Solomon Islands

Starting a Business in

Solomon Islands

Listed below is a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles an entrepreneur must overcome in order to incorporate and register a new firm, along with their associated time and set-up costs.  It examines the procedures, time and cost involved in launching a commercial or industrial firm with up to 50 employees and start-up capital of 10 times the economy's per-capita gross national income (GNI).

The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.

  • Standardized Company

  • Legal Form: Limited Liability Company
  • City: Honiara

About This Topic

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Obtain approval of the company name from the Ministry of Commerce

Prior to registration of the company, the entrepreneur check the name of the company. Prior to the end of the Re-registration period, online search results do not contain a complete record. New entrepreneurs can do a search of the paper records of a company either at Company Haus, or at the company's registered office.
17 days SBD 100
2 Pay stamp duty at the Ministry of Finance

Entrepreneurs have to complete the payment fee form. Then they take it to the Central Revenue Collection counter with your cash or cheque, either in Honiara next to the Ministry of Finance and Treasury, or at your provincial revenue collection agency in Gizo or Auki.

1 day SBD 1250
3 Register the company with the Registrar of Companies

Registration is at the Company Haus (http://www.companyhaus.gov.sb). If entrepreneurs do not feel comfortable with the internet or the Company Haus website, they can visit the Company Haus on Mendana Avenue. There is a computer terminal with internet access - and Company Haus staff assists entrepreneurs get their company registered.
2 - 3 weeks included in procedure 2
4 Register for income tax, goods tax, and sales tax


1 day no charge
5 Register as an employer with the National Provident Fund

Forms must be filled out on paper.
1 day no charge
6 Make a company seal


4 days SBD 500
7 Pay a business licence fee at the Honiara Council


1 day SBD 1000