Business and Companies Registry
Making it Easier to Start and Grow Your Business.
We believe that starting a venture should be seamless. As the Companies Registrations and Intellectual Property Center, we provide a fast, reliable, and fully digital registration process through the MBRS. Whether you are launching a small business or a large corporation, we are here to provide the legal foundation you need to succeed.
Companies Registration & Intellectual Property Centre
Welcome to the Companies, Registrations and Intellectual Property Centre (CRIPC), Malawi’s government agency mandated to administer business registration and intellectual property rights. Effective 1 April 2026, CRIPC officially assumed the mandate and functions of the former Registrar General’s Department, marking a significant milestone in the modernisation and consolidation of Malawi’s business and intellectual property administration framework.
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Our Impact
89,615
Businesses Registered
99,000+
Intellectual Property
Rights-
99%
User Satisfaction
What we do
Setting up a business
Businesses may be registered as a sole trader, partnership, limited, public or state-owned-companies. The structure of business chosen affects the way it is run, managed and legal responsibilities.
Sole proprietorship also known as a sole trader is the most common form of business structure whose key features are;
- Ownership: It is owned and run by a single individual. There is no legal separation between the owner and the business.
- Registration: It must be registered and may be registered under a name which is not simillar or identical to another registered business or trademark.
- Liability: The owner has unlimited liability. This means the individual is personally responsible for all debts and obligations of the business. If the business owes money, creditors can claim against the owner’s personal assets.
- Taxation: Before registration, the individual is required to register a Tax Identification Number with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA). Income from the business is treated as the owner’s personal income and taxed under the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).
- Decision-making: The owner has full control over decisions and keeps all the profits (after paying tax).
- Continuity: The business does not have separate legal personality. If the owner dies or becomes incapacitated, the business ceases to exist unless arrangements are made for succession.
Steps for setting up a sole proprietor
- Register a tax identification number if you do not have one
- Choose a name of the business: this will be the trade name under which your business will be known and identified
The trade name must not include;
- protected names
- “Limited, Company, Ltd, Co. or any name which may be misleading or desirable.
- Similar, identical or nearly resemble to another registered business, company, Trust or Trademark.
- Complete the on online/electronic application form on MBRS and sign the application form online.
- Pay; K 10 000
- Submit
Business Registration Services are now online, Register today using Malawi Business Registration System.
News & Updates
Stay up to date with the latest developments
14 May 2026
NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY POLICY AND STRATEGY (NIPPS)
14 May 2026
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP STAKEHOLDERS’ TRAINING
14 May 2026
INTERNATIONAL FINANCE CORPERATION (IFC)
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Fill online application forms, submit then receive your permit in PDF format from wherever you are.
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