Guide · Localized for Sierra Leone

    How to Start a Business in Sierra Leone

    A step-by-step guide to legally starting a business in Sierra Leone: entity types, OARG/CAC registration, NRA tax setup, banking, mobile money, licensing, and Freetown-based support organizations.

    The Sierra Leone context

    Sierra Leone has made real progress on business registration in the last decade. The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), formerly the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG), consolidates company registration with the National Revenue Authority (NRA) so most founders can walk out with a certificate of incorporation and a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) in the same trip. The Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA) acts as the investor one-stop shop. Freetown is the commercial hub, but agri-processing hubs in Bo, Kenema, and Makeni are increasingly active. This guide focuses on peacetime, non-mining businesses; mining and petroleum have separate licensing regimes.

    Currency is quoted in Sierra Leonean leone (SLE, redenominated). If you have limited savings, pair this page with the Sierra Leone-specific no-money playbook.

    Choose the right legal entity

    Entity typeBest forMinimum capitalTax treatment
    Business name (sole trader / partnership)Solo operators, market traders, home businessesNoneOwner taxed at personal income rates plus GST if turnover exceeds threshold
    Private company limited by sharesMost SMEs, foreign-owned businesses, formal contractsNo statutory minimum; typical starting share capital 1M-10M SLE25% corporate tax; 15% GST if registered
    Company limited by guaranteeNon-profits, associations, some social enterprisesNone (guaranteed amounts)Not-for-profit treatment if compliant
    External / branch companyForeign parent testing the marketSet by parentTaxed on Sierra Leone-source income

    Registration steps

    1. Do a name search at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) - can be done in person in Freetown or through a corporate services agent.
    2. Reserve the name and prepare the incorporation forms and (for companies) memorandum and articles of association.
    3. Submit registration documents at CAC and pay the schedule fee.
    4. Receive the certificate of incorporation or business name registration.
    5. Register with the National Revenue Authority (NRA) for a Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). CAC and NRA are coordinated in the same premises.
    6. Register for Goods and Services Tax (GST) with NRA if your annual turnover exceeds 100,000,000 SLE (check the current threshold).
    7. Register with the National Social Security and Insurance Trust (NASSIT) if you have employees.
    8. Get a Freetown City Council or local council business license (rates depend on activity and premises).
    9. Sector permits: for tourism, mining, agriculture exports, or health, apply to the relevant ministry.

    Tax registration and filing

    1. File monthly PAYE returns with NRA if you have employees.
    2. File monthly GST returns if registered.
    3. File the annual company income tax return within four months of the fiscal year end.
    4. Keep receipts, contracts, and bank statements for at least six years - NRA audits often reach back several years.
    5. Consider hiring a local accountant or tax agent; NRA's electronic filing (ITAS) has improved but still rewards local familiarity.

    Banking and payments

    1. Open a business account at Rokel Commercial Bank, Sierra Leone Commercial Bank, Ecobank, UBA, GTBank, or Zenith Bank.
    2. Expect the certificate of incorporation, TIN, board resolution, directors' IDs, and a lease or utility bill to open.
    3. Enable mobile-money acceptance through Orange Money and Africell Afrimoney - these are the dominant B2C rails, especially outside Freetown.
    4. For card acceptance and online payments, use Monime, Salone Microfinance's tools, or an international provider like Flutterwave/Paystack via a regional partner.
    5. For international income, use Wise Business (via partner in the region), Payoneer, or direct SWIFT into a USD account at your bank.

    Licensing and sector permits

    • Food, restaurants, and pharmacies need Ministry of Health and Sanitation permits and premises inspections.
    • Tourism operators need Ministry of Tourism and National Tourist Board licenses.
    • Agricultural exports (cocoa, coffee, ginger) require licenses from the Ministry of Agriculture and quality checks by the Sierra Leone Standards Bureau.
    • Mining and petroleum are governed by the National Minerals Agency and the Petroleum Directorate and have separate, more demanding regimes.
    • Foreign investors above certain thresholds should engage SLIEPA early to access incentives and land-access support.

    Hiring your first employees

    • Employment contracts are governed by the Employers and Employed Act and sector regulations.
    • Statutory minimum wage is 800 SLE/month for the private sector (2023 revision; confirm current level with the Ministry of Labour).
    • NASSIT contributions total 15% of gross salary: 10% employer, 5% employee.
    • PAYE is progressive up to 30% at higher brackets and is withheld by the employer.
    • For foreign staff, work permits are required and are approved by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security.

    Sector opportunities in Sierra Leone

    • AgriProcessing - cassava, rice, cocoa, palm oil, ginger, honey - with support from FAO, IFAD, and USAID Feed the Future.
    • Renewable energy and mini-grids given persistent grid gaps outside Freetown.
    • Digital services (fintech, gig platforms, edtech) building on rising mobile-money penetration.
    • Tourism (beaches, ecotourism, cultural heritage) - underdeveloped and prioritized in national plans.
    • Waste management and circular economy in Freetown and the mining belts.

    Government agencies and portals

    Support organizations and networks

    Interactive Starter Checklist

    Launch a Business in 8 Weeks: Interactive Starter Checklist

    Work through these six stages in order. Tick items off as you go, your progress saves in your browser. Prefer paper? Download the printable PDF and take it into the field.

    Download printable PDFPreview in new tab

    0 of 30 complete

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    1. 1. Validate the idea (Week 1)

      0 of 5 done

      Before spending money, prove someone will pay. Interview at least 10 potential customers.

    2. 2. Choose a legal structure (Week 2)

      0 of 5 done

      The right structure depends on liability, taxes, and who you plan to raise from.

    3. 3. Build the minimum viable offer (Weeks 3-4)

      0 of 5 done

      Ship a version customers can actually buy. Not a prototype, a real service or product.

    4. 4. Set up basic operations (Weeks 5-6)

      0 of 5 done

      Boring plumbing that prevents customer churn and tax headaches later.

    5. 5. Get your first 10 customers (Weeks 7-8)

      0 of 5 done

      Distribution beats product at this stage. Do things that don't scale.

    6. 6. Plan the next 90 days

      0 of 5 done

      Move from launch mode to a repeatable operating rhythm.

    FAQ: starting a business in Sierra Leone

    Yes. Foreigners can wholly own private companies in most sectors. Sensitive sectors (mining, petroleum, certain trade activities) have additional local-content or licensing requirements. Foreign investors are strongly encouraged to work with SLIEPA to access incentives and land-facilitation.

    For a sole trader / business name, 2-5 business days if paperwork is clean. For a private limited company, 5-10 business days including TIN issuance. Delays usually come from name-search issues or bank due diligence when opening the account, not from CAC itself.

    A small private company typically faces 25% corporate income tax on profits, 15% GST on taxable sales (with input credit), NASSIT of 15% of payroll (10% employer, 5% employee), and progressive PAYE on staff. Effective burden is highly dependent on sector; SLIEPA-backed investments in priority sectors can access incentives.

    For registration, yes - CAC's main office is in Freetown, though corporate agents can act on your behalf. For operations, agri-processing and export businesses are increasingly headquartered in Bo, Kenema, and Makeni to be closer to producers. Banking and mobile-money infrastructure work nationally.

    The dominant B2C channels are cash and mobile money (Orange Money, Africell Afrimoney). Bank transfer and cheques are common in B2B. For online businesses, mobile-money APIs and regional providers like Flutterwave (via partner banks) let you accept cards and mobile-money. For international clients, USD accounts and Wise/Payoneer are the standard freelancer setup.

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