.N. Capital (in NPR) Fee (NPR)
1. 1,00,000 or less 600
2. More than 1,00,000 and less than 3,00,000 2,000
3. More than 3,00,000 and less than 5,00,000 4,000
4. More than 5,00,000 and less than 10,00,000 7,500
5. More than 10,00,000 and less than 50,00,000 10,000
6. More than 50,00,000 15,000

NB: Certified copy of the Citizenship Certificate needs to be presented along with other essential documents for the registration of the private firm.

Renewal of the Firm

A private firm’s duration is three years after which the firm needs to be renewed. The renewal fee is given below:

S.N. Capital (in NPR) Fee
1. 1,00,000 or less 300
2. More than 1,00,000 and less than 3,00,000 500
3. More than 3,00,000 and less than 5,00,000 800
4. More than 5,00,000 and less than 10,00,000 1,200
5. More than 10,00,000 and less than 50,00,000 1,700
6. More than 50,00,000 2,300

Partnership Firm

Any business registered in a record of the Government of Nepal by the persons who have agreed to share the profit of the business carried on by them in a single name under an agreement (Kabuliat) made with each other which entitles all partners to take part in all business for each partner or entitles any of them for the same on behalf of all others.

The persons who have entered into the agreement are called partners. The partnership is not a separate legal person but an aggregate of the partners.

Key features of a Partnership Firm

  • Use of property of the partnership:

No Partners shall use or cause to use the property of the partnership firm for any other purpose other than the purpose of the partnership business.

  • No compulsion for additional capital:

No partner shall be compelled to add more capital than the amount prescribed in the agreement of partnership deed despite the request of other partners.

  • No substitution of partners:

No partner shall, without the consent of all other partners, make or keep to any other person as a partner in the firm instead of him/her.

  • Every partner may participate in the business:

Except a partner who is prohibited to take part in the management of partnership pursuant to the agreement, every partner shall be entitled to participate in the management of the business of the firm unless other partner opposes it.

Provided that, without the consent of all the partners no act which is not related with the business of a firm shall be performed under the name of partnership.

  • Liability of a partner:

Every partner shall be liable jointly or personally with all the other partners for all the acts of the firm done while he/she was a partner.

  • Partner may transfer his/her interest

If any partner transfers his/her interest in the firm by a sale, mortgage or by any other method to someone else such person may be entitled to claim the profit or any other amount to be received by the said partner from the business of partnership within that period.

Registration of a Partnership Firm

A firm shall have to be registered in the record of the concerned Department within a period of Six months from the date when the partners enter into the agreement of partnership.

In order to register a firm, an application in the prescribed legal format shall be submitted before the concerned Department, stating the details as follows, along with the official fees and a copy of the agreement concluded between partners, if any,

(a) Full Name of the firm

(b) The Principal place of business of the firm,

(c) The objectives of the firm including the short description of the nature of the goods or services, as the case may be, which the firm intends to run the business,

(d) The full name, surname and permanent address of the partners,

(e) The matter of restriction imposed on the power of a partner, if any,

(f) The types of partnership and the capital subscribed by each partner,

(g) The name of a partner or partners, who represent the firm,

(h) The mode to share the profit and loss between /among partners,

(i) The mode to calculate the profit of a firm.

Registration Fee

S.N. Capital (in NPR) Fee
1. 1,00,000 or less Rs. 600
2. More than 1,00,000 and less than 3,00,000 Rs. 2,000
3. More than 3,00,000 and less than 5,00,000 Rs. 4,000
4. More than 5,00,000 and less than 10,00,000 Rs. 7,500
5. More than 10,00,000 and less than 50,00,000 Rs. 10,000
6. More than 50,00,000 Rs. 15,000

Renewal of the Firm

A partnership firm needs to be renewed each year, within a period of thirty five days of the expiry of the fiscal year of the firm. The renewal fee can be seen below:

S.N. Capital (in NPR) Fee
1. 1,00,000 or less Rs. 100
2. More than 1,00,000 and less than 3,00,000 Rs. 125
3. More than 3,00,000 and less than 5,00,000 Rs. 150
4. More than 5,00,000 and less than 10,00,000 Rs. 200
5. More than 10,00,000 and less than 50,00,000 Rs. 250
6. More than 50,00,000 Rs. 300

It is now mandatory to register your business in your respected municipality. In order to register your enterprise you need to provide the following documents:

  1. Rental agreement
  2. Citizenship certificate
  3. Two pp size photo of the business owner

Company

A company is an incorporated business institution that has a legal personality of its own. A company exists independent of its’ shareholders. Consequently, a company is an entity created by law and can only be terminated by the operation of law.

Features of a company:

  • Limited Liability:

The biggest advantage of a company, as opposed to an unincorporated firm, is the limited liability of the shareholders. According to Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2063, the liability of a shareholder of a company in respect of its transactions shall be limited only to the maximum value of shares which he/she has subscribed or undertaken to subscribe.

  • Transferable shares

A crucial element in the success of the registered company as a form of business association is the idea of the transferable share. Shares in a company are transferable in the manner provided for in the company’s articles.

  • Perpetual Succession

A company is able to enjoy a perpetual existence, the death or retirement of the members having no necessary effect on its continued existence, a fact which obviously is not the case with the partnership.

  • Separate Legal Personality

As opposed to a private firm, a company has a legal personality of its own. It can exercise its own rights and has to abide by its duty as per the law. A legal suit brought in the name of the company does not hamper the lives of the shareholders.

Public and Private Company

Generally speaking, public companies are ones which can raise money by inviting the public to purchase their shares.

Private companies refer to those companies which cannot borrow money from the public and whose stock is not floated in the market.

Distinction between Public and Private Company

S.N. Basis of Difference Public Company Private Company
1. Minimum paid-up Capital Rs. 1,00,00,000 No minimum paid-up capital prescribed
2. Number of Members 7 to any number of members 1 to 101 members
3. Transfer of share or securities Shares and securities are freely transferrable Shares and securities can only be transferred to the existing shareholders of the company
4. Number of Board of Directors 3 to 11  11
5. Presence of Company Secretary Mandatory Optional
6. General Assembly Mandatory In accordance with the Articles

Fees Payable for Company Registration

Certain fees are payable to the Office of the Company Registrar for Company Registration. The fees depended on the amount of “authorized capital”, and are as follows for Private Limited Companies:

Authorized Capital, from and up to (NPR) Fees Payable (NPR)
100,000 1,000
500,000 4,500
2,500,000 9,500
10,000,000 16,000
20,000,000 19,000
30,000,000 22,000
40,000,000 25,000
50,000,000 28,000
100,000,000 43,000
More than 100,000,000 30 rupees per 100,000

Company Not Distributing Profits

Generally speaking, a company that has been established with the intention of not distributing the dividends among its owners is referred to as a company not distributing profits. This does not, in any way, imply that the company cannot make profits for itself. The profit so made has to be utilized for the benefit of the company itself. It cannot be distributed to the owners.

Features of Company Not Distributing Profits

  • Objective of such company:

Such companies need to incorporated with an objective to develop and promote any profession or occupation or to protect the collective rights and interests of the persons engaged in any specific profession or occupation or to carry on any enterprise for the attainment of any scientific, academic, social, benevolent or public utility or welfare objective on the condition of not distributing dividends.

  • Number of Members:

In contradiction to the other kinds of companies, these companies do not have shareholders. The persons who initiate the company are called promoters. There needs to be a minimum of five promoters to open such company. After the incorporation, it may have any number of its members, with a minimum of five members.

The membership is not transferable to others.

  • Capital:

A specific amount of capital is not necessary to incorporate such companies. The company may, however, receive membership fees from its members and receive any donation, a gift for the fulfilment of its objectives.

  • Non-distribution of the Dividend:

The company shall not distribute dividend, bonus or any other amount, from the profits earned by it, to its members or employees; and the profits earned by the company shall be used to increase the capital of the company or for the attainment of its objectives.

  • Registration Fee:

The registration fee of such company is Rs. 15,000.

Registration of a Company

In order to register a company, the interested person should make an application to the Company Registrar’s Office in the prescribed legal format, along with the prescribed official fee (depending on the Authorized capital of the company), with the following documents:

i. Memorandum of Association

ii. Article of Association

iii. In case of the public company: copy of the agreement, if any, entered into between the promoters prior to incorporation

iv. In case of a private company: copy of the consensus agreement

v. Approval or license from a competent authority, if required

vi. Where the promoter is a Nepalese citizen: a certified copy of the citizenship certificate

Where the promoter is a body corporate: registration certificate of such body, the decision of the Board of Directors, and major documents relating to the incorporation of such body.

Note: Articles of Association is not required for single shareholder company.

After making necessary inquiries, the Company Registrar’s Office will register such company within 15 days and grant the company registration certificate.

Post Registration Procedure

The company, once registered as a Private Company, has a number of compliance obligations. The are as follows:

  • Registered Office Notification: The Registered office of a Nepalese company should be in Nepal under applicable rules under Companies Act. A board outlining the name of the company and the registration number should be displayed clearly where the company is present. The company should provide to the Companies Registrar Office details of the address where the company is established within three months of registration of the company.
  • Filing Shareholding Details: Once the share capital has been issued and paid-up to the company by a shareholder, the company should prepare a Shareholders Register and file with the Office of Companies within one month of it being paid-up.
  • Directors’ Details: Details of the directors of the company as the prescribed need to be submitted within seven days of the Directors taking office.
  • Annual General Meeting: The company should conduct an annual general meeting of shareholders within one year of establishment. This is not required for Private Companies if clearly mentioned in the Articles and Memorandum of Association.
  • Accounting Requirements: The company’s accounts need to be kept and should be audited by an auditor every year. Auditor has to be appointed by the shareholders. Appointment of auditor needs to be notified to the Office of Companies Registrar within 15 days of appointment.
  • Filing Requirements: Annual audited accounts, auditor’s report, and the report about number of shareholders of the company has to be filed within 6 months of the end of the financial year.

Types of Industries in Nepal

Cottage Industries:

The traditional industries utilizing specific skill or local raw materials and resources, and labour intensive and related with national tradition, art and culture as mentioned below shall be named as cottage industries.

With the exception of cigarette, bidi, cigar, chewing tobacco, khaini industries and industries producing other goods of a similar nature utilizing tobacco as the basic raw material, alcohol and beer producing industries,* Handloom, Pedalloom, Semiautomatic loom, Warping, Dyeing and printing, Tailoring (Other than Readymade Garments), Knitting, Handknitted Woolen Mat and Blanket (Radi, Pakhi), Woolen Carpet, Pashmina, Wollen Garments, Carpentry, Wooden Artistic product, Cane and Bamboo Works, Natural Fiber Products, Hand Made paper and Goods made up thereof, Gold, Philigiree Products including Silver, Brass, Copper Precious and Semi- Precious Stones, Ornaments, Sculptures and Pottery, Honey, chyuri, Cardamom Processing, Clay or Ceramic Pottery, Leather Cutting and Tanning, Rural Tanning and Leather Goods producing Works, Jute, Sabai Grass, Babio, Choya, Cotton Thread Products, Artistic Products made up of Bones and Horns, Stone Carving, Ceramic Fine Arts, Pauwa, Boutique, Incense Stick (Dhup), Dolls and Toys industries and cottage industries with the fixed asset of up to two hundred thousand rupees.*

Small Industries:

Industries with a fixed asset of up to an amount of thirty million rupees are named as small industries.

Medium Industries:

Industries with a fixed asset between thirty million rupees and one hundred million rupees are named as medium industries.

Large Industries:

Industries with a fixed asset of more than one hundred million rupees are named as large industries.

Registration of an Industry

In establishing any industry, an application needs to be made to the concerned Department for its registration setting out the nature, the classification of the industry, the place where the industry is to be situated, the machinery to be employed by the industry, raw materials, auxiliary raw materials, chemicals, packaging goods and the name of the industrialist.

The registration of a Cottage and Small Industry should be made in the Department of Cottage and Small Industries or any district level office under the Department or any office designated by the Department on its behalf and the registration of a medium and Large Industry should be made in the Department of Industries or at such office as may be designated by the Department.

Industries not granted permission for Foreign Investment in Nepal

Any foreigner, who wants to invest in Nepal, has to follow the rules and regulation under the Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Act and Industrial Enterprises Act. This act is administered and implemented by the Department of Industries (DOI). A foreign investor is allowed to own up to 100% equity shares in all areas except few industries. The list below is referred as a ‘Negative List’ which includes:

  1. Cottage industries (except industries using electricity more than 5 kW)
  2. Personal service businesses (e.g. hair cutting, beauty salon, tailoring, driving training, etc.)
  3. Arms and ammunition industries
  4. Gunpowder and explosives
  5. Industries related to radioactive materials
  6. Real estate business (excluding construction industries)
  7. Film industries (national languages and other recognized languages of Nepal)
  8. Security printing
  9. Banknotes and coins
  10. Retail business (excluding international chain retail businesses with business in at least two countries)
  11. Tobacco (excluding more than 90% exportable)
  12. Internal courier service
  13. Atomic energy
  14. Poultry
  15. Fisheries
  16. Beekeeping
  17. Consultancy services (e.g. management, accounting, engineering, legal services); (Maximum of 51% FI is allowed)
  18. Processing of food grains on rent
  19. Local catering Services
  20. Rural tourism

If you are interested in learning more on the entry condition and approval process, follow the link below: http://www.investnepal.gov.np/portal/index.php?p1=content&p2=9#.WiT02EqWbI  


Note: If require any assistance regarding business registration or legal advisory, please email us at legal@biruwa.net

Check our legal services page here

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17 Comments

  1. Rajan Maharjan says:

    These information are awesome. Thank you Biruwa Ventures and all related personnels who contributed on this awesome articles.

  2. Nirajan Shrestha says:

    This is crystal-clear. Not found any other sites being this clear.. Thank YOu!!

  3. Raj says:

    I just want to book the name of my company so that if I am late to startup also others cant take it…is it possible??

  4. Santosh Adhikari says:

    Hello, Can you provide the detail information for forming sole proprietorship firm whose major business would be investment in primary and secondary markets?

  5. Santosh Adhikari says:

    Hello, Can you provide the detail information for forming sole proprietorship firm whose major business would be investment in primary and secondary markets?

  6. Sushil Bajra says:

    i want to open a workshop of jewelery making so where should i be registering my firm? will it be in small industries or a should i go for a commerce (banijya)

  7. Sushil Bajra says:

    i want to open a workshop of jewelery making so where should i be registering my firm? will it be in small industries or a should i go for a commerce (banijya)

  8. Bishal Chhettri says:

    Good information. It would awesome if you could post some sample examples of filling out the necessary registration forms. From application to citizenship. Infact a dummy procedure live example would be terrific. A video on the whole process would do wonders. Because the process listed above can be downloaded from the ocr website in nepali as well as english.

  9. Dinesh Thapa Xettri says:

    Its me db Thapa and I want to start a small coffee shop in Nepal. What amount. Is required for…..plez. U can help me by my number 9863642520

  10. Shreeram Ghimire says:

    hello
    I have registered new company last year. I need to renew my company. What are the processes? What type of documents are needed?

  11. Dawa Sherpa says:

    i want to open multipurpose Art and handicraft company and need help for further porcess is there any solution

  12. Edson Canendo says:

    Dear Sir madam

    Good Day

    I would like to ask about if foreigner make small business capital is 10lak for
    Business type is Coffee shop what is procedure needed or what document need
    I have partnership with my friends Nepali but I’m From Philippines but I’m leaving Nepal from Damak I like to make investment for small coffee shop with my friends but I don’t have any idea about procedure to get a business permits or how to registration for small café shop please let me know I need help us for the procedure

    Best Regards
    Edson Canendo
    Damak Nepal

  13. Ashok says:

    What are the steps to start a commodity(specifically agro. based ) trading private firm

  14. Ramesh says:

    I have plan to open goat and chicken agriculture firm so could you please assist me about how to register a firm?

  15. Ramesh says:

    I have planned to run goat and local chicken firm so could you please advice me about how to register form?