Cost of Opening a Company in Colombia
Fast-growing business hub · 2–4 weeks · NIT · Local director required
Est. Formation Cost
$700–$1,800 (One-time formation costs only)
Cost of Opening a Company in Colombia
Colombia is one of the most cost-effective incorporation markets in Latin America. The SAS (Sociedad por Acciones Simplificada) can be formed by private document without a notary — a significant saving versus most other markets. All costs below are third-party fees, separate from NavviPal's service fees.
Estimated Cost Breakdown
| Component | Description | Estimated Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cámara de Comercio Registration (Tax + Matrícula) | The Cámara de Comercio is the company registry in Colombia. The registration tax equals 0.7% of registered capital, plus tiered matrícula mercantil fees calculated in UVB (Unidad de Valor Base), updated annually by the Ministry of Finance. | ~$350–$400 USD for ~$50,000 capital (0.7% registration tax + matrícula) | One-time. The UVB rate is updated annually; confirm current tariff at your local Cámara de Comercio. |
| Notary Fees (SAS: none required; Cía. Ltda.: required) | A SAS can be incorporated by private document — no notary needed — unless real estate is contributed as capital. A Cía. Ltda. or S.A. requires notarization of the deed of incorporation. | $0 (SAS by private document) or $200–$500 USD (Cía. Ltda. / S.A.) | One-time. Most foreign investors choose the SAS to avoid this cost. |
| RUT & NIT Registration (DIAN) | The RUT (Registro Único Tributario) and NIT (Número de Identificación Tributaria) are automatically obtained through the Cámara de Comercio at no additional government fee. | $0 government fee | One-time. Auto-assigned through the Cámara de Comercio registration process. |
| Apostille & Sworn Translation of Foreign Documents | Foreign shareholder IDs and corporate documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator. | Apostille costs vary by issuing jurisdiction and document origin. | One-time. Scales with number of foreign shareholders and document count. |
| Professional / Advisory Fees | Local legal or accounting firm to prepare the private SAS document, file with the Cámara, handle DIAN registration, and advise on corporate structure. | $300–$1,000 USD | One-time. Market rate for formation services; varies by firm and complexity. |
| Registered Address (Annual) | A registered Colombian address is required for the Cámara de Comercio registration and ongoing tax filings. | $600–$1,800 USD per year (market rate) | Market rate — not NavviPal's fee. Annual, recurring. |
| Monthly Accounting & Bookkeeping (First Year) | Local contador fees for monthly bookkeeping, DIAN filings, IVA declarations, and NIIF (IFRS) compliance. | $300–$1,200 USD per month | Market rate — not NavviPal's fee. Recurring monthly. |
Est. Formation Cost
$700–$1,800 USD
$700–$1,800 USD in one-time formation costs (Cámara de Comercio registration, professional fees, apostille, and translation). Registered address and accounting are additional recurring costs listed above.
Figures are approximate, in USD. The matrícula mercantil fee is indexed to the UVB (Unidad de Valor Base), updated annually by the Ministerio de Hacienda — confirm the current rate before budgeting.
What Affects the Cost
Several variables can push your total formation cost toward the lower or upper end of these ranges:
Registered capital amount — The Cámara de Comercio registration tax is 0.7% of declared capital. Declaring a higher capital raises the registration cost.
Entity type — A SAS requires no notary; a Cía. Ltda. or S.A. requires notarization, adding $200–$500 to the total.
Number of foreign shareholders — More foreign shareholders means more apostilled documents and higher translation costs.
These are estimated third-party costs and do not include NavviPal's service fees. The matrícula mercantil tariff is updated annually; confirm the current UVB rate before budgeting. Figures are for reference only.
Get an Exact Quote for Your Colombia Entity
These are estimated third-party costs. NavviPal can give you a precise, itemized quote for your specific structure, shareholder composition, and timeline.