How to Register a Business With BRELA Online in Tanzania: Cost and Steps

Registering a business name with BRELA in Tanzania costs TZS 15,000 in government fees, plus TZS 5,000 a year to keep it active, and you can do the whole thing online through BRELA's Online Registration System (ORS) at ors.brela.go.tz — no office visit needed if your paperwork is in order. Registering a company instead costs more: fees start at TZS 95,000 and climb with your declared share capital, up to TZS 1,000,000 for the largest companies, or a flat TZS 500,000 if you're not issuing shares. These are BRELA's own published rates, checked in October 2026. Here's exactly how to register either one, what you need before you start, and what to do once BRELA has you on file.

Quick facts

How much does it cost to register with BRELA?

A business name — what you need for a shop, a side hustle, freelance work or a small partnership — is the cheapest route. Here's BRELA's own fee schedule for it:

Source: BRELA, business name fees, checked October 2026.

A company costs more, and the registration fee itself scales with the share capital you declare:

On top of that, budget TZS 50,000 to reserve your company name, and TZS 22,000 a year for your annual return once you're registered.

Source: BRELA, company fees, checked October 2026.

You'll see other numbers for a business name quoted on forums and blogs — some lower, some higher. Go by BRELA's own published schedule above; that's what the ORS system will actually charge you when you pay.

If you're setting up as a branch of a company already registered outside Tanzania, that's a separate "foreign company" registration under Part XII of the Companies Act, and the fees are higher: TZS 600,000 to file most required documents, TZS 600,000 to file your balance sheet, and TZS 2,000,000 for a certified copy of your company's constitution, with a TZS 70,000-a-month penalty for late filing (same source).

Business name or company — which one do you need?

A business name suits you if you're running something alone or with up to 20 partners and don't need a separate legal entity — a shop, a salon, a small trading business, freelance work. It's cheaper, and the annual upkeep is TZS 5,000 rather than TZS 22,000. The catch: there's no separation between you and the business, so you're personally liable for its debts.

A company suits you if you want limited liability, plan to raise capital from investors, or need a registered company to win contracts that require one (many government and corporate tenders ask for it). It costs more upfront and needs more paperwork — a Memorandum and Articles of Association, and statutory declarations — but your personal assets are separate from the business's.

One eligibility point to know before you pick: BRELA requires you to be a Tanzanian citizen aged 18 or older to register a business name yourself (BRELA, registration of business names, checked October 2026). If you're not a Tanzanian citizen, the business name route isn't open to you directly — you'd register a local company instead, or a foreign company branch if you already have one registered abroad.

What you need before you start

Pulled straight from BRELA's own requirements for business name registration:

• A proposed business name that isn't already taken or misleadingly similar to one that is
• Your NIN — the number on your NIDA national ID card
• A personal phone number registered in your own name
• An active personal email address you can check
• Your business location address
• Your residential address (and that of any partners, if you're registering with others)

If you don't have a NIDA number yet, sort that out first — you'll need it again later for your TRA TIN and, if you hire staff, for NSSF registration too.

How to register a business name on ORS, step by step

1. Go to ors.brela.go.tz (or start from brela.go.tz and follow the link to the Online Registration System).
2. Create an ORS account, or log in if you already have one, using "Create ORS account" / "E-services for registered users."
3. Select the online service, then choose Business Name, then new registration.
4. Pick the type of business name — sole ownership or partnership (up to 20 people).
5. Fill in your business details: the proposed name, your NIN, phone number, email, and your business and residential addresses.
6. Upload whatever supporting documents the system asks for — it prompts you based on the details you've entered.
7. Pay the TZS 15,000 application fee through Tigo Pesa, M-Pesa, or directly at CRDB or NMB.
8. Wait for BRELA to process it. There's no published guaranteed turnaround — once your payment clears, an officer reviews the application and either approves it or sends back queries for you to fix and resubmit.
9. Once approved, you can download your certificate from your ORS account, and you can search the register for free afterwards to confirm your business shows up with the right details (BRELA ORS, checked October 2026).

Remember the TZS 5,000 annual fee the following year, and every year after — it's paid through the same ORS account.

How to register a company instead

A company goes through the same BRELA system but needs more documents:

1. Clear your proposed company name — submit a request and BRELA checks it's available and not deceptively similar to an existing one.
2. Prepare your Memorandum and Articles of Association.
3. Complete the statutory declaration (Form No. 14B), sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths, and the particulars of directors and registered office (Form No. 14A), giving both a physical and postal address.
4. Submit through ORS and pay the registration fee based on the share capital you've declared (see the table above).
5. BRELA issues your Certificate of Incorporation once everything checks out.

Source: BRELA, services overview, checked October 2026.

What happens after BRELA registers you

BRELA registration is the first step, not the only one:

• Apply for your TRA TIN within 15 days of starting to operate (TRA, starting a business, checked October 2026). We've got the full walkthrough in how to get your TRA TIN number online.
• Get a business licence. BRELA issues licences for businesses under "Schedule A"; your local municipality issues them for "Schedule B" businesses.
• If you're hiring staff, you'll need to register as an employer with NSSF, and you'll need to withhold PAYE from their salaries — run the numbers through our Tanzania PAYE calculator before you quote anyone a salary.
• If customers will pay you by mobile money, check what M-Pesa Tanzania actually charges for receiving and withdrawing before you build it into your pricing.

What to watch out for

• Only pay where you get an official receipt. BRELA is explicit that all payments go to the Registrar of Companies against official receipts, and warns against paying anyone who can't issue one. Report any demand for money outside the official schedule to BRELA directly on +255 (0) 22 2212800.
• Check the name is actually free before you commit to branding. You can search the register for free on ORS before you pay for anything.
• Keep the annual fee current. BRELA doesn't publish what happens if you let the TZS 5,000 (business name) or TZS 22,000 (company annual return) lapse, but a registration that's fallen out of date is the last thing you want to discover when a bank or a client asks to see your certificate.
• Don't confuse the fee bands. If you're registering a company, the fee is set by the share capital you declare, not the actual cash you've raised — declaring more capital than you need just to look credible pushes you into a more expensive band for no benefit.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a business name with BRELA?

TZS 15,000 in application fees, plus TZS 5,000 a year afterwards to keep it active. A company costs more, from TZS 95,000 depending on your declared share capital, as of October 2026.

Can I register a business with BRELA without visiting an office?

Yes, for a business name — the whole process, including payment, runs through ors.brela.go.tz. Company registration also goes through ORS, but needs more supporting documents and typically more back-and-forth.

Do I need a NIDA number to register with BRELA online?

Yes. BRELA asks for your NIN (the number on your NIDA card) as part of the business name application, and you'll need it again for your TRA TIN and NSSF registration later.

Can a foreigner register a business name in Tanzania?

Not directly — BRELA's business name registration requires you to be a Tanzanian citizen aged 18 or older. A non-citizen would register a local company instead, or a foreign company branch if the parent company is already registered abroad.

What do I need to do after BRELA registers my business?

Apply for your TRA TIN within 15 days, get the right business licence for your activity, and if you're hiring, register as an employer with NSSF and start withholding PAYE.

How long does BRELA take to approve a business name registration?

BRELA doesn't publish a guaranteed turnaround. Once payment clears, an officer reviews your application and either approves it or sends back corrections — give it a few working days and avoid leaving it to the last minute if you need the certificate by a specific date.