Investment roadmap
From an idea to a company that is trading legally
Nine steps in the order they actually happen. Each one names the decision to make, the document you should end up holding, and the guides that explain the detail.
9 steps · 27 linked guides
- 01
Starting a Business · Sector guides
Choose the structure
Decide what you are registering — a sole proprietorship, a private limited company or a representative office — and what each one can and cannot do.
Done whenA legal form that matches your activity, ownership and capital.
- Registering a Company in Cambodia: The Full Sequence
- Business Licences and Annual Compliance in Cambodia
- Opening a Corporate Bank Account in Cambodia
- 02
Starting a Business · Company registration
Register the company
Reserve the name, file the incorporation documents with the Ministry of Commerce, and collect the certificate that starts everything else.
Done whenCertificate of incorporation issued in the company's legal name.
- Registering a Company in Cambodia: The Full Sequence
- Foreign Ownership Limits in Cambodia: The Negative List Explained
- Best Business Ideas in Cambodia
- 03
Starting a Business · Licences and permits
Add the licences your sector needs
Some activities need an extra approval before trading. Check the sector list early, because this is where timelines usually slip.
Done whenEvery sector licence your activity requires, in hand.
- Business Licences and Annual Compliance in Cambodia
- Warehouse and fulfilment operator licence in Cambodia: requirements, cost and timeline
- Water bottling plant licence in Cambodia: requirements, cost and timeline
- 04
Starting a Business · Tax registration and filing
Register with the tax department
Get the tax identification number, the VAT certificate where turnover requires it, and the patent tax receipt for the year.
Done whenTax registration, VAT status and annual patent tax settled.
- Tax Obligations for Small Businesses in Cambodia
- Withholding tax on rent in Cambodia: what businesses must file
- Withholding tax on services paid to non-residents in Cambodia: what businesses must file
- 05
Starting a Business · Banking and finance
Open the bank and capital accounts
A corporate account, the capital deposit and the payment routes you will use for suppliers and customers.
Done whenCompany account open and initial capital deposited.
- Opening a Corporate Bank Account in Cambodia
- How to Open a Business Bank Account in Cambodia
- Key person insurance in Cambodia: a practical guide
- 06
Starting a Business · Hiring and labour
Build the team and the books
Employment contracts, payroll and social security registration, plus an accounting routine that survives an audit.
Done whenRegistered employment contracts and a monthly payroll process.
- The foreign employee quota application under Cambodian labour law
- Redundancy and layoff procedure under Cambodian labour law
- Union recognition under Cambodian labour law
- 07
Living and Visas · Work permits and work books
Sort the visas and work permits
Foreign founders and staff need the right visa, a work permit and a work book — before the first salary is paid.
Done whenValid visa, work permit and work book for every foreign employee.
- Work Permits and Employment Cards in Cambodia
- Work Permit and Business (EB) Visa Guide
- Matching your work permit to your visa in Cambodia: rules, documents and extensions
- 08
Import and Customs · Customs clearance
Set up the import and delivery chain
Classify the goods, appoint a broker, choose the transport and storage that keeps stock moving without extra fees.
Done whenA broker appointed and your first declaration planned.
- Air or Sea? Clearing Cargo at Phnom Penh Airport vs Sihanoukville Port
- What Is a Bill of Lading and How to Read It
- Warranty repairs and replacement parts: how it works in Cambodia
- 09
Starting a Business · Accounting and payroll
Stay compliant month to month
The recurring filings, deadlines and records that keep the company in good standing once trading has started.
Done whenA calendar of monthly and annual filings with named owners.
- Hiring Your First Employees in Cambodia: Contracts, NSSF and Payroll
- Hiring Staff in Cambodia: Contracts, Minimum Wage and NSSF
- Payroll records and retention under Cambodian labour law
Check the numbers first
Before you commit capital, run the duty, freight and tax estimates so the business plan starts from real landed costs.
Open the calculator tools →Then find the specialists
Registration, licensing and customs work usually need a local lawyer, accountant or broker. The partner directory lists firms by discipline.
Browse the partner directory →