U.S. & Burkina Faso
2008 Commercial Guide
Chapter 3 - Selling U.S. Products and Services
Chapter 3-2 Establishing an Office
According to a 2008 report prepared by the World Bank, the time required to start a limited liability company, locally known as a Societe a Responsabilitie Limitee (SARL), in Burkina Faso is approximately 18 days. The process includes the deposit of capital in a local bank, registration of articles of incorporation with the Director General of Imports; authentication of documents by a registered notary; registration of tax number (IFU) with the Centre des Formalites de Enterprise (CEFORE), and publication of a notice of incorporation in local newspapers.
Burkina Faso's regulations governing the establishment of businesses include most forms of companies admissible under French business law. These include: public corporations, limited liability companies, limited share partnerships, sole proprietorships, subsidiaries and affiliates of foreign enterprises. With each of these options, there is a corresponding set of related preferences, duty exceptions, corporate tax exemptions, and operation-related taxes.