Business in Niger

Business activity in Niger is highly varied. Informal micro-businesses, trade, agriculture, livestock, processing and services are widespread, while formal companies are concentrated especially in Niamey and Maradi. Older structural indicators estimate that the informal sector produces about 40–50% of GDP and accounts for about 91% of employment; these figures are not a current census. Formal private activity has been estimated at less than 10% of GDP. Informal entry is usually easier, but formal registration provides stronger legal and contractual proof and can improve access to banks, public procurement and support programs. A business can use an entreprise individuelle with personal liability, register as an individual trader, declare activity as an entreprenant, form a local company or establish a branch. An entreprenant uses a simplified activity declaration and does not receive RCCM registration, but the national tax and other applicable duties still apply. A local company is commonly formed as a SARL, a limited-liability company, or an SA, a public limited company. A branch has no separate legal personality. Liability protection therefore depends on the chosen form and does not apply in the same way to an individual business. The CFE, the Centre de Formalités des Entreprises, provides the main formalization gateway with the CCIN, the Niger Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Crafts. The RCCM, the Registre du Commerce et du Crédit Mobilier, records traders and legal entities. Merchants and legal entities generally have to apply for RCCM registration within one month after beginning activity or incorporating the entity. The file commonly includes identification, proof of residence, a lease or occupancy document, a declaration of honour and, where required, a criminal-record document or prior sector authorization. A notary prepares company statutes and supports capital deposit and incorporation steps where the chosen form requires it. The accessible eRegulations estimate lists 18,750 CFA francs for an individual business and 177,250 CFA francs for a local company, including 100,000 CFA francs of capital. It also gives abbreviated processing estimates of 3–4 T for an individual business and 4–6 T for a local company. These figures may exclude notary charges and sector-specific costs, and the portal cites legacy legal references, so the current fees, timing and documents should be confirmed with the CFE before filing. After registration, the business normally needs a NIF, a tax identification number, and must meet the requirements of the DGI, the tax administration. Applicable tax arrangements include the real normal regime, the real simplified regime, the patente synthétique and VAT, depending on the business and its circumstances. Accounting and financial reporting follow SYSCOHADA, the OHADA accounting framework. A business with employees must address CNSS social-security registration and declarations to the labour inspectorate. Municipal permits, sector licences and quality requirements may also apply; no activity-specific licence should be assumed without checking the relevant authority. The Code des Investissements and its Guichet Unique provide a framework for qualifying investment projects. The promotional regime covers investments of at least 25,000,000 CFA francs and below 2,000,000,000 CFA francs, excluding tax and working capital, with a requirement for at least 5 or 10 permanent Nigerien jobs depending on the investment band. The stated approval period is 6 days, with implementation lasting up to 36 months. The conventional regime applies to investments of at least 2,000,000,000 CFA francs and at least 20 jobs, with a stated approval period of 7 days. Approval and activity conditions remain mandatory. FONAP can provide direct or indirect financing, guarantees, interest-rate support and technical or managerial assistance. Eligibility can depend on a qualifying financing file, support from a business-support service, operation in a priority sector, possession of a NIF and RCCM, and tax compliance. A 2026 World Bank project targets support for 7,500 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and 58,000 jobs, including women-led and climate-resilient businesses; a project target does not guarantee access to funding. Limited private credit and liquidity remain major constraints. Skills gaps, transport and input costs linked to security or border disruption, and delayed public payments can also affect operations. Agribusiness, digital agriculture, logistics, finance and processing have strong practical relevance. Extractive activities, oil and mining usually require more capital and more extensive licensing. A business should check the responsible sector authority rather than treating general registration as permission for every activity. Changes, temporary cessation, removal of an individual trader from the RCCM, dissolution, closure and transfer require the corresponding commercial formalities. Under OHADA, the regional business-law framework, conciliation and preventive settlement may be available before cessation of payments. Judicial reorganization or liquidation of assets applies after that point, with simplified procedures for some small entities. Commercial courts handle these proceedings, and serious failures can lead to personal bankruptcy or banqueroute consequences.