Starting a business in Malawi: the compliance basics
To start a business in Malawi: register the company with Registrar of Companies, register for tax with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) (corporate income tax 30% (foreign branches 35%); VAT 17.5% (from January 2026) once over MK 25 million), comply with the Employment Act if you hire, and meet Data Protection Act, 2024 for personal data.
First compliance steps
- 1 Register the company with Registrar of Companies.
- 2 Register for tax with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).
- 3 Register as an employer (pension contributions under the Pension Act) and use written contracts if you hire.
- 4 Register for VAT once turnover passes MK 25 million.
- 5 Put a basic Data Protection Act, 2024 framework in place.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to start a business in Malawi?
Register with Registrar of Companies, register for tax with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA), and meet labour (Employment Act) and data-protection rules. Confirm specifics with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA).
More on Malawi
- Register a company — Malawi
- Company tax — Malawi
- VAT / sales tax — Malawi
- Hiring staff — Malawi
- Data protection — Malawi
- Tax clearance — Malawi
- Empowerment / B-BBEE — Malawi
- Licences & permits — Malawi
- Payroll & employee tax — Malawi
- Importing & customs — Malawi
- Annual returns — Malawi
- Full Malawi compliance guide
Start a business elsewhere in SADC
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Reviewed June 2026 from official sources. General information only — confirm with Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) or a registered professional.