Doing Business measures the procedures, time and cost for a small to medium-size limited liability company to start up and operate formally. To make the data comparable across 183 economies, Doing Business uses a standardized business that is 100% domestically owned, has start-up capital equivalent to 10 times income per capita, engages in general industrial or commercial activities and employs between 10 and 50 people. Read the methodology.Use the tabs to (1) view starting a business data, (2) read an analysis of this topic, (3) learn about business reforms in 2010/11, (4) know more about good practices or (5) see answers to frequent questions.
Download this year's topic chapter. This material is not included in the Doing Business 2012 report.
Case studies
Reform summaries
Subnational reform summaries
Information on starting a foreign business
The data and analysis 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 total number of procedures required to register a firm. A procedure is defined as any interaction of the company founders with external parties (for example, government agencies, lawyers, auditors or notaries).
The total number of days required to register a firm. The measure captures the median duration that incorporation lawyers indicate is necessary to complete a procedure with minimum follow-up with government agencies and no extra payments.
Cost is recorded as a percentage of the economy’s income per capita. It includes all official fees and fees for legal or professional services if such services are required by law.
The amount that the entrepreneur needs to deposit in a bank or with a notary before registration and up to 3 months following incorporation and is recorded as a percentage of the economy’s income per capita.
Notes: Click on economy name for detailed information. Click on column headers to sort.
= Subnational Doing Business data available.
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