2 min readThe KinKonnects team
Registering a company in the DRC: the steps and the address
The address is not the last box to tick. It is usually the one that holds up the file, because people deal with it after everything else.
Registering a company in the DRC means assembling documents in a particular order. The order matters more than the number, and the business address is the item that most often delays a file, because it gets handled last.
The main steps
- 1.Choose the legal form that suits the activity and the number of shareholders.
- 2.Draft and have the articles of association established.
- 3.Gather identity documents and supporting papers for shareholders and directors.
- 4.Provide proof of a registered office address.
- 5.File with the guichet unique for company formation.
- 6.Obtain the identifiers and complete the registrations that follow.
Timescales vary with how complete the file is. A complete file moves forward; a file missing one document goes backwards.
Why the address holds things up
You must evidence a real registered office. Many founders use a home address by default, then discover the problems: it appears on official documents, it does not let you receive people professionally, and it has to change as soon as the company grows, which means repeating formalities.
Address options
- A home address: free, but public and hard to evolve.
- A commercial lease: solid, but expensive and premature before the first client.
- A registered address service: a real commercial address with a certificate, without renting an office.
What to ask a registered address provider
- 1.A certificate of address, with a sample shown before you pay.
- 2.Real premises you can visit.
- 3.A clear rule for receiving and notifying mail.
- 4.The option to move into an office at the same address.
After incorporation
Once the company exists, the address does daily work: official mail, banking, invoices, and the place where you receive a partner. An address you cannot receive anyone at costs you credibility at the first meeting that matters.
Settling the address in Kinshasa
KinKonnects is in Ngaliema at the OUA and Massamba crossing, with meeting rooms and offices on site, open 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday. Call +243 961 000 077 for registered address terms.
FAQ
Can you register a DRC company at a home address?
It is possible but rarely advisable. The address becomes public and will have to be changed as the company grows, which means further formalities.
What is the guichet unique?
It is the single entry point intended to group company formation formalities. It reduces the number of counters but still requires a complete file.
Do you need a lawyer or notary?
For a simple structure it is not always compulsory, but it is advisable as soon as there are several shareholders or contributions in kind.
