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Business Start-up Guide
Registering a Business in Antigua and Barbuda
How you register a business in Antigua and Barbuda is dependent on the type of business you wish you operate. If you are desirous of starting a sole proprietorship or partnership/firm then it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!
1 |
Complete a registration form available at Intellectual Property located on Redcliffe Street and Corn Alley. |
2 |
An officer at Intellectual Property will conduct a name search (while you wait) to ensure that the trading name you intend to use does not preexist. |
3 |
Pay EC$100 registration fee at Intellectual Property. |
Once these three (3) steps have been completed, you are done registering. All you have to do now is await the business registration certificate from Intellectual Property. You may expect to hear from them in about two to five working days.
With the business registration certificate in hand, you are now ready to visit statutory agencies such as the Inland Revenue Department, Social Security, the Board of Education and Medical Benefits.
Requirements for Incorporating a Business in Antigua and Barbuda
Procedure |
Description |
Time to Complete |
Cost to Complete |
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Search and reserve company name |
The company name search is a manual by going through large registration books. Once the person is sure that no other company has their proposed name a form is submitted. This form serves as a name reservation for three (3) months. |
1 day |
EC$25.00 |
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Have lawyer prepare incorporation documents |
Cost pertains to the fee charged by a lawyer or justice of the peace to prepare a declaration swearing that the company owner is not bankrupt, is mentally sound and over 18 years of age. This is the only document which requires an attorney's intervention by law; however, the general practice is that an attorney will prepare all incorporation documents; that is: Notice of Address, Notice of Dirctors and Articles of Incorporation. In this case the average attorney fee is EC$2,500. All the necessary documents are forms from the Company Act and are completed by filling in blanks. |
10 days |
EC$150.00 |
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Registration with the Commercial Registry (receive Certificate of Incorporation |
The annual return is filed at company registry with directors' names, shares issued, address and type of business activities |
10 days |
EC$3,200.00 |
Make a company seal |
Company seals are not required by Company Act, but are in practice required for everyday transactions of the compay. The cost varies between EC$150 and EC$250 |
7 days |
EC$200.00 |
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Apply for tax payer identification number (register the company for tax) and education levy |
Both the taxpayer ID and the registration for the education levy are done at the Inland Revenue Authority |
3 days |
no charge |
Register for Medical Benefits |
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1 day |
no charge |
Register for Social Security |
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1 day |
no charge |
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