Quick answer: Name clearance → RJSC incorporation → company e-TIN → trade licence → bank account → VAT registration (if required) → trademark. With documents ready, the core steps take about 2–4 weeks.
Choosing the wrong order is the most common reason new businesses lose time in Bangladesh. A bank asks for a trade licence; the trade licence asks for the incorporation certificate; VAT asks for both. Here is the sequence our corporate desk uses.
Step 1 — Decide the structure
| Structure | Best for | Registration |
|---|---|---|
| Sole proprietorship | One owner, small trading or service business | Trade licence only |
| Partnership firm | 2+ partners sharing profit | Partnership deed, optional RJSC registration |
| Private limited company | Limited liability, investors, bank finance | RJSC incorporation |
| One Person Company (OPC) | One founder wanting limited liability | RJSC incorporation |
Step 2 — RJSC name clearance (1–2 days)
Search and reserve the name on the RJSC portal. The government fee is Tk 500 per proposed name (time extension Tk 200), and the clearance is valid for 30 days.
Step 3 — Incorporation (2–7 working days)
Prepare the Memorandum and Articles of Association and Forms I, VI, IX, X and XII. For a private company with authorised capital up to Tk 10 lakh, RJSC's published charges are about Tk 1,000 (Memorandum stamp) + Tk 2,000 (Articles stamp) + Tk 1,200 (filing), with no capital fee on the first Tk 10 lakh, plus VAT and bank charges. Details are in our company registration guide.
Tip: don't set authorised capital higher than you need — the Articles stamp and capital fee rise with it.
Step 4 — Company e-TIN (same day)
The e-TIN is free on the NBR portal. Every director must also hold an e-TIN and file a return every year, even if the company earns nothing in year one. See e-TIN & income tax.
Step 5 — Trade licence (3–7 working days)
Apply to the city corporation, pourashava or union parishad for your office address. The fee depends on your business category and paid-up capital, and you renew every year by 30 September. See the trade licence guide.
Step 6 — Bank account
Banks typically ask for the incorporation documents, board resolution, trade licence, e-TIN and directors' NIDs.
Step 7 — VAT registration (1–3 working days)
Importers, exporters and tender participants must register for VAT regardless of turnover; others depend on turnover. BIN registration is free. See VAT registration.
Step 8 — Protect your brand
File a trademark with DPDT early — before you spend on signage and packaging. See trademark registration.
Budget checklist
- Government fees: listed above, with verification dates on each service page
- Stamp duty, notarisation and bank charges
- Professional fee (quoted in writing by Legal Zone)
- Office rent agreement on non-judicial stamp
Ready to start? Send us your business details and we'll return a complete roadmap within one working day.
