{"id":203365,"date":"2021-03-09T18:45:11","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T05:45:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/?p=203365"},"modified":"2025-12-17T13:50:16","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T00:50:16","slug":"incorporating-a-company","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/corporations\/incorporating-a-company\/","title":{"rendered":"Incorporating a Company in New Zealand"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Starting a company can be an exciting and rewarding venture. Incorporating your company is the first official step, and you should undertake this step once you have ironed out key logistics, such as <\/span>the name of your company, your company\u2019s directors and shareholders, and the company type.&nbsp;<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This article will outline the five-step process for incorporating your company in New Zealand.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">1. Set-Up the Required Accounts<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In New Zealand, incorporation is the process of registering your company with the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/companies-register.companiesoffice.govt.nz\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Companies Office<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. This process is undertaken by filing an online application with the Companies Office. To complete this application, you will need:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.realme.govt.nz\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">RealMe\u00ae login<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">; and<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">an online services account with the Companies Register.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">2. Reserve a Name for Your Company<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once you have <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/intellectual-property\/register-business-name-new-zealand\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">determined your company\u2019s name<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">, you must verify that it is available and suitable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Criteria for a Company Name<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A company name cannot be identical or almost identical to another New Zealand company name. Phrases, such as \u2018limited\u2019 or \u2018unlimited\u2019, are not enough to distinguish between two names. However, the addition of a year, number or place may be enough to distinguish company names.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Additionally, your company name cannot contain:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">offensive words or phrases;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">words restricted or protected by law;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">symbols or numbers unless it is appropriate within that context (e.g.\u2018$2\u2019 in \u2018$2 shop\u2019); or<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">macrons, unless the macron is used within a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">M\u0101ori <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">name.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Reserving a Company Name&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once you have determined that your chosen name meets the above criteria, you can now reserve it. This reservation process is available through your online services account and costs $10 (plus GST). After you have completed your reservation application, the Companies Office will process your application within two hours (provided the request is submitted during normal business hours). If your name is approved, you have a 20-day working <\/span>day <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">window to complete the incorporation process for your company.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl fa-regular fa-arrow-down\"><\/i>\n<\/a>\n<div class=\"px-6 pt-10 pb-12 mb-10 text-center bg-gray-100 rounded-b-xl sm:px-12 test\">\n    <div class=\"mb-8 text-2xl font-bold text-orange\">\n        Need legal advice?\n        <br>\n        <span class=\"text-lg not-prose\">\n                            Call <a href=\"tel:+64800005570\" class=\"not-prose\">0800 005 570<\/a> for urgent assistance.\n                <br>\n                Otherwise, complete this form, and we will contact you within one business day.\n                    <\/span>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n\n<div class=\"not-prose flex 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Gather the Requisite Information<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To ensure you can complete your online application efficiently and accurately, it <\/span>is best practice to have <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the following information on hand.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Company Contact Details<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">These details include:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the physical address for your company\u2019s registered office. This address should be the location where you keep your company\u2019s books and records;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">the physical address for service (including where legal documents are delivered to); and<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">an email address used for correspondence.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Tax Registration Details<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can choose to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/business-structures\/how-do-i-find-my-new-zealand-ird-number\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">apply for an IRD number<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or a <\/span>GST number when incorporating your company. You may also choose to do this later or have your accountant undertake the application process. If your company intends to hire<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> employees, you will have to register as an employer when registering for tax.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Directors\u2019 Registration<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">To incorporate your company, you must register all of the company\u2019s directors. To complete this registration, you will need to provide each director\u2019s:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">legal name;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">gender;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">date and place of birth;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">addresses; and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IRD number (only if the company intends to apply for GST registration on incorporation, and only if the director has an IRD number).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once you have completed the application for incorporation, each director must provide and sign a director consent form before the company can be incorporated. This form is automatically generated once you have submitted your application for incorporation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Shareholders\u2019 Registration<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You will also need to register all of the shareholders in the company. The information required for this registration process varies by the shareholder&#8217;s entity type. For example, an individual shareholder will need to provide their:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">legal name;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">addresses; and\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">IRD number (only if the company intends to apply for GST registration on incorporation and only if the shareholder has an IRD number).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Similar to company directors, all shareholders must provide and sign a consent form before the company can be incorporated. Again, this form is automatically generated once the incorporation application is complete.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Company Constitution&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/business-structures\/what-is-a-company-constitution\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">company constitution<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> is a public document that articulates the rights, powers and duties of the company and its board, directors and shareholders. A company does not need to adopt a constitution (unless listed on NZX or is a co-operative company). In the absence of a constitution, the default rules set out in the <em>Companies Act 1993<\/em> apply.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ultimate Holding Company Details<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/business-structures\/ultimate-holding-company-structure\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ultimate holding company (UHC)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> controls your company, you will have to detail this in your application. You must also provide the:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">type of entity that the UHC is;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">name of the UHC; <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">country of registration of the UHC; <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UHC\u2019s registration number; and <\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UHC\u2019s registered address (if any).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">4. Complete the Online Application<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once you have gathered this information, you can now complete your online incorporation application. This application will also require you to pay an application fee, which is currently $114.39 plus GST.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">5. File Consent Forms<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Once this application is complete, you will receive an email from the Companies Office in the space of a few minutes. This email will contain the consent forms that your directors and shareholders will have to complete. Alternatively, you can access these forms on your online services account. These forms must be signed and returned to the Companies Office within the 20 working day window.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the Companies Office approves these forms, your company will be incorporated. You will:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">be sent a Certificate of Incorporation;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">have your company details uploaded to the Companies Register; and<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">receive a New Zealand company number (NZCN) and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/business-structures\/what-is-an-nzbn-and-how-to-apply\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">business number (NZBN)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n    <div class=\"my-7 lg:my-10 border-y-2 border-gray-100 py-7 lg:py-10 flex flex-col sm:flex-row items-start gap-10\">\n                    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"w-52 mx-auto my-0! rounded\" src=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/06\/09144127\/NZ-Due-Diligence-Guide-Cover.jpg\" alt=\"Front page of publication\"\n                 loading=\"lazy\" width=\"208\" height=\"298\">\n                <section>\n            <div class=\"text-2xl font-bold\">Due Diligence Guide for Purchasing a NZ Business<\/div>\n            <div class=\"body-text\">\n                <p>This guide will walk you through the due diligence process when purchasing a NZ business.<\/p>\n            <\/div>\n            \n\n<a href=\"https:\/\/go.legalvision.co.nz\/nz-due-diligence-guide.html\" class=\" block px-5 py-3.5 max-w-fit bg-orange button__hover transition rounded text-white font-bold text-lg no-underline uppercase leading-tight text-center\" target=\"\" rel=\"\">Download Now<\/a>        <\/section>\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The first step to setting up your company is incorporation. To incorporate your company in New Zealand, you will need to:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">set up a RealMe\u00ae and an online services account;<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">reserve a company name;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">complete an online incorporation application; and<\/span><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">file signed consent forms from your company\u2019s directors and shareholders with the Companies Office.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you need assistance with incorporating your company, contact <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/corporate-lawyers-lp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">LegalVision\u2019s corporate lawyers<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">on 0800 005 570 or complete the form on this page.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1615267968239\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What does it mean to incorporate a company?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Incorporation in New Zealand is the process of registering your company on the Companies Register.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1615267989654\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How much does it cost to register a company?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">The incorporation process costs $124.39 (plus GST). This amount is split across name registration and the online incorporation application.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1615268007437\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How do you incorporate a company?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Firstly, incorporating a company requires a RealMe\u00ae and an online services account. Next, you will need to reserve a company name and complete an online incorporation application. You also need to file signed consent forms from your company\u2019s directors and shareholders with the Companies Office.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1615268026666\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>How much does it cost to register a company name?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It costs $10 (plus GST) to register a company name in New Zealand.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Starting a company can be an exciting and rewarding venture. Incorporating your company is the first official step, and you should undertake this step once you have ironed out key logistics, such as the name of your company, your company\u2019s directors and shareholders, and the company type.&nbsp;This article will outline the five-step process for incorporating<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/corporations\/incorporating-a-company\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;Incorporating a Company in New Zealand&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13388,"featured_media":201677,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[115,223,497,668,669],"class_list":["post-203365","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-corporations","tag-nzbn","tag-company-constitution","tag-corporation","tag-incorporating-company","tag-incorporation"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Incorporating a Company in New Zealand | LegalVision New Zealand<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Are you planning to set up a company? Incorporating your company is the first step. Read this article to find out how.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/corporations\/incorporating-a-company\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Incorporating a Company in New Zealand | LegalVision New Zealand\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Are you planning to set up a company? Incorporating your company is the first step. Read this article to find out how.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/corporations\/incorporating-a-company\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"LegalVision New Zealand\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/LegalVision\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-09T05:45:11+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-17T00:50:16+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/img.legalvision.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/11151040\/mildly-useful-sF0WlRsQdok-unsplash.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1181\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"785\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Tayler Berridge-Smith\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@LegalVision_law\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@LegalVision_law\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Tayler Berridge-Smith\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Tayler Berridge-Smith\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6c48ae54ef07bfb9da8c62f8594bd91e\"},\"headline\":\"Incorporating a Company in New Zealand\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-09T05:45:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-17T00:50:16+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1110,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/img.legalvision.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/11151040\\\/mildly-useful-sF0WlRsQdok-unsplash.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"NZBN\",\"company constitution\",\"corporation\",\"incorporating company\",\"incorporation\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Corporate Articles\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-NZ\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":[\"WebPage\",\"FAQPage\"],\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/\",\"name\":\"Incorporating a Company in New Zealand | LegalVision New Zealand\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/legalvision.co.nz\\\/corporations\\\/incorporating-a-company\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/img.legalvision.com.au\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/2\\\/2021\\\/01\\\/11151040\\\/mildly-useful-sF0WlRsQdok-unsplash.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-09T05:45:11+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-12-17T00:50:16+00:00\",\"description\":\"Are you planning to set up a company? 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