Self employment: Do I need to create a company?

@Linh5102

Hello and welcome !

You will be required to open a one-person business activity (company). In regards to costs, there is a list at the Companies Divisions with each activity's code and cost.

I would suggest that you contact the EDB : https://residency.mu/invest/self-employ … epreneurs/

Regards

Bhavna

Hey Linh,

I'm going through the same process right now and here's what I learned from reading all the guidelines.

1. If it's a self employed OP then you can do it under your own personal name. All you need is the BRN.
2. You also need to submit a business plan to EDB when you apply for your permit.
3. You'll need a registered address but I think your residential address should work if it's a self employed single person activity.

The agency you met with is probably just trying to make money off you.

I just applied and am waiting for the approval in principle after which I'll apply for a BRN.

If you don't mind can you tell me how you got the BRN? The online portal seems to be down

@zurtle I thought it was so confusing as everywhere I look, it only talks about the BRN ( + trade fees and a few other things) but never a full blown company with a local director etc...

What field of work are you in?

Sorry I haven't applied for a BRN yet.

I was contemplating the idea of doing the application myself and got a bit scared after that meeting, They also told me it could all be done in less than a month, which I find really fast... Can you please keep me posted?

@Linh5102

I'm a tech consultant in a niche semiconductor field. Similar self employed situation as you but different field.

I applied online on July 24th. They said it takes 3 weeks to get the approval.

As for the BRN, it's supposed to be easy if done online but the portal hasn't been working the past month. You can also submit a physical form in Port Louis and get the BRN the same day.

The entire process can be done on your own, the only document that needs a bit of work is the business plan because you need to show projected incomes and balance sheets on it. Took me a few weeks to make that.

I'll keep you posted but the idea is to wait for the approval in principle and then come to Mauritius, finish Meds and the BRN stuff.

I followed everything here:

https://residency.mu/invest/self-employ … epreneurs/

https://residency.mu/wp-content/uploads … elines.pdf

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@Jean-Max Appanah

Hello and welcome !

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Thank you

Bhavna

You can get BRN at CBRD in Port Louis. I got it within a couple of hours on the same day. Trade fees depend on type of business - they will let you know. I was exempt for first 2 years. You can register with CBRD online to pay trade fees but site is not set up properly & if it does not work you have to go in to pay trade fee. I don't see why you need to be a company. You should just be able to register as self employed business owner - individual. Then you just need BRN & TAN. You can then do tax return online (simplified version). If you are going to make huge money & employ lots of people, you may then need to upgrade to company. If you are starting small & not making over threshhold, BRN, TAN & simplified tax return should be all you need to do. 

@AussieInMauritius If you don't mind, What kind of address did you use while getting the BRN? Was it a residential one or a virtual office or something else?

Did they need any proof for the address?

@zurtle It was my residential address I put on forms. There was no proof of address needed. Just ID.

Posting Quick update for future viewers:

Went to Port Louis today with a pre-filled BRN form I found online.

Waited for about 20mins until it was my turn.

The lady at the counter explained stuff about business category to me and did the whole registration on the spot and gave me my BRN.

Only needed my passport and the filled form.

I'm exempt from trade fees for 2 years as well. After that its 7k a year.

@zurtle

Hello, thank you for sharing on this...

Is this a local company or global?

If local, did you have to designate a resident/local Director?

If global, did you have to prove that you have the required budget for investment?

7k yearly, what business field is this?

@zurtle what is BRN please?  I applaed for a OP self employed.  Trying to find any information about it. Thanks

Hello, the BRN is the Business Registration Number. You can apply for one at the Companies Division in Port Louis : https://companies.govmu.org/Pages/default.aspx

@Bhavna Thank you very much.

@Bhavna Can you tell me please, how I should submit a tax reports (self assessment tax re) in Mauritius as a self-employed person? I have a small business and I will be running it myself, where can I find an accountant so as not to make mistakes and not get fines please? Thank you, lana

@musa.honlue It's a local business activity.

No need for a company for the self employed permit.

My business activity was consulting.

Hello, you can contact the accountants registered in the business directory to enquire about their services and price : Accountants in Mauritius

@Bhavna thank you very much ❤️

You can do it online on MRA site. It's really easy. Depending how much you make, you may be able t do a 'simplified return for self employed'.

Hi all on residency.mu re application for self-employment visa, there is a reference to a business plan template, where can I find this.

Thanks in advance

@RusselS

Hello RusselS,

Sorry, only seeing your question now.

They have a template in .docx format online but it seems to be outdated (from 2022) : https://edbmauritius.org/wp-content/upl … tion-.docx

Alternatively, you can get help from the EDB for your business plan : https://edbmauritius.org/fr/write-a-business-plan

Regards

Bhavna