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How to start a business in Togo as a foreigner (2026)

Starting a business in Togo as a foreigner: easy.

Togo has aggressively reformed business entry and is now the top-ranked West African economy and 3rd in Africa on the World Bank's Business Ready (B-READY) assessment, scoring 77.26/100 on business entry. A foreigner can own 100% of a company with no local-shareholder requirement, no minimum capital for the most common form (SARL), and registration completed through a single online/one-stop CFE window, often within a few days.

Last verified Official sources first · MethodologyCompare Togo with other countries

Legal framework

OHADA Uniform Act on Commercial Companies (AUSCGIE) as adapted by Togolese national reforms, with company registration centralized at the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises (CFE, cfetogo.tg), which delivers RCCM, tax ID (NIF) and social-security (CNSS) numbers in one step.

Key points: starting a business in Togo

  1. 100% foreign ownership

    Companies may be wholly foreign-owned; there is generally no mandatory local shareholder or local director requirement, giving foreign investors full control of equity and management.

    worldbank.org

  2. No minimum capital for SARL

    Togo liberalized the SARL minimum share capital (previously 1,000,000 FCFA under standard OHADA rules, then 100,000 FCFA): since December 2017 the amount is freely set by the founders in the bylaws. The SAS is also free, while an SA requires 10,000,000 FCFA and the 'entreprenant' status requires no capital.

    togofirst.com cfetogo.tg

  3. One-stop shop (CFE)

    Registration is centralized at the CFE, which issues a single 'Carte Unique de Création d'Entreprise' bundling the trade register (RCCM), tax identification number (NIF) and social-security (CNSS) registration, with online submission available at cfetogo.tg.

    cfetogo.tg service-public.gouv.tg

  4. Fast timeline

    The CFE advertises online company creation in under 4 hours; in practice founders should plan for roughly 1 to 3 business days to receive physical documents.

    cfetogo.tg

  5. Documents for foreigners

    A non-resident foreigner registers with a valid passport (ECOWAS/CEDEAO nationals may use a consular card), plus a manager ID photo and a geographic location sketch of the business premises; relatively few steps overall.

    cfetogo.tg service-public.gouv.tg

  6. Strong reform track record

    Togo ranks 1st in West Africa and 3rd in Africa on the World Bank Business Ready report, scoring 77.26/100 specifically on the 'business entry' pillar, reflecting streamlined company-formation procedures.

    worldbank.org data.worldbank.org togofirst.com

Sources

  1. cfetogo.tg/
  2. service-public.gouv.tg/service/62197bd433c0179346497cd0/creation-dissolution/creer-une-entre
  3. togofirst.com/fr/gouvernance-economique/2112-56-le-gouvernement-liberalise-le-capit
  4. worldbank.org/en/businessready/economy/togo
  5. data.worldbank.org/indicator/IC.BRE.BE.OS
  6. togofirst.com/en/economic-governance/1001-17941-togo-ranks-as-west-africa-s-top-bus

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Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 24 May 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026