How to Incorporate a Company in El Salvador (2026): 9 Steps

To incorporate a company in El Salvador in 2026, foreign founders usually form a Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable (SA de CV). It needs at least two shareholders and a minimum capital of USD 2,000, of which 5% (USD 100) is paid in at incorporation. The steps are: appoint the administrator, the alternate (suplente) and the external auditor; sign the deed of incorporation before a Salvadoran notary; register the company with the Registro de Comercio of the Centro Nacional de Registros (CNR) through its Crea Empresa platform, which also issues the company’s NIT and NRC tax numbers; have the accounting books authorized; complete municipal registration; and open a corporate bank account. Timelines depend on the registry and on how quickly your documents are ready. Contact us for a quote.

Prefer to have it done for you? Talk to Easyco about company formation in El Salvador. Comparing structures? See the types of companies in El Salvador.

El Salvador uses the US dollar, has about 6 million people, and has free trade agreements including CAFTA-DR. Company formation now runs largely online through CNR’s Crea Empresa single window.

How to incorporate a company in El Salvador: 9 steps

1. Choose the company type

• SA de CV (Sociedad Anónima de Capital Variable) — recommended for foreign founders. At least two shareholders, who can be individuals or companies. Minimum capital is USD 2,000, fully subscribed, with at least 5% of each cash share (USD 100) paid in at incorporation. The rest is paid within one year (Código de Comercio, art. 192). The “variable capital” form lets you raise or lower capital without amending the deed each time.

• Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (S. de R.L.). At least two partners, with ownership divided into participations rather than shares.

• SAS (simplified stock company). A newer regime that allows a single shareholder, under its own rules.

2. Appoint the administrator, suplente and external auditor

An SA de CV is usually managed by a sole administrator (administrador único), who is its legal representative, together with an alternate (suplente) who steps in when the administrator is absent. A board of directors is the alternative. In practice, the tax office, banks and notaries need a locally resident representative, and Easyco can coordinate this for you.

Every company must also appoint an external auditor (auditor externo). That appointment is registered with the CNR (Código de Comercio, arts. 289–290). There is no “comisario” role in El Salvador.

3. Check the company name

The name is checked with the Registro de Comercio. It does not have to match your brand or product name.

4. Prepare documents and sign the deed of incorporation

A Salvadoran notary executes the deed of incorporation (escritura de constitución). It covers the shareholders, name, purpose, capital, administration, the external auditor and the company’s domicile. The law requires a domicile in El Salvador (art. 22), and a physical registered address is required.

Documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalized, and any document not in Spanish needs a certified translation. We coordinate the translations. Shareholders’ identification and tax details go into the deed.

5. Register with CNR’s Registro de Comercio (Crea Empresa)

The deed is filed with the Registro de Comercio of the Centro Nacional de Registros (CNR) through Crea Empresa. The same filing covers the company’s matrícula de empresa (trade registration), its establishments and the deposit of its opening balance sheet.

6. Get the NIT and NRC

For companies domiciled in El Salvador, the Ministerio de Hacienda assigns the NIT (tax ID) and the NRC (IVA/VAT registration number) through the Crea Empresa platform. You don’t file a separate application.

7. Authorize the accounting books

The company’s legal and accounting books are authorized by the external auditor, and the company’s accounting system is set up before operations start.

8. Register with the municipality (and as an employer)

Register the business with the municipality where it operates. Requirements and municipal taxes vary by municipality, particularly since the 2024 municipal reorganization. Crea Empresa already connects some of them, such as San Salvador Centro and Santa Ana Centro. If you hire staff, register as an employer with the ISSS (social security) and the Ministry of Labour. Crea Empresa can handle this too.

9. Open a corporate bank account

Salvadoran banks apply full KYC to companies with foreign shareholders, and some have extra requirements for them. Easyco helps you prepare the file and coordinates the account opening.

After incorporation: the compliance calendar

• Every month: IVA return (F-07) and the advance income tax and withholding return (F-14), even with zero activity.
• January: F-915, the report on dividends and the shareholder list, for the previous year (Código Tributario art. 124), even if no dividends were paid.
• By 30 April: annual income tax return (F-11) for the previous calendar year, starting the year after incorporation.
• Every year: ordinary shareholders’ meeting to approve the financial statements, renewal of the matrícula de empresa at the CNR (in the month the deed was registered), and external auditor appointment or renewal.
• Only for larger companies: a tax audit opinion (auditor fiscal) once the company passes the asset or income thresholds in Código Tributario art. 131.
• Municipal: taxes and licences as set by your municipality.

Corporate income tax is 30%, or 25% when taxable income is USD 150,000 or less (Ley de Impuesto sobre la Renta, art. 41). IVA (VAT) is 13%. See tax and accounting in El Salvador.

How long does it take?

The CNR says Crea Empresa issues incorporation resolutions in four hours or less once a complete filing is in. The overall timeline depends on gathering apostilled documents, the notary, municipal registration and bank onboarding. We give you a schedule with your quote.

FAQ

Can a foreigner own 100% of an SA de CV?

Generally yes. The Código de Comercio sets no nationality limits for shareholders, though some regulated sectors have their own rules. You still need at least two shareholders, which can be you and a company you own.

What is the minimum capital?

USD 2,000, with 5% (USD 100) paid in at incorporation.

Does the legal representative need to live in El Salvador?

The Código de Comercio doesn’t require it, but in practice the tax office, banks and notaries need a locally resident representative.

Do I need a statutory supervisor (comisario)?

No. El Salvador doesn’t use that role. Oversight comes from the external auditor.

How much does it cost?

It depends on the structure and services you need. Contact us for a quote.

Start your company in El Salvador with Easyco. We coordinate the notary, CNR registration, NIT/NRC, external auditor, municipal registration and bank account, and can stay on for monthly tax filings and payroll.