We get asked this a lot by clients who want a website for a business that doesn't legally exist yet. Payment gateways, bank accounts, .com.np domains for companies and many government tenders all need a registered business, so it's worth getting this right first. This is the practical sequence, not legal advice; your lawyer or accountant should check your specific case.
First decide: firm or company?
| Sole proprietorship (firm) | Private limited company | |
|---|---|---|
| Registered with | Department of Commerce or local ward | Office of Company Registrar (OCR) |
| Owners | One person | 1 to 101 shareholders |
| Liability | Owner personally liable | Limited to share capital |
| Paperwork | Light | Memorandum, articles, annual returns, audit |
| Good for | Small shops, freelancers, testing an idea | Partners, investors, larger contracts, IT companies |
Registering a private limited company, step by step
- Choose a name and reserve it through OCR's online system (CAMIS). Have two or three backups; similar names get rejected.
- Prepare the Memorandum of Association (what the company does, capital) and Articles of Association (internal rules).
- Collect shareholder and director details: citizenship copies, photos and contact information.
- Upload everything through CAMIS and answer any queries from OCR.
- Pay the government registration fee, which depends on your authorised capital.
- Download your incorporation certificate once approved.
How long does it take?
A clean application for a domestic company often completes in one to two weeks. In practice, plan for two to four weeks, because name rejections, document corrections and holidays add time. Companies with foreign investment or in regulated sectors take much longer.
What does it cost?
The OCR fee is set by authorised-capital slabs, so a company with small authorised capital pays far less than one with crores. For most small companies, the government fee is a few thousand rupees. Lawyers and consultants charge on top for drafting documents and filing, commonly NPR 10,000–30,000 for a straightforward case. Check the current fee table on OCR's website before you budget.
The registrations people forget afterwards
- PAN, and VAT if your turnover or business type needs it (Inland Revenue Department)
- Ward registration and local business tax
- A company bank account
- E-commerce listing if you'll sell online
- Annual returns and audited accounts every year; missing these leads to fines
Once you're registered: get found
Use the exact registered name, address and phone number everywhere: your website, Google Business Profile, Facebook page and directories. Consistent details are one of the simplest local SEO signals, and they make you look established from day one. A company .com.np domain is free once you have the registration certificate.
