Creating a company in Tunisia has never been more accessible: no minimum capital for a SARL, fully online registration since July 2026, and steps you can complete from abroad. But between choosing a legal form, gathering documents, the registered office and the obligations that follow, it's easy to get lost.
This guide brings the whole process together in one place, step by step, with timelines, costs and links to our detailed guides on each point. It's based on the official texts: the Commercial Companies Code, the APII document lists and the law on the National Business Register.
In short
- Choose your legal form: SARL (2 to 50 partners) or SUARL (single partner) for most projects; auto-entrepreneur if your turnover stays under 75,000 TND a year.
- Seven steps: company name, registered office, articles of association, capital, filing, tax ID, RNE registration.
- Allow 3 to 7 working days from filing to registration for a complete file.
- Budget: modest official fees, and from zero to 3,000 TND for preparation depending on whether you do it yourself, use a lawyer or a flat-fee service.
- After creation: bank account, CNSS if you hire, monthly and annual tax returns.
Step 0: choose the right legal form
Before anything else, one question: do you really need a company?
| Your situation | Recommended form | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Starting alone, modest turnover, simple activity | Auto-entrepreneur | Sole trader or company |
| Starting alone and want to protect your assets | SUARL | SARL or SUARL |
| At least two partners | SARL | SARL or SUARL |
| Innovative, high-growth project | SARL, SUARL or SA, then the Startup label | Startup Act in Tunisia |
In a company, liability is limited to contributions (article 90 of the Commercial Companies Code). That's the main difference from a sole trader, where you and the business are one and the same.
The 7 steps to create a SARL or SUARL
1. Reserve the company name
The name is reserved online on the National Business Register (RNE) website. The certificate is valid for 6 months. Have two or three back-up names ready.
2. Choose the registered office
A Tunisian SARL must have its registered office in Tunisia (article 95). The APII accepts three types of proof: a registered lease, a domiciliation certificate from a licensed provider, or your personal address with a written undertaking and a certificate of ownership. Compare the options in our guide to company domiciliation in Tunisia.
3. Draft and sign the articles of association
The articles of association (statuts) set out the company name, corporate purpose, registered office, duration, capital and its split. The APII provides models for the SARL and the SUARL. A lawyer is only mandatory when a business or real estate is contributed: see do you need a lawyer to start a company in Tunisia.
4. Plan the capital
Since law no. 2007-69, the Code sets no minimum capital for a SARL or SUARL: capital is set by the statuts. The manager can't use it before registration. Contributions in kind above 3,000 TND must be valued by a contributions auditor.
5. File the application
Since 1 July 2026, RNE formalities are online only, with a digital identity (Mobile ID for individuals). The APII one-stop shop remains a filing route with its document list. Everything is explained in our article on RNE online registration, and the exact document list in our list of documents to create a SARL.
6. Get the tax ID
The declaration of existence, mandatory before starting activity, leads to the tax identification card and the tax ID (matricule fiscal). See the matricule fiscal in Tunisia.
7. Register the company with the RNE
Together with the beneficial owner declaration, registration gives the company its legal existence: under article 103 of the Code, a SARL is only validly constituted once registered.
Timelines and costs in one table
| Step | Indicative time | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | Quick online, valid 6 months | RNE fee |
| Registered office | A few days | Lease: 1% of annual rent + stamp duty; domiciliation: subscription; home address: no lease fee |
| Statuts | A few days | Free with a model, or professional fees |
| Filing, tax ID and registration | 3 to 7 working days for a complete file | RNE registration: 50 TND according to the official checklists |
| Full preparation | – | From 0 (yourself) to 2,500–3,000 TND (lawyer), or 1,200 TND incl. tax and official fees (Tunisetup) |
The line-by-line detail is in our guide to the cost of registering a company in Tunisia, and the realistic timeline in how long it takes to create a company.
Creating your company from abroad
Tunisians living abroad who hold a CIN can create their company remotely: either online with their digital identity (E-Houwiya app), or through a representative holding a power of attorney with a legalised signature, at the consulate or by apostille depending on the country. Note: the apostille doesn't apply with Germany or Austria. It's all covered in our guide to creating a company in Tunisia from abroad, and our dedicated pages for founders in France, in Italy and in Germany.
After creation: three workstreams
- The bank account: registered statuts, RNE extract, tax card and partners' IDs. See opening a business bank account in Tunisia.
- The CNSS: registration mandatory within the month after the first hire. See CNSS registration.
- Tax and accounting obligations: a monthly return even with no activity, corporate tax by 25 March, financial statements filed with the RNE. See first-year obligations.
The 5 costliest mistakes
- Choosing a SUARL when a partner is joining in a few months: you'll have to amend the statuts.
- A corporate purpose that's too vague, which sends the file back.
- A poorly evidenced registered office: unregistered lease or a domiciliation certificate without the provider's tax ID.
- An incomplete power of attorney for a founder abroad.
- Forgetting first-year returns, even with no turnover.
Frequently asked questions
How do you create a company in Tunisia?
Choose your form (usually SARL or SUARL), reserve the name on the RNE, evidence your registered office, sign the statuts, file the application, get the tax ID, then register the company with the RNE. Since July 2026, RNE formalities are done online.
How long does it take to create a company in Tunisia?
Typically 3 to 7 working days between filing a complete file and registration. The RNE announces 24 to 48 hours of online processing once all the information is submitted.
How much capital do you need for a SARL in Tunisia?
No legal minimum since 2007: capital is set freely in the statuts (article 92 of the Commercial Companies Code). Only the public limited company (SA) keeps a 5,000 TND minimum.
Can you create a company in Tunisia without being there?
Yes. With a digital identity, RNE formalities are done online; without one, a representative holding a power of attorney with a legalised signature can act for you.
How much does it cost to create a company in Tunisia?
Official fees are modest. The difference is in the preparation: nothing if you do it all yourself, typically 2,500 to 3,000 TND with a lawyer, or 1,200 TND including tax and official fees with our Standard Pack.
Ready to launch your company? Tell us about your project: we reply within one working day with the documents, price and timeline. Our offers are detailed on our pricing page.
Sources
- Commercial Companies Code, 2022 edition — Official Printing Office, via the CMF (in French)
- Documents required to incorporate a SARL/SUARL — APII, updated 31 August 2026 (in French)
- One-stop shop, incorporation steps — APII (in French)
- Law no. 2018-52 on the National Business Register — Legislation-securite.tn (in French)
- The RNE moves to exclusive electronic filing from 1 July 2026 — Tunisie Tribune (in French)
- Decree-law no. 2020-33 on the auto-entrepreneur regime — Ministry of Employment (in French)
