Starting a Business on St. Maarten
All businesses operating in St. Maarten must be registered in the Commercial Register of the St. Maarten Chamber of Commerce & Industry.
Citizenship: There are key differences in the procedure to start a business for Antillean-born and Non-Antillean born citizens
When starting a business in St. Maarten there are a few things you need to know to pertain to citizenship. There are some key differences in the process of opening a business when you are an Antillean-born citizen and when you are a Non-Antillean born citizen.
Antillean Born Citizen = you were born on Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao, St. Maarten, Saba, St. Eustatius islands.
* Aruban born prior to Aruba’s independence (Jan 1st 1986).
Everyone else is considered an Non-Antillean Born citizen, even if you were born in The Netherlands, for instance.
Sole Proprietorship (Eenmanszaak)
A Sole Proprietorship (Eenmanszaak) is a form of business in which there is no distinction between the business assets and personal assets. The owner is personally liable for all obligations of the business. Read More
1. Submit to COCI:
To open a Sole Proprietorship on St. Maarten as an Antillean Born citizen you need to submit the following documents to the Chamber of Commerce & Industry:
- A valid passport
- A valid ID Card
- A census registration form
- Depending on the “type” of business, you might be required to submit an operational license from the Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT).
2. Check with Ministry of TEATT:
The following companies require an operational license:
- Bars
- Restaurants
- Wholesale / retail of alcoholic beverages
- Hotels
- Guesthouses
- Casinos
- Lottery companies
- Charter boat companies
- Ice Cream parlors
- Cinemas
- Timeshare resorts
- Internet gaming companies
- Banks
- Insurance companies
- Pharmacies
- Laboratories
- Health Institutions
- Telecom companies
- Car rentals
- Other (please contact The Ministry of TEATT)
The information above has been provided by The Ministry of TEATT Department of Economic Licenses
3. COCI processes:
- Name Check (COCI conducts a name check to ensure the chosen business name is available)
- Name of Business
- Address of Business
- Completion and submission of a MODEL A form (provided by COCI or online via Online Registration Portal)
- Registration Fee Fls. 315.00 / $ 175.00
4. Open a Business Bank Account:
The business bank account should be opened with anyone of our local banks:
5. Tax Office (CRIB-number):
Visit the The St. Maarten Tax Administration Office, a department of The Ministry of Finance, to request your business CRIB-number, in order to declare your business taxes.
6. Health Insurance
All employers are required by law (under the Sickness Insurance and Accident Insurance Ordinances) to register for health insurance with SZV.
An employer is classified as a natural person (individual, sole proprietor, a legal entity such as a corporation, N.V., or B.V.)
Non-Antillean Born Citizens are required to have been registered on Sint Maarten for 10 consecutive years, or have a Dutch passport.
1. Request Business License:
Prior to submitting a business request at COCI, non-Antillean born citizens need to receive a “finalization letter” from The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT).
- Request Business License from TEATT
- Receive approval for Business License (Finalization Letter) from TEATT
2. Submit to COCI:
- Finalization letter from Ministry of TEATT
- A valid passport
- A valid ID
- A census registration form
3. COCI Processes:
- Name check (COCI conducts a name check to ensure the chosen business name is available)
- Name of Business
- Address of Business
- Completion and submission of a MODEL A form (provided by COCI or online via Online Registration Portal)
- Registration Fee Fls. 315.00 / $ 175.00
4. Open a Business Bank Account:
The business bank account should be opened with anyone of our local banks:
5. Tax Office (CRIB-number):
Visit the The St. Maarten Tax Administration Office, a department of The Ministry of Finance, to request your business CRIB-number, in order to declare your business taxes.
6. Health Insurance
All employers are required by law (under the Sickness Insurance and Accident Insurance Ordinances) to register for health insurance with SZV.
An employer is classified as a natural person (individual, sole proprietor, a legal entity such as a corporation, N.V., or B.V.)
N.V./B.V./Foundations/Associations/Partnerships
Click here to read more about legal entities such as N.V./B.V./Foundations/Associations/Partnerships etc.
The below steps should be done simultaneously. The Notary can assist in the process for the establishment of the company on your behalf.
1. Incorporate your company at Notary (Articles of Incorporation)
The registration of an N.V./B.V./Foundation/Association/Partnership is done by the a Notary (notaris). The incorporation of a company refers to the legal process used to form a corporate entity or company. The Notary certifies a persons identity on documents and authenticates true copies of original documents. The Notary can also provide legal advise and records agreements upon request of parties and/or by law.
Visit anyone of the Notaries on St. Maarten:
2. Register in COCI Commercial Register
All businesses and legal entities on St. Maarten are to be registered in the COCI Commercial Register.
3. Request a Business License at TEATT:
The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) is responsible for the processing of licenses related to economic activities. These licenses are:
- Sole Proprietorship (eenmanszaak)
- Limited Liability Company (N.V.)
- Private Liability Company (B.V.)
- Director Licenses
- Branch Licenses
- Operational (Horeca) Licenses (bars, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets)
- Vending Licenses
- Amendments (address of the business, of director, of a branch, etc.)
4. Open a Business Bank Account:
The business bank account should be opened with anyone of our local banks:
5. Tax Office (CRIB-number):
Visit the The St. Maarten Tax Administration Office, a department of The Ministry of Finance, to request your business CRIB-number, in order to declare your business taxes.
6. Health Insurance
All employers are required by law (under the Sickness Insurance and Accident Insurance Ordinances) to register for health insurance with SZV.
An employer is classified as a natural person (individual, sole proprietor, a legal entity such as a corporation, N.V., or B.V.)
- SZV for employers
- SZV for employeesThe below steps should be done simultaneously. The Notary can assist in the process for the establishment of the company on your behalf.
The below steps should be done simultaneously. The Notary can assist in the process for the establishment of the company on your behalf.
1. Incorporate your company at Notary (Articles of Incorporation)
The registration of an N.V./B.V./Foundation/Association/Partnership is done by the a Notary (notaris). The incorporation of a company refers to the legal process used to form a corporate entity or company. The Notary certifies a persons identity on documents and authenticates true copies of original documents. The Notary can also provide legal advise and records agreements upon request of parties and/or by law.
Visit anyone of the Notaries on St. Maarten click here:
2. Register in COCI Commercial Register
All businesses and legal entities on St. Maarten are to be registered in the COCI Commercial Register.
3. Request a Business License at TEATT:
The Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) is responsible for the processing of licenses related to economic activities. These licenses are:
- Sole Proprietorship (eenmanszaak)
- Limited Liability Company (N.V.)
- Private Liability Company (B.V.)
- Director Licenses
- Branch Licenses
- Operational (Horeca) Licenses (bars, restaurants, hotels, supermarkets)
- Vending Licenses
- Amendments (address of the business, of director, of a branch, etc.)
4. Open a Business Bank Account:
The business bank account should be opened with anyone of our local banks:
5. Tax Office (CRIB-number):Visit the The St. Maarten Tax Administration Office, a department of The Ministry of Finance, to request your business CRIB-number, in order to declare your business taxes.
6. Health Insurance All employers are required by law (under the Sickness Insurance and Accident Insurance Ordinances) to register for health insurance with SZV.An employer is classified as a natural person (individual, sole proprietor, a legal entity such as a corporation, N.V., or B.V.)
7. Certificate of Conduct
The certificate of Conduct is to be requested with the Public Prosecutor’s Office or Police Department from your country of birth or country of residence. This is required for all non-Antillean born citizens as well as applicants born in the Netherlands.