Plain-English answers to the questions Ghanaian founders actually ask. Click any guide to read it. This is general information, not legal advice.
The first decision every founder faces — and how to choose in five minutes.
A business name (sole proprietorship) is you, trading under a name. It's the cheapest and fastest way to formalise — register at the ORC, get your certificate, open a bank account, start invoicing. The catch: legally, you and the business are the same person, so business debts are your personal debts, and the registration must be renewed periodically.
A company limited by shares is a separate legal person. It can own property, sign contracts and survive you. Your liability is limited to your shareholding. It costs more to set up, needs at least two directors (one ordinarily resident in Ghana) and a qualified company secretary, and must file annual returns — but it's what investors, banks and serious partners expect.
Testing an idea, freelancing, or trading small? Start with a business name — you can upgrade later. Raising money, taking on partners, signing big contracts, or building something you might one day sell? Incorporate a company from day one.
Compare both servicesThe checklist that prevents 90% of ORC delays.
Have these ready and your incorporation moves fast:
Names: up to four proposed company names, in order of preference — a name search confirms availability before filing. People: at least two directors (one ordinarily resident in Ghana), at least one shareholder, and a qualified company secretary. Each person needs their Ghana Card or passport details, residential address, phone and email. Address: a registered office in Ghana with a GhanaPostGPS digital address (like GA-123-4567). Business description: a short statement of what the company will do — this gets mapped to an official ISIC code. Stated capital: minimum GHS 500 for fully Ghanaian-owned companies; foreign participation triggers higher GIPC minimums. Beneficial ownership: details of anyone who ultimately owns or controls 10% or more.
TIN registration for the company and its officers happens as part of the process — the ORC uses the Ghana Card PIN as the TIN for individuals.
Start your incorporationWhat it is, when it's due, and what happens if you skip it.
Every company registered in Ghana must file an annual return with the ORC each year — a snapshot confirming your directors, shareholders, registered address and financial position. It's separate from your tax filings with the GRA, and the obligation exists even if the company didn't trade.
Companies that don't file accumulate penalties, and long-running defaulters risk being struck off the register — which can freeze bank accounts and void contracts signed in the company's name. Reinstating a struck-off company costs far more than years of filings would have.
Business names work differently: instead of annual returns, they must be renewed periodically to stay on the register.
The easiest fix is to never think about it: our Compliance Plus plan tracks your deadlines and files for you, and your dashboard's Compliance Calendar sends reminders either way.
File annual returns Get Compliance PlusYes, you can start a Ghanaian business without flying home.
Everything in the registration process can be done remotely: the questionnaire, payment (cards work worldwide), and signatures where electronic execution is accepted. The two practical requirements to plan around: your company needs a registered address in Ghana, and at least one director must be ordinarily resident in Ghana — a trusted family member, business partner, or professional nominee all work.
If the company will be foreign-owned (non-Ghanaian shareholders), GIPC registration and minimum capital rules apply — the thresholds differ for joint ventures, wholly foreign-owned companies, and trading companies, so get advice on structure before you file.
Once registered, your certificates live in your NELLA document vault immediately, and originals can be couriered to you anywhere in the world via DHL Express from your dashboard.
See the Diaspora Starter PackageThe Labour Act basics every employer should know before hiring.
Under Ghana's Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), any employee engaged for six months or more is entitled to a written contract. Beyond that, the law sets floors you can't contract below: at least 15 working days of paid annual leave, rest breaks and rest days, statutory sick and maternity leave, and notice periods for termination. Employers must also register employees with SSNIT and remit pension contributions, and withhold income tax through PAYE.
A common and costly mistake is copying a foreign template — probation terms, at-will language and leave provisions from US or UK contracts often conflict with Act 651 and won't hold up. Our employment contract generator asks the right questions and produces a Ghana-compliant contract in minutes.
Generate an employment contractWhen it's worth it, what it costs, and how long it lasts.
Registering your company name at the ORC does not protect your brand — it only stops another company registering the identical name. To stop competitors using your name, logo or slogan on their products, you need a trademark registered with the Registrar-General's Department.
A Ghanaian trademark lasts 10 years and is renewable indefinitely. Applications are examined, then published in the Trade Marks Journal with a window for oppositions before registration completes. You register in one or more of the 45 international "Nice" classes covering different goods and services — choosing the right class matters, and we confirm it before filing.
Trademarks in Ghana carry higher official fees than most filings, so they make sense once your brand has real commercial value — or is about to.
Register a trademark