Company formation & corporate in the Dominican Republic
Incorporate in the DR without the runaround. We handle entity choice, the ONAPI trade name, the Mercantile Registry and your RNC tax ID — and explain every step in plain English.
Start your Dominican company on solid legal ground
Company formation in the Dominican Republic is governed by Law 479-08 on Commercial Companies. Done correctly, incorporation is quick and predictable; done casually, small registry defects surface later — when you open a bank account, sign a lease, bid for a contract or sell the business. Our corporate desk takes you from entity selection to a fully operative company with a clean paper trail at every registry.
Choosing the right entity
Most foreign founders choose between four vehicles:
- SRL (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada) — the flexible, low-formality workhorse for SMEs and subsidiaries; our most common recommendation.
- SA (Sociedad Anónima) — suited to larger ventures, multiple investors or future capital raises; more governance, more formality.
- EIRL — a single-owner limited-liability entity for solo entrepreneurs.
- Branch of a foreign company — operate in the DR under your existing company, registered locally for tax and legal purposes.
During the free consultation we map your ownership, tax and banking goals to the right structure — including holding arrangements for real estate purchases and registered foreign investment.
How incorporation works, step by step
- Name clearance and reservation — we search and register your trade name before ONAPI.
- Drafting — bylaws, subscription documents and, where useful, a shareholders’ agreement tailored to your deal.
- Mercantile Registry — incorporation filed at the Chamber of Commerce; your company legally exists.
- RNC tax registration — enrollment with DGII so you can invoice, hire and open bank accounts.
- First corporate acts — books, initial assembly minutes and manager appointments, ready for banking KYC.
Forming from abroad? Almost everything can be signed in your home country under an apostilled power of attorney; we prepare the POA text and coordinate certified translations.
After incorporation: staying in good standing
A Dominican company has a small but unforgiving compliance calendar: annual Mercantile Registry renewal, assemblies and minutes, DGII filings, and updates whenever shareholders or managers change. We keep all of it on our calendar — not yours — under a simple annual plan, so good standing never lapses.
Engagement scope — SRL incorporation
Who it’s for
Founders and foreign companies setting up a Dominican operating or holding company.
What’s included
- Company-name availability check at ONAPI
- Bylaws and incorporation documents, drafted bilingually
- Mercantile Registry filing and registration
- RNC (tax ID) registration with the DGII
- Bank-ready corporate kit: registry certificate, bylaws, resolutions
You’ll need
- Passports / IDs of the partners
- Ownership split and capital figure
- Two or three proposed company names
- Power of attorney if you sign from abroad (we prepare it)
Main stages
- Name clearance
- Document drafting and signature
- Mercantile Registry registration
- DGII / RNC activation
Also available
A continuing annual-compliance engagement (annual assembly minutes, Mercantile Registry renewal, corporate-book upkeep) once the company is live.
Government and third-party fees are billed at cost, separately. A written professional-fee scope is provided after the initial matter review.
Frequently asked questions
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Dominican company?
Yes. There is no general local-partner requirement: foreign individuals or companies may own 100% of the shares of an SRL or SA, with the same rights as Dominican shareholders under Law 16-95.
How long does company registration take?
With documents in order, a standard SRL is typically operative in 2–4 weeks: a few days for the ONAPI trade name, about a week at the Mercantile Registry, then the RNC with DGII. We quote a precise timeline once we see your structure.
Do I need to travel to the DR to incorporate?
Usually not. Incorporation can be completed under an apostilled power of attorney signed in your home country. Some banks ask to meet account signatories in person, which we schedule for a single short visit if needed.
Let’s get your company formation matter moving
Free consultation, plain-English answers, and a written fixed-fee quote for most matters within one business day.
Scope my Dominican company