Colombian SAS formation · guided end to end
Set up your Colombian SAS correctly the first time
Take your business, your idea, your project to the next level.
Forming a SAS in Colombia does not have to be a maze: a free city-aware checklist, bylaws generated from your answers, and published prices, with no "book a call to find out what it costs." No wasted trips, no paperwork errors and, in the vast majority of cases, no notary.
- 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.
What 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.
The 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.
City guide: Bogotá →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.
City guide: Medellín →Cali · Barranquilla · Cartagena · Bucaramanga
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.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a notary to form my SAS?+
No, in the vast majority of cases. A SAS is formed by a private document signed by the shareholders and filed directly with the Chamber of Commerce. Only if a shareholder contributes real estate as capital does that specific contribution require a public deed.
How much capital do I need?+
There is no legal minimum. You can form a SAS with a single shareholder and whatever capital you will actually contribute.
How long does registration take?+
With a complete, correct file, the Chamber of Commerce typically registers in 1 to 3 business days and the RUT is finalized 1 to 2 days later. Delays almost always come from incomplete or incorrect files.
How much does it cost to form a SAS in Colombia?+
Two separate things: the official Chamber fees (registration of roughly COP $75,000 to $120,000 for a small SAS, plus the RUES form at about COP $4,300; the DIAN tax ID is free) and whichever Formaliza package you choose, published on the pricing page. Official fees are formula-based on declared assets and confirmed in your Chamber's calculator.
Can I do everything from abroad?+
Incorporation and the RUT, yes, in cities with confirmed virtual filing (Bogotá and Medellín/Antioquia), provided the legal representative can sign electronically and obtain their own RUT. The bank account, no: every major bank requires in-person or video validation of the legal representative. If there is foreign investment, registration with Banco de la República also applies.
Do I need a statutory auditor or accountant from day one?+
A statutory auditor (revisor fiscal) is only mandatory above 5,000 monthly minimum wages in assets or 3,000 in gross income, a threshold almost no new SAS reaches. You will have basic accounting obligations from the start; an accountant helps, but is not required to incorporate.
Is Formaliza a law firm?+
No. Formaliza is a guidance and document-preparation service with published prices. We tell you exactly what to do, where, and what to bring, and we generate your bylaws from your answers. It does not replace professional legal or tax advice.
How does payment work?+
You pay once through Wompi (PSE, Nequi, or card). Your account is created after the payment is approved; no sign-up is needed to use the free checklist or see prices.
Start with the free checklist for your SAS
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.