Creating a SARL in Senegal in 2026 is simpler than thought: realistic 2 weeks following the right procedure. APIX has digitalized via Business Formalities Center (CFE) — single window RCCM + NINEA + IPRES + CSS in 1 step.
TL;DR
- SARL cost: 75K-250K XOF per capital + accompaniment.
- Delay: 7-15 business days via APIX (CFE).
- Min legal capital: 100K XOF (classic SARL) or 5K XOF (SUARL).
- You leave with: RCCM, NINEA, IPRES, CSS.
Step 1 — choose legal form
| Form | Min capital | Partners | For whom? |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUARL | 5,000 XOF | 1 | Solo entrepreneur |
| SARL | 100,000 XOF | 2-50 | Standard SME |
| SA | 10M XOF | 1-100+ | External investors planned |
| GIE | 1 XOF | 2+ | Cooperative / group |
90% of entrepreneurs: SUARL or SARL.
Step 2 — reserve company name
- Go to creationdentreprise.sn (APIX)
- Check name availability (ex: "Kolonell SUARL")
- Reserve — 5,000 XOF, valid 90 days
- Receive reservation certificate (PDF)
Tip: have 3-5 backup names. Many obvious names already taken.
Step 3 — draft articles of association
SARL articles = founding legal document. Carefully drafted.
Mandatory sections:
- Company name
- Registered office (see Dakar domiciliation →)
- Corporate purpose (activity)
- Share capital + distribution
- Contributions (cash + in-kind)
- Manager + powers
- Fiscal year
- Result allocation
- Dissolution / liquidation
Drafting cost:
- Free online template: 0 XOF (risky)
- Lawyer: 80-200K XOF (recommended)
- Notary: 150-350K XOF (mandatory if capital >1M or in-kind contribution)
Step 4 — deposit share capital
- Open SARL-in-formation bank account
- (recommended banks: SGBS, BICIS, Ecobank, BHS, BOA)
- Deposit min 100K (or 5K for SUARL) capital
- Receive deposit certificate + bank statement
See Senegal pro bank account →.
Step 5 — file APIX dossier
Complete file at APIX:
- Signed articles (3 copies)
- Name reservation certificate
- Capital deposit certificate
- Manager + partners ID
- Manager domicile proof
- Registered office proof (commercial lease or domiciliation)
APIX fees:
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- Articles registration: 25K XOF
- RCCM registration: 16K XOF
- BOJ publication: 13K XOF
- APIX total: ~54K XOF
Step 6 — receive documents (D+7 to D+15)
You receive:
- RCCM (Trade and Personal Property Credit Register)
- NINEA (National ID Number for Companies + Associations)
- Automatic IPRES registration
- Automatic CSS registration
Verify on dgid.sn with your NINEA: "Active" status.
Step 7 — post-creation obligations
- Declare activity start IPRES (if hiring)
- Subscribe municipal patente
- Choose tax regime (CGU <50M revenue, real >50M)
- Activate eDGI for monthly VAT declarations
- SYSCOHADA-compliant accounting
- Final SARL bank account (post-RCCM)
Realistic total cost
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Name reservation | 5K |
| Articles drafting (lawyer) | 100K |
| SARL min capital | 100K (recoverable) |
| APIX fees | 54K |
| 6-month domiciliation | 90K |
| First-year patente | 35-150K (per activity) |
| Startup total | ~285K + 100K capital |
Total possible DIY ~125K (no lawyer) if legal mastery.
Common mistakes
- Generic copy-pasted articles — legal holes. 100K XOF lawyer = clear ROI.
- Fictitious unfunded capital — discovered in audit = SARL invalidation.
- Too restrictive corporate purpose — each pivot requires articles modification (~50K).
- No partner pact — 50/50 conflicts without rules = company deadlock.
- Forgetting IPRES/CSS first employee — heavy penalties.
FAQ
Q: SUARL vs SARL?
A: SUARL = sole partner (you alone). SARL = multiple partners. Future conversion possible.
Q: SARL vs sole proprietor?
A: Senegal has no auto-entrepreneur like France. Alternative: CGU regime for micro-business (<50M revenue) as natural person or via SUARL.
Q: How long does the process really take?
A: 7-15 days if complete file. Up to 30 days if missing piece.
Conclusion
Creating SARL Senegal in 2026 = 2-week procedure + 285K XOF total. APIX has digitalized substantially. For serious entrepreneurs, investing 100K XOF in lawyer for articles = essential to avoid future problems.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
