Name: School Of Dropouts
Address: Main Mall, Gaborone, BW

Core registration

What every Botswana business needs to legally exist.

CIPA name reservation
Reserve your proposed company name with CIPA.
P 20
one-off
CIPA company registration (Pty) Ltd
Standard private company incorporation, including filing fees.
P 360
one-off
Trading licence (council)
Issued by your local council. Fees vary by district and activity.
P 700
one-off
Company secretary appointment
Required if turnover exceeds the threshold; many founders set it up early.
P 1,500
one-off

Tax & employer

Once you're earning or hiring, BURS wants to know.

BURS tax registration (TIN)
Tax Identification Number for the company. No BURS fee, but admin time.
Free
one-off
VAT registration
Required once turnover exceeds P1,000,000. Optional below that.
Free
one-off
PAYE & employer registration
Needed before you put anyone on payroll.
Free
one-off

Add only what applies to your line of work.

PPRA contractor registration (construction)
Public Procurement & Asset Disposal — needed to bid on government work.
P 1,200
per year
BQA accreditation (training providers)
Botswana Qualifications Authority registration for education businesses.
P 2,500
one-off
Health permit (food / beauty)
Council health inspection and permit for food handling or beauty services.
P 800
per year
BTO licence (tourism operators)
Botswana Tourism Organisation licence for tour, lodge or transfer operators.
P 1,500
per year
Liquor licence
Licensing authority fee — varies by class and district.
P 4,500
per year
Permit for public transport / haulage
Department of Road Transport & Safety operator permit.
P 1,000
per year
Work / residence permit (per expat staff)
Per non-citizen employee. Add one line per person.
P 5,000
per year

Optional retainers that keep the above in good standing.

Monthly bookkeeping retainer
Indicative annual cost (P800/month). Replaces DIY spreadsheets.
P 9,600
per year
Annual CIPA return filing
Filed every year to keep the company in good standing.
P 150
per year
Statutory audit (if required)
Triggered by turnover and shareholder rules. Indicative starting fee.
P 8,000
per year