Best Business Registration Lawyers in Tétouan

About Business Registration Law in Tétouan, Morocco

Business registration in Tétouan follows Moroccan national laws and procedures, applied locally within the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region. Most new businesses register through the Regional Investment Center, known as the CRI, which operates a one-stop service to coordinate name reservation, commercial registry filing, tax registration, social security affiliation, and publication formalities. Moroccan law recognizes several legal forms, including the limited liability company SARL and SARL AU for single shareholders, the joint stock company SA, general and limited partnerships, cooperatives, and the auto-entrepreneur regime for micro-businesses. Key steps include choosing the legal form, reserving a business name with OMPIC, drafting and signing statutes, depositing share capital where required, registering with the Commercial Register, obtaining tax and common identification numbers, affiliating with social security, and securing any sector-specific or municipal authorizations needed to operate in Tétouan. Documents are typically in Arabic or French, and foreign documents must be legalized and translated.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

Selecting the right legal form has long-term implications for liability, governance, taxation, and investor readiness. A lawyer can compare options like SARL, SA, partnership, or auto-entrepreneur and align them with your financing and risk profile. Lawyers draft and tailor statutes, shareholder agreements, and governance rules to prevent future disputes. They address regulated activities that need prior licenses, such as food service, transport, education, health, or financial services. They also manage name conflicts, intellectual property protection, and lease or domiciliation agreements. For foreign founders, a lawyer ensures proper apostille or consular legalization, certified translations, and compliance with currency and investment rules. Counsel can coordinate the CRI one-stop filing, publication in legal journals, and timely tax and social security registrations, and can set up internal compliance calendars for accounting, VAT, and annual meetings. If a dispute arises with a partner, landlord, supplier, or authority, your lawyer represents you before the competent bodies and courts.

Local Laws Overview

Legal forms and governing texts include the Commercial Code, Law 17-95 on joint stock companies SA, and Law 5-96 on limited liability companies and partnerships, as amended. The SARL or SARL AU is the most common for small and medium enterprises due to flexibility and limited liability. The SA suits larger projects, raises capital from multiple shareholders, and features stricter governance and audit rules. The auto-entrepreneur regime is a simplified option for individuals under activity and turnover limits, with simplified tax and registration.

Key institutions and identifiers are OMPIC for name reservation and industrial property, the Greffe of the competent Commercial Court for the Commercial Register RC, the Regional Investment Center CRI in Tétouan for the one-stop incorporation process, the tax administration for the tax number and professional tax, and issuance of the Common Company Identifier ICE, and the CNSS for social security affiliation. After registration, notices are published in a legal announcements journal and, where applicable, in the Official Bulletin as required by the company form and law.

Core procedural steps include reserving the corporate name and obtaining a negative certificate, preparing statutes and related acts, legalizing signatures, depositing share capital when required and obtaining a bank certificate, filing the incorporation dossier at the CRI or Greffe, securing RC, tax, and ICE numbers, publishing legal notices, and affiliating with CNSS. If operating from Tétouan, secure a lease or domiciliation agreement and any municipal authorizations for signage or opening where applicable. Sector-specific licenses are mandatory before commencing regulated activities. Accounting must comply with Moroccan standards, and taxes may include corporate tax or income tax depending on the form, VAT for eligible activities, professional tax, and municipal levies. Foreign documents must carry apostille or consular legalization and translation into Arabic or French by a sworn translator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What legal form should I choose for my business in Tétouan

The SARL or SARL AU is often preferred for small to medium businesses due to limited liability and simple governance. The SA is suitable for larger ventures that need stronger governance, a board, and potentially outside investors. Partnerships suit closely held businesses that accept partner liability. The auto-entrepreneur regime fits individuals with modest turnover and simple operations. A lawyer or accountant can match your growth plans, tax profile, and investor needs to the right form.

How long does company registration take

With a complete file, one to two weeks is common for a SARL in Tétouan, from name reservation through issuance of the Commercial Register extract and tax identifiers. Timelines vary based on workload, publication schedules, and whether sector licenses are required. Complex structures or foreign document legalization can add time.

What documents are typically required

Expect to provide the negative certificate for the name, draft statutes, manager or director appointment documents, copies of national IDs or passports, domicile or lease agreement, bank certificate showing capital deposit if applicable, legalized signatures, and forms required by the Greffe and tax authorities. Foreign corporate shareholders must provide legalized and translated corporate documents such as articles, certificate of good standing, and powers of attorney.

Is there a minimum capital requirement

For a SARL, capital is freely set in the statutes, so there is no legal minimum above a nominal amount. For an SA, the minimum capital is higher and must be paid in as required by law. A bank deposit certificate is needed before filing incorporation when capital is required. Your advisor can help set an appropriate capital that supports banking and supplier expectations.

Can a foreigner own 100 percent of a Moroccan company

Yes, in most sectors foreigners can own all the shares. Certain regulated industries may impose conditions or approvals. Foreign documents must be legalized and translated, and transfers of funds must respect Moroccan foreign exchange rules administered by the Office des Changes.

What is the role of the CRI in Tétouan

The Regional Investment Center in Tétouan coordinates incorporation through a single counter. It consolidates filings for the Commercial Register, tax identification and professional tax, ICE issuance, CNSS affiliation, and publication support. Using the CRI reduces the number of separate visits to different bodies.

Do I need a physical address to register

Yes, you must provide a registered address in Tétouan or the relevant jurisdiction. This can be a commercial lease, owned premises, or a domiciliation contract with an approved domiciliation company. Some activities also need municipal opening or signage permits for the chosen premises.

Are publication notices required

Yes. Most companies must publish incorporation notices in a legal announcements journal, and in some cases in the Official Bulletin, within legal deadlines. The content usually includes the company name, form, capital, address, purpose, management, and registration details. The CRI or your lawyer can arrange the publications.

What taxes and filings should I expect after registration

Companies are subject to corporate tax or, for pass-through entities, income tax, together with VAT where applicable, professional tax, and municipal levies. You must maintain accounting records under Moroccan standards, file periodic VAT and income or corporate tax returns, and submit annual financial statements. Employers must register employees and pay CNSS contributions. Deadlines are strict, so an accountant is recommended.

How do I protect my business name and brand

The negative certificate reserves your trade name for registration, but it does not grant trademark protection. To protect your brand, file a trademark with OMPIC. Consider domain names and social media names as part of your brand strategy.

Additional Resources

Regional Investment Center CRI Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima - One-stop shop for incorporation and investment support in Tétouan.

OMPIC - Moroccan Office of Industrial and Commercial Property for negative certificates, Commercial Register services, and trademarks.

Greffe of the competent Commercial Court for Tétouan jurisdiction - Commercial Register filings and extracts.

Direction Générale des Impôts - Regional and local tax offices in Tétouan for tax registration, ICE, and ongoing tax compliance.

CNSS - Local agencies in Tétouan for employer registration and social security contributions.

Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services of Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceima - Support, training, and business services.

Office des Changes - Foreign exchange and investment reporting rules for foreign founders and cross-border transactions.

Ordre des Experts Comptables du Maroc - Professional body to identify licensed accountants for compliance and reporting.

Ordre National des Notaires du Maroc - For locating notaries when notarization services are required.

Municipality of Tétouan - Local authorizations for opening, signage, and activity-specific permits.

Next Steps

Clarify your project by defining the activity, projected turnover, number of partners, and whether you will hire employees. This will guide your choice of legal form and tax regime. Consult a lawyer or accountant in Tétouan to confirm the best structure and to map the steps, costs, and timeline.

Check and reserve your business name with OMPIC and prepare a lease or domiciliation agreement for your Tétouan address. Assemble identification documents for all partners and managers, and if any documents are foreign, plan for apostille or consular legalization and sworn translation into Arabic or French. Draft tailored statutes and any shareholder or partnership agreements. If capital must be deposited, open a bank account and obtain the deposit certificate.

File the incorporation dossier through the CRI in Tétouan or the competent Greffe to obtain the Commercial Register number, tax numbers, and ICE. Arrange the publication of legal notices within the legal deadlines. Complete CNSS affiliation for the company and for employees if you are hiring. For regulated activities, secure sector licenses and municipal authorizations before opening to the public. Set up bookkeeping, invoicing that complies with VAT rules, and a compliance calendar for tax and social security filings.

If you need legal assistance, schedule an initial consultation with a business lawyer in Tétouan. Bring your project description, identification documents, any draft contracts, and questions about timing and costs. Ask for a clear engagement letter listing deliverables, fees, and expected timelines. A local lawyer can coordinate with the CRI, notary, bank, accountant, and authorities to ensure a smooth and compliant registration process.