Colombian SAS formation · guided end to end
Take your business, your idea, your project to the next level.
Form your Colombian SAS right the first time: no wasted trips, no paperwork errors, no guessing what comes next. Free checklist, generated documents, and published prices, with no "book a call to find out what it costs."
- Formed by private document, no notary in the vast majority of cases
- No minimum capital, one shareholder is enough
- Chamber registration: typically 1 to 3 business days with a correct file
The most expensive myth: "you need a notary to form a company"
False in the vast majority of cases. A SAS is formed by private document (documento privado): shareholders sign the bylaws and file directly with the Chamber of Commerce, no public deed involved. The one real exception is when a shareholder contributes real estate as capital, and even then only that specific contribution requires a public deed, not the whole incorporation.
Formalize, or keep operating as an individual?
Formalizing isn't mandatory for everyone from day one. Here's the honest comparison: know what you're choosing.
| Stay informal (persona natural) | Formalize as a SAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Paperwork to start | None | Private document plus Chamber registration (1 to 3 business days) |
| Costs | Zero: no formation fees, no renewals | Registration fees and an annual renewal |
| Your personal assets | Exposed: they answer for business debts | Protected: liability is limited to what you invested |
| Investors and shares | You can't issue shares or take on investors | You can issue shares and take on investors |
| E-invoicing | No formal invoices: corporate and government clients are out of reach | Valid invoices for companies and public entities |
| Credit and banking | Very limited access to business credit | Business banking and business credit |
| Contracts and procurement | Limited to informal agreements | Formal contracts and public procurement |
| Accounting | No formal accounting obligations | Basic accounting obligations from day one |
Our job isn't to push you into formalizing. It's to make sure that if you do, you do it right the first time.
The actual process, in 5 steps
- 1
Check the name
Confirm at rues.org.co that the name you want is available nationwide.
- 2
Draft the bylaws
A private document signed by the shareholders. No notary (unless real estate is contributed).
- 3
File with your regional Chamber of Commerce
Mercantile registration + RUES form + tax-responsibilities annex. The old separate Pre-RUT step no longer exists; it was eliminated nationally.
- 4
Finalize the NIT/RUT with DIAN
Registering the tax ID with DIAN is free and typically takes 1 to 2 additional business days.
- 5
Open the bank account
With the certificate of existence and legal representation plus the RUT. Requires in-person or video validation.
With a complete, correct file, the Chamber typically registers in 1 to 3 business days, and the RUT follows 1 to 2 days later. What actually causes delays isn't the system: it's an incomplete or incorrect file. That's why we exist.
Verified as of August 2026What it costs (official fees, approximate)
| Mercantile registration (small SAS)Formula-based on declared assets | ≈ COP $75,000 to $120,000 |
| RUES form | ≈ COP $4,300 |
| NIT registration with DIAN | Free |
| Post-registration certificates (existence and legal representation) | A few thousand pesos each |
Fees change yearly and depend on the assets you declare. Always check the exact amount in your Chamber's official fee calculator before filing; we point you to the right one for your city.
What about a statutory auditor (revisor fiscal)? Only mandatory above 5,000 monthly minimum wages (SMMLV) in assets or 3,000 in gross income, a threshold almost no new SAS reaches.
Verified as of August 2026The bank account: what nobody tells you upfront
Today, no major Colombian bank opens a business account 100% remotely. Bancolombia, Davivienda/DAVIbank, BBVA, and AV Villas all require the certificate of existence and legal representation, the RUT, and in-person or video validation of the legal representative. Minimum opening deposits vary widely: from COP $0 (Davivienda/DAVIbank) and COP $100,000 (Bancolombia) up to COP $5,000,000 (BBVA). Better to know now than to find out at the branch.
Why now
On August 18 and 19, 2026, the government filed the Proyecto de Ley de Competitividad (Competitiveness Bill) in Congress, explicitly aimed at cutting red tape for business formation: a proposed single digital business file (Expediente Único Empresarial Digital) so agencies stop re-requesting documents they already have, an exemption from the fire-department technical inspection fee for micro-enterprises, and faster construction permitting. It is a bill: it has not passed, and none of its benefits are active today. We track it closely and will update this guide if it becomes law.
Where is the fully virtual process available?
Chambers of Commerce are regional, not national. The exact path depends on where you'll operate.
Bogotá D.C.
Bogotá Chamber of Commerce (CCB): Constitución SAS Virtual tool, integrated with the single business window (VUE). Up to 10 shareholders, standard proforma bylaws, e-signature.
Medellín + Antioquia
Medellín Chamber of Commerce for Antioquia (CCMA): virtual SAS filing tool. Covers Medellín plus 100+ Antioquia municipalities, including Bello, Itagüí, Envigado, Sabaneta, Rionegro, and Guarne.
Cali · Barranquilla · Cartagena · …
Another city? We're verifying virtual availability with your Chamber. Write to us and we'll confirm the exact path before you pay anything.
¿Fundador colombiano?
Toda esta guía existe también en español, escrita para fundadores que dan su primer paso hacia la formalización.
Start with the free checklist
Answer 4 questions and we'll tell you exactly which steps apply in your city, which are 100% online, and what to bring when something requires a visit. No sign-up, no email, no commitment.
We answer every email. If your case isn't covered by the guide, that's exactly what we want to hear about.