The verdict in three sentences
In Senegal, APIX (the investment promotion agency) runs a one-stop shop that bundles every company-registration formality in a single place. A SUARL (single-member) or SARL can be registered in 24 to 72 hours in Dakar with a symbolic minimum capital (often 100,000 FCFA or less in the articles). The NINEA (tax ID) is free; only registry and legal-publication fees remain, in the order of 25,000 to 60,000 FCFA in 2026.
What the APIX one-stop shop does
Before APIX, forming a company meant shuttling between the court registry, the tax office, social security and the town hall. The one-stop shop merges these steps: filing the articles, registering with the RCCM (trade and personal-property register), obtaining the NINEA, and declaring fiscal existence all happen in one place, with part of it available online.
The most common forms are the sole proprietorship (simplest), the SUARL (one partner) and the SARL (several partners). For a digital project — online store, agency, SaaS — the SUARL is often the best balance of asset protection and simplicity.
| Step | Where | Timeline (2026 estimate) | Cost (order of magnitude FCFA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | APIX one-stop shop | A few hours | Free to 5,000 |
| Drafting / filing articles | Notary or private deed | 1 to 2 days | 0 (private) to 150,000 (notary) |
| RCCM registration | Registry via APIX | 24 to 72 h | 25,000 to 40,000 |
| NINEA issuance | Tax office via APIX | Included | Free |
| Legal publication | Authorized journal | 2 to 5 days | 15,000 to 30,000 |
| Fiscal existence declaration | DGID via APIX | Included | Free |
What a 2026 registration really costs
The total mostly hinges on one choice: using a notary (required above a certain capital or to reassure partners) versus drafting the articles as a private deed. Here are three order-of-magnitude scenarios.
| Form | Suggested capital | Estimated total fees | Overall timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | None | 20,000 to 40,000 FCFA | 24 to 48 h |
| SUARL (private deed) | 100,000 FCFA | 50,000 to 90,000 FCFA | 48 to 72 h |
| SARL (notary) | 100,000 to 1,000,000 FCFA | 150,000 to 300,000 FCFA | 3 to 7 days |
| SAS | 1,000,000 FCFA+ | 250,000 to 500,000 FCFA | 5 to 10 days |
These are 2026 estimates: check current rates at the one-stop shop, as registry and publication fees change.
Become a Kolonell referral partner
Do you advise entrepreneurs who have just registered? Each of them needs a website, an online store or tools. By joining the Kolonell referral network, you earn a commission on every project you bring:
| Project type | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15% | 5% / month |
| E-commerce | 12% | 5% / month |
| Marketplace | 10% | — |
| Institutional | 8% | — |
A 500,000 FCFA showcase site earns you 75,000 FCFA upfront, plus 5% on the monthly maintenance.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Awa, a consultant in Dakar, wants to launch her communications agency. She picks a private-deed SUARL, capital 100,000 FCFA. Fees: name reservation 5,000, RCCM registration 35,000, publication 20,000, free NINEA — so 60,000 FCFA and 3 days. She then refers three clients to Kolonell for showcase sites (500,000 FCFA each): referral commission 3 × 75,000 = 225,000 FCFA, nearly four times the cost of her own company setup.
FAQ
What is the minimum capital for a SARL in Senegal?
Capital is now free and symbolic: the articles may set 100,000 FCFA or even less. What matters is that it is genuinely paid into an account in the company's name.
Is the NINEA paid?
No. Obtaining the NINEA through the APIX one-stop shop is free and usually issued in the same flow as the RCCM registration.
Can everything be done online?
Part of the process is digital on the APIX platform (name reservation, file tracking). Some documents still must be filed physically depending on the legal form.
How long until you are operational?
For a sole proprietorship or SUARL, expect 24 to 72 working hours with a complete file. A notarized SARL takes 3 to 7 days.
Do you need a notary?
Not always. A simple SUARL or SARL can be formed by private deed. A notary becomes useful for high capital, contributions in kind or several partners.
Let's talk about your project. You have just created your company and need a high-performing website or online store: let's talk. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
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.