MSS & Associates

Company Registration in Pakistan

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Best Company Registration
Services in Pakistan

As a leading corporate law firm in Pakistan, we strive to offer impeccable services to individuals, organizations, and start-ups looking for company registration services in Pakistan.
Thousands of students graduate from various universities across Pakistan each year and are eager to start their businesses. Due to government initiatives and increased awareness of technology and entrepreneurship, the demand for online company registration in Pakistan is at an all-time high.
Individuals are encouraged to better the lives of people across the country by building thriving businesses and offering lucrative job opportunities.
Given that Pakistan has the 26th-largest economy in the world, you have to consider the potential market expansion brought on by this heightened demand for registering a company in Pakistan.
Before getting started, the foremost step would be to learn about company registration services in Pakistan and how working with professionals can help you navigate the registration process seamlessly.
In addition, just like any regular business that requires legal registration to operate and conduct its activities in Pakistan, startups must go through the same process. They also must opt for company registration in Pakistan before beginning their operations.
Individuals, corporations, or startups considering registering a company and launching a new business in Pakistan must remember that establishing a corporation is not difficult.
The process is made considerably straightforward when you apply through MSS & Associates since our experts follow every step meticulously and successfully fulfill the requirements on your behalf.

Best Company Registration Services in Pakistan

You can now register a company online. We help you get a company registered anywhere in Pakistan. We take care of the entire process to make the experience seamless for you. Regardless of the type of company you wish to incorporate, from acquiring the name approval to successfully receiving the incorporation certificate, we offer expert counsel every step of the way. Speak to us today.

Types of Business Structures/Legal Entities

The first step of the company registration process in Pakistan is to select the type of entity relevant to your requirements. There are two types of business structures that you can explore based on your requirements. These categories include:

Non-Corporate Structures

Sole Proprietorship

If you're considering a Sole Proprietorship option, the company registration process would be carried out through the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). A sole proprietorship is an unincorporated business conducted by only one person and does not distinguish between the owner and the company. A sole proprietorship's owner is accountable for the company's debts, losses, liabilities, and all gains.

General Partnership or Association of Persons (AOP)

In an instance where there is more than one individual and no more than twenty, the company would be registered as a General Partnership / Association of Persons with the city's respective Registrar of Firms. A general partnership may have one, two, or both types of owners. General partnerships don't need complex paperwork to be created, making them accessible and affordable. The business requires a bank account, a registered trade name, and a registered tax number.

Corporate Structures

Single Member Company (SMC Private Limited)

A single-member company (SMC), which enjoys the advantages of limited liability, is a private business in Pakistan with just one member or director. All requirements of the Firms Ordinance of 1984 that apply to limited liability companies also apply to sole traders, subject to specific adjustments. Having a single-member company has the following benefits:

⦁ In terms of the law, SMC is distinct from its members.
⦁ The member's liability is capped at the amount of his investment.
⦁ When a member passes away, the firm continues to exist.
⦁ SMCs pay a lesser amount of company tax.
⦁ An SMC's only member has exclusive authority over all corporate operations.

Public Limited Company

In Pakistan, a Public Limited Corporation may be established by three or more people for legal purposes. As with Private and Single-Member companies, the partners must sign a Memorandum of Association, and the public limited company must adhere to the Companies Act's regulations.

The fact that such a corporation is organized for the general public and that its shares are issued with limited liability is one thing to bear in mind. A public offering and the stock market are options for buying these shares.

Public limited businesses can be registered in Pakistan as listed or unlisted entities. The distinction between the two is that the former makes its portion of the shares available for public purchase. On the other hand, an unlisted firm does not sell shares to the general public.

Private Limited Company (PLC)

In Pakistan, a Private Limited Company (PLC) sits between a partnership business and a publicly held public company. It can be registered with a least two individuals. The company and its stockholders each have their own legal identities. The board, which the shareholders choose, works with the CEO to make operational decisions for the business. Depending on its size, a PLC can also need a company secretary, legal counsel, and auditor.

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

A key distinction from the conventional partnership under the former Partnership Act 1890 is that under an LLP, each partner is not responsible for the carelessness or wrongdoing of another partner. Each member is only partially personally liable for the firm's obligations in a limited liability partnership (LLP), a general partnership. Partners are not accountable for the torts committed by their other partners. However, depending on the state, they may be for contractual debts.

Registration of Corporate Structures

Company registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission Pakistan (SECP) is mandatory for businesses falling under the corporate structure and operating in Pakistan. The SECP is responsible for the registration procedure and is the sole entity with authority to register companies according to the Companies Ordinance Act of 1984, overseeing all rules and registrations.
The shareholder structure is the most crucial when selecting an appropriate business type. You will choose the type of corporation depending on the number of shareholders. For instance, if you will be raising substantial public money, your decision would not be the same as when compared to keeping the business in your family or between a group of partners.
The second aspect that might impact your choice is the decision about the company’s members. This is important because, in an instance of bankruptcy or dissolution, you would be required to determine how and to what degree the company members will be held liable.
The business’s profitability is another determinant—whether it is a for-profit or non-profit endeavor—when deciding on the sort of company to register. You can select from the numerous company kinds or contact MSS & Associates for expert counsel to assist you with company registration in Pakistan.

Why is Company Registration Important in Pakistan?

When a private or limited liability company is incorporated and registered with the SECP, there are several tax, credibility, and business development benefits, along with quick loan approvals.
Incorporating a private corporation through online company registration in Pakistan can give you a solid foundation to grow and build your organization. However, there are some circumstances when a different business form, such as a single proprietorship, may be more suitable.
Many prominent and prosperous organizations had their start as small limited corporations, which occasionally brought substantial financial returns. Depending on the situation and personal needs, you may choose to incorporate a business.
It will seem natural and possibly be your preferred option to incorporate a new business after you are experienced and at ease managing your own business. The objectives, organizational structure, and operational methods of the company will determine the type of entity to be formed.
Tax Consultant in Karachi

How to Start With Company Registration in Pakistan?

As someone who wants legal counsel regarding the company registration process in Pakistan, you can contact us at MSS & Associates. From the company registration process to fulfilling complex legal requirements, we will handle everything on your behalf.

To get started, the things that you have to send us are:

Step-By-Step Guide to Company Registration in Pakistan

Avoid using words that are prohibited while creating a name for your business. The SECP will not authorize misleading or improper terms, and your suggested name choice will be evaluated for availability. To secure a name, ensure it is neither the same nor strikingly similar to the names of any current companies.

You must adhere to the requirements for naming the firm during the company register in Pakistan to receive SECP clearance. The following are rules established by SECP regarding company names:

⦁ It shouldn’t be the same as or confusingly similar to the name of any already-existing business or LLP.
⦁ The business name shouldn’t be offensive or misleading.
⦁ Avoid using terms that might offend a particular group in the company name.
⦁ It must not contain any other words that the registrar deems offensive.
⦁ Your business or corporation name must not prey on people’s religious sensitivities.
⦁ Steer clear of any words forbidden under Section 10 of the Act and Regulation 4 of the 2017 Companies (Incorporation) Regulations.

These are some of the conditions you need to consider when choosing the name of your business or corporation.
A name availability certificate from SECP is needed, and you can apply for one. Using bank challans, the fees could be paid at selected Muslim Commercial Bank (MCB) branches. After that, you reach a registration stage when the SECP requests the following paperwork from you:

⦁ The Association’s articles of incorporation and memorandum.
⦁ Your company’s Memorandum of Association describes how you interact with the outside world and identifies your industry.
⦁ Articles of Association outline how business is conducted daily. The function of the CEO and directors is described. In a nutshell, it describes how the business will function.
⦁ CNIC copies of the board of directors, the CEO, the nominee (for a single-member firm), or copies of the passport in case of a foreigner.
⦁ If you wish to register a specialized business, you will need a NOC, a letter of intent, or a license from the relevant authorities.
⦁ You must include extra information when incorporating a foreign business, such as a list and the names and contact information of the directors. Information about the firm, the directors, and their nationalities. A verified copy of the company charter is required. Both the Memorandum of Association and the Articles of Association must be submitted.
⦁ Subscribers’ consent to the filing of documents.
⦁ A filing or registration fee.
⦁ If the nominal share capital is less than Rs 100,000, the total incorporation charge for a company is Rs. 1800 for online filing. The entire incorporation charge for an offline submission is Rs. 3500.
SECP’s e-services can receive the signature issued by National Institutional Facilitation Technologies (NIFT). Depending on the city you’re starting your business in, you might need to submit a company seal when the certificate of incorporation is obtained.

For instance, if you are considering company registration in Karachi, you can contact MSS & Associates to navigate through the complex and cumbersome processes on your behalf, in this scenario, getting a digital signature.

In addition, you must give a thorough presentation outlining the kind of business and activities of your firm to obtain the certificate of incorporation from NIFT and the digital signature. However, depending on the circumstances, this step’s needs may change.
As a premier tax law firm in Karachi, you can leave it to MSS & Associates for all your company registration services needs, particularly when applying for a National Tax Number (NTN) through the Federal Board of Revenue.

The following conditions must be met for this application:

⦁ Form for National Tax Numbers (NTN)
⦁ Documentation proving your company’s registration
⦁ The Association’s Memorandum and Articles
⦁ Bank Account Information
⦁ Copies of the firm directors’ Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs)
⦁ Verified Business Address

Next, you must get a Sales Tax Number (STN) and go through a similar process to register your business for sales tax compliance. Lastly, the process for professional tax is a little different and requires registering your company with the Excise and Taxation Department.
You’ll need to register with either of the following organizations, depending on where your firm is located:

⦁ Institution for Sindh Employees’ Social Security (SESSI).
⦁ For Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, respectively, use (BESSI) or (KPKESSI).

The federal Employees Old Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) requires each business with five or more employees to register with them. Upon retirement, employees will be eligible for an income.
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) will review all the papers after they have been submitted and determine their legality. The National Institutional Facilitation Center will give an electronic signature or company seal.

To get this corporate seal, the signature of every director is required. If your documentation is legitimate, SECP will issue you a certificate of incorporation. You will receive it either physically or online. After receiving SECP’s incorporation certification, you can launch your company.

Alternatives to Company Registration in Pakistan

If you have a company overseas and want to have a presence in Pakistan but not register a separate legal entity, in that case, a branch office is Pakistan’s best alternative to company registration. When branches carry out a contract in Pakistan, they can quickly be established, but a branch office is not eligible to participate in various commercial or trading activities.

The parent firm wholly owns the branch office. It does not need minimum capital because it is not a limited liability corporation. It takes seven weeks to complete the registration process. If the Board of Investment (BOI) approves, the permit’s duration might range from one to five years.
If you are keen on promoting your products in Pakistan, you can go for a 100% foreign-owned liaison office. You have the authority to do more than advertise your goods in Pakistan; you may also offer technical support and counsel and explore the many opportunities for cooperative collaboration and export promotion in Pakistan.

However, it is essential to remember when applying for company registration in Pakistan that you will not be capable of engaging in commercial and trading activities. Not to mention it’s not subject to any minimum capital either. The only way for a liaison office to function is when it follows the contract’s provisions or the assignment.

One part of the contract also states that you cannot provide technical assistance and product promotion. You are also not allowed to engage in export promotion and other activities. A liaison office in Pakistan typically takes seven (7) weeks to set up. Once approved, your permit’s validity will range from 1 to 5 years. The Board of Investment (BOI) must also provide its approval.

Contact Us Today!

If you’re contemplating registering a company, the company registration process in Pakistan might seem complex. As a leading corporate law firm in Pakistan, we encourage individuals, organizations, and start-ups to reach out to us.
We advise our clients to focus on their business operations and let us handle all the challenging requirements on their behalf. To schedule an appointment, you can email us at info@mssociates.com.pk or call us at 0300-0043432.

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