Setting up a Business in Barbados

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Let’s look at the practicalities. You can establish a company in Barbados as a Regular Business Company (RBC) or Society with Restricted Liability (SRL). An SRL is similar to what is known as a Limited Liability Company in the USA. Two of the key differences are that an SRL has limited life, and may be automatically dissolved on the occurrence of stipulated events or the end of a fixed period, and also that it must have a minimum of two members and not shareholders.

Other company structures include external companies and unincorporated businesses.
Further details can be found on the Invest Barbados website.

Setting up a Regular Business Company (RBC) or Society with Restricted Liability (SRL)

in Barbados

Below are some of the legal requirements for starting a business in Barbados. Many of these can now be done online for a quicker, more efficient process and corporate attorneys can of course assist with the paperwork and submissions.

Register the business name with the Corporate Affairs and
Intellectual Property Office (CAIPO).
+1 (246) 535-2410 | http://www.caipo.gov.bb | caipo.general@barbados.gov.bb
Submit incorporation documents and associated government fees (approximately US$400) to the Registrar of CAIPO
Secure licences from the appropriate regulatory bodies, for example:
- - The Financial Services Commission for insurance companies +1 (246) 421-2142 | http://fsc.gov.bb/index.php/en/ |info@fsc.gov.bb
  - The Central Bank of Barbados for financial institutions
    +1 (246) 436-6870 | http://www.centralbank.org.bb | info@centralbank.org.bb
Apply to the Barbados Immigration Department for a work permit, if you are not a citizen of Barbados and would like to work on the island.
+1 (246) 535-4100 | https://immigration.gov.bb | immigration.department@barbados.gov.bb

Register for statutory obligations with:
- - National Insurance Scheme
    +1 (246) 431-7400 | https://www.nis.gov.bb |
    customer.service@bginis.gov.bb
  - Barbados Revenue Authority
    +1 (246) 429-3829 | https://bra.gov.bb |
    bramail@bra.gov.bb
  - the Value Added Tax (VAT) Division of the Barbados
    Revenue Authority
    +1 (246) 429-3829 | https://bra.gov.bb
  - Planning & Development Department
    +1 (246) 535-3000 | http://townplanning.gov.bb |
    contact@planning.gov.bb

Incorporating a Business in Barbados

Here’s some of the information and documents that you’ll need as part
of the incorporation process:

Name of the entity
The official address in Barbados where the share registers, minute books and other statutory information will be kept
Contact details of auditor, if applicable
Financial year-end
The minimum and maximum number of directors (an entity can have a minimum of one director)
Details of activities in which the RBC/SRL will be involved
Name, address, registration/incorporation number of all related entities carrying on business, licensed, incorporated, registered or organised in Barbados
Profile of each shareholder and director/manager including academic qualifications, training, experience, corporate status, etc.

Companies that earn 100% of income in foreign currency are eligible for a FCP. A FCP application fee of US $125 should be submitted to the Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office the same time the incorporation documents are submitted, and simultaneously, submit the FCP application to the Director, International Business. Companies must provide a statutory declaration of a director/manager certifying that 100% of the income earned by the RBC/SRL will be in foreign currency.

Registering an
External Company

The Companies Act defines an external company as an incorporated or unincorporated entity formed under the laws of a country other than Barbados.

The procedure for registering an external company is as
follows:

All external companies must first register with CAIPO to be eligible to start operations in Barbados
Submit a statement on the prescribed form (Form 28)
Statutory declaration by two directors of the company that verifies on behalf of the company the particulars (listed below) set out in the statement
Certified copy of the corporate instruments of the company
Statutory declaration by an attorney-at-law that this section has been complied with
Power of Attorney and Consent to Act as Attorney in the prescribed form (Form 30) empowering a person named in the power and resident in Barbados to act as attorney of the company for the purpose of receiving service of process in all suits and proceedings in Barbados and all lawful notices.

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