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Market entry and business set-up in Sierra Leone
Setting up in Sierra Leone, done properly
Prefer to talk? Call +232 73 253666 or message us on WhatsApp.
How do I set up a business in Sierra Leone?
How SLONEC Consultancy helps
Company and tax registration
We help you choose the right type of entity, prepare and file the registration documents, and register with the National Revenue Authority and NASSIT. Once you are registered, we can make sure the right returns are filed from the start.
Corporate bank accounts
We help you open corporate business accounts and put the right signatories, structures and records in place, so you can start trading.
Residence and work permits
Investors, expatriate staff and their families need residence permits, investor visas and work permits. We manage your permits and licences from start to finish. Depending on the permit and the country, our own team handles the application or we work through trusted local partners, and you have one point of contact throughout.
Regulatory compliance and corporate services
Once you are operating, we can keep your company records and filings up to date, review your compliance with local rules, help with contract structuring, and support company changes, including liquidation when a company is closed.
Registering an NGO
International and local NGOs have their own registration and reporting requirements. Read our guides:
Who it's for
- Foreign investors and companies coming into Sierra Leone and contracting with SLONEC here.
- Investors in mining and energy, agribusiness, hospitality and infrastructure setting up a local company.
- International NGOs registering and operating in Sierra Leone.
- Members of the Sierra Leonean diaspora starting a business at home who want to contract in Sierra Leone.
What we take care of
- Advice on the right type of entity for your plans
- Company registration with the National Investment Board (NIB), or business name registration with OARG
- Tax registration with the NRA and social security registration with NASSIT
- Corporate bank account opening support
- Residence permits, investor visas and work permits, managed from start to finish
- Company records, filings and compliance once you are trading
The usual order of steps
Based in the UK, Europe, the US or beyond? You can contract with SLONEC Advisory Group instead and keep one point of contact outside Africa, with delivery in Sierra Leone by our Freetown team. See Route into Africa
Simple to start, clear all the way through
Scope and fees are agreed in writing before work starts.
1
Initial consultation
Initial consultation about your plans and the right structure.
2
Document checklist
Document checklist setting out exactly what is needed.
3
Applications, permits and licences
Applications, permits and licences managed for you, with one point of contact throughout.
4
Ongoing support
Ongoing support with accounts, tax, payroll and compliance once you are set up.
Frequently asked questions
Who are the market entry advisers for Sierra Leone?
SLONEC's consultancy team in Freetown advises companies, investors and NGOs entering Sierra Leone, from company and tax registration to work and residence permits, licences and payroll, with UK contracting through SLONEC Advisory Group in London. We prepare the documents and follow up with the public bodies involved.
What do I need to do to set up a business in Sierra Leone?
The first steps are to register the business, register for tax, open a bank account and make sure you and your staff can legally live and work here. We handle these in the right order, with complete documents.
Can SLONEC register my company with the NRA and NASSIT?
Yes. We help you choose the right type of entity, prepare and file the registration documents, and register with the National Revenue Authority and NASSIT.
Can you help with work and residence permits for expatriate staff, investors and their families?
Yes. A work permit and a residence permit are separate applications, and an entry visa is not a work permit. We check what each person needs, prepare the documents, file the applications and follow them up, then track renewals so permits don't lapse. You have one point of contact throughout, and where a filing needs a lawyer we work with licensed local professionals. Make sure expatriate staff hold the right permit before they start work. Book a call to talk it through.
Can you help international and local NGOs register and stay compliant?
Yes. International and local NGOs have their own registration and reporting requirements. We give you the document checklist at the start, guide you through registration, and keep your filings, accounts and payroll up to date afterwards. See our guide to setting up a charity or NGO in Sierra Leone, or book a call to talk it through.
Talk to the people who will do the work
The SLONEC Consultancy team
Freetown · 1 Hannah Benka-Coker Street
Your work is handled by the SLONEC Consultancy team at our Freetown office and overseen by Ishmael Bangura, who founded SLONEC in 2023. Ishmael is a Fellow of the Institute of Financial Accountants (FFA) and a qualified tax adviser. When you get in touch, we tell you who your day-to-day contact will be and how to reach them, and we agree the scope and fee in writing before any work starts.
Ready to talk?
Tell us what you need, or book a call to talk it through first.
Often paired with
Investor support
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Tax / Compliance
from SLONEC Accountancy.
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Accountancy
books and payroll once you are set up.
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Recruitment / Workforce
hiring your first local staff.
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Route into Africa
for clients contracting with SLONEC Advisory Group.
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