Company Registration in Pakistan: SECP Process and Cost (2026)
Registering a company is the first serious step in turning a business idea into a protected legal entity. In Pakistan, companies are registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) under the Companies Act 2017, mostly through SECP's online eServices portal. This guide from Global Law Company explains the types of companies, the registration process, the documents you need, and the cost, so you can register with confidence, wherever in Pakistan your business is based.
Incorporation does more than satisfy a regulator. A registered company is a separate legal person: it can own property, sign contracts, sue and be sued, and continue regardless of changes in ownership. For founders, that separation is what shields personal assets from business risk and what gives banks, clients, and investors the confidence to deal with you. Getting the registration right at the start sets the tone for everything that follows.
Types of Companies You Can Register
The most common structure for small and medium businesses is the private limited company, which limits the owners' liability and can have multiple shareholders. A solo founder can register a single member company (SMC), a private limited company with just one member. Larger ventures use a public limited company, and foreign businesses can register a foreign company (a branch or liaison office) or incorporate a local subsidiary. Many small businesses instead operate as a sole proprietorship or a partnership / association of persons (AOP), which are registered differently, we cover those in our thorough partnership and AOP guide. Choosing among these is a decision with long-term consequences for tax, liability, and fundraising, and it is worth taking advice before you file.
Step-by-Step SECP Registration Process
First, you reserve a company name through SECP, which checks that the name is available and not prohibited or deceptively similar to an existing one. Next, you prepare the incorporation documents, including the Memorandum and Articles of Association, which set out the company's objects and internal rules. You then file the incorporation application on the SECP eServices portal with the prescribed forms and details of directors, shareholders, and registered office, and pay the registration fee. Once SECP is satisfied, it issues the Certificate of Incorporation, the legal proof that your company exists.
After incorporation, the work is not quite finished. You obtain a National Tax Number (NTN) from FBR, open a company bank account in the company's name, deposit the subscribed capital, and complete any sector-specific registrations or licences your activity requires. Only then is the company fully operational. We manage this whole sequence so there are no gaps between incorporation and trading.
Documents Required
You will generally need CNICs of the directors and subscribers, the proposed company name, the registered office address, details of the authorised and paid-up capital, and the Memorandum and Articles of Association. SECP's online process also relies on verified email addresses and mobile numbers for the directors. Our dedicated documents checklist sets this out in full so you can prepare everything in one go.
Cost and Timeline
SECP fees depend on the company's authorised capital and whether you file online (which is cheaper) or offline. Online registration of a straightforward private limited or single-member company can often be completed within several working days once the name is approved and documents are ready. Professional fees for drafting and filing are separate and depend on complexity. We give a clear, itemised quote before starting, so you know the full cost, government fees plus professional fees, in advance.
Common Reasons Registrations Get Delayed
Most delays are avoidable. The frequent culprits are a proposed name that is too similar to an existing company or uses restricted words, incomplete or mismatched director details, an unclear objects clause in the Memorandum, and capital or shareholding figures that do not add up. Because we prepare and check the application before filing, we catch these issues early rather than after SECP raises an objection.
Why Use a Lawyer to Register Your Company
SECP will register a company, but it will not tell you whether the structure, the share split, or the Articles actually suit your business and protect you against future disputes. A lawyer gets the foundations right, clean shareholding, sensible Articles, proper objects, and compliance from day one, which is far cheaper than fixing problems later. See our principal corporate lawyer in Pakistan page for the full service dashboard.
What to Do Immediately After Incorporation
Receiving the Certificate of Incorporation is a milestone, but a newly registered company is not yet ready to trade. There is a short, important checklist to complete first: obtain the company's NTN from FBR, register for sales tax if your activity requires it, open a corporate bank account and deposit the subscribed capital, prepare and maintain the statutory registers and minute books the law requires, and note the dates of your first annual filings with SECP. Companies that skip these steps often find their bank account stalled, their first tax return mishandled, or an early compliance deadline missed, small problems that are easy to avoid and tedious to fix. We walk every new company through this post-incorporation checklist so it starts life fully compliant and operational.
Register Your Company with Global Law Company
Contact Global Law Company to register your company quickly and correctly, anywhere in Pakistan. Call 0333 4125951, email globallawcompany@gmail.com, or visit our central office layout chambers at 3rd Floor, Ahmad and Shafi Plaza, 13 Fane Rd, Lahore, 54000.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does company registration take in Pakistan?
Once the name is approved and documents are ready, online registration of a simple company can often be completed within several working days.
How much does it cost to register a company in Pakistan?
SECP fees depend on the authorised capital and whether you file online or offline. Professional fees are separate. We provide an itemised quote upfront.
Can one person register a company?
Yes. A single founder can register a single member company (SMC), a private limited company with one member.
Do I need a National Tax Number after registration?
Yes. After incorporation you obtain an NTN from FBR and complete tax registration before commencing operations. See our unified NTN registration framework guide.
Can a foreigner register a company in Pakistan?
Yes. Foreign investors can incorporate a local company or register a foreign company. See our dedicated foreign company registration guide.
Can you register a company for me if I live in another city or abroad?
Yes. SECP registration is largely online, so we routinely register companies for clients across Pakistan and for overseas founders.