When your company is tasked with expanding to Angola, you have plenty of different factors to worry about on top of running your company. For example, you have to hire the right employees, add them to an Angola payroll, and make sure you provide compensation and benefits to stay compliant. If you expand the traditional way, you have to also figure out how to set up an Angola subsidiary.
G-P makes it easier to expand across borders. As a global Employer of Record (EOR), we can hire employees in Angola on your behalf. When you choose us, you won’t have to worry about hiring, compensation, benefits, or even compliance — we’ll manage the entire employment lifecycle so that you don’t have to.
How to set up an Angola subsidiary
While Angola is generally friendly to international investment, some sectors require that companies have a majority of national shareholders. When you’re learning how to set up your Angola subsidiary, we recommend looking at these factors and deciding the industry and type of business you’ll conduct before incorporating.
It’s also important to look at what location is best for you to incorporate in. Different cities or regions can have their own costs, availability, and Angola subsidiary laws.
Angola also allows companies to incorporate as one of several types of entities, including a limited liability company (LLC), branch office, or representative office. Every entity has its own advantages and disadvantages, but many companies decide to incorporate as an LLC because it grants the most freedom to operate in Angola.
The steps to setting up your Angola subsidiary as an LLC include:
- Choosing a unique company name and obtaining the relevant certificate.
- Opening a local bank account, depositing your initial capital, and paying the registration fee.
- Verifying your company documents at the Guiche Unico.
- Obtaining the NIF at the Guiche Unico.
- Notarizing your company draft documents and registering your company.
- Obtaining a Commercial Operations Permit from the Ministry of Commerce.
- Legalizing the inventory book with the Tax Office and the judge of the provincial court with jurisdiction over the area around your company’s headquarters.
Angola subsidiary laws
LLCs have numerous Angola subsidiary laws that you have to follow to stay compliant. First, you need to meet the minimum capital requirement of USD 1,000. LLCs used to require at least 2 shareholders, who are limited in liability based on the amount they contribute to the company. However, the country recently passed a law allowing single-shareholder companies that can be either a natural or corporate person.
Companies also need a specific management structure to meet Angola’s subsidiary laws. LLCs require at least 1 manager who is a natural person with full legal capacity. The manager does not need to be a shareholder of the company. Once you have a manager, you need to elect a general meeting and board of directors. While you do not have to appoint an audit committee, you may be required to appoint a chartered accountant based on what you make each year.
Benefits of setting up an Angola subsidiary
Establishing a subsidiary means you can finally start working in Angola. You can also receive benefits from incorporating as an LLC because it will protect your subsidiary and parent company. Your subsidiary will be independent of the parent company and can operate separately, while the parent company won’t have to worry about any costly litigation or other issues related to the subsidiary.
Other important considerations
Incorporating without the help of a global EOR requires a significant amount of time and money. You should make sure you work with the rest of your team to plan for the travel and costs involved. If you don’t have anyone on your team who understands the country’s tax codes, employment compliance laws, and more, you should work with an expert who can help you stay compliant.
Enter new markets with G-P — no new entities required.
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Get in touch today to learn more about how we can streamline the global growth process.