Starting a Business in Laos
A practical overview of what’s involved in setting up a business in Laos — from choosing your activity to registering your enterprise and obtaining the right licenses.
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Starting a business in Laos generally involves three stages: (1) confirming whether your intended business activity falls on the Government’s Controlled Business List, (2) registering an enterprise with the Industry and Commerce Sector — directly for non-controlled activities, or after obtaining an investment license for controlled activities — and (3) obtaining any sector-specific business operating license before beginning operations. The exact pathway and timeline depend on your activity, and current requirements should always be confirmed with the relevant authority.
At a Glance
WHO THIS IS FOR
Lao nationals, foreign individuals and foreign legal entities establishing a business in Laos
MAIN AUTHORITIES
Ministry of Industry and Commerce (enterprise registration); Investment Promotion and Management Committee / IPMC (controlled activities)
MAIN PROCESS
Enterprise registration, with an investment license required first for Controlled List activities
KEY DISTINCTION
Controlled Business List activities vs. non-controlled activities
TYPICAL DECISION POINTS
Business activity, ownership structure, whether the activity is controlled
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION
Requirements vary significantly by business activity and are confirmed case-by-case with the relevant authority
Who This Applies To
This guide is relevant to Lao nationals, foreign individuals, and foreign companies establishing a new business in Laos, including joint ventures between domestic and foreign investors. It does not assume every rule applies equally to every investor — some steps (such as investor visas or investment license applications) apply specifically to foreign investors, while enterprise registration itself applies to both domestic and foreign individuals and legal entities alike.
AQQOUNT PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
If you are unsure which category applies to your situation — for example, a foreign individual planning to co-found a company with a Lao partner — this is exactly the kind of question worth confirming before you begin the registration process, since it affects which pathway and documents apply.
Official Information
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Under the Law on Investment Promotion (Amended), No. 62/NA (in force 1 October 2024), general businesses are divided into two categories: businesses listed on the Government’s Controlled Business List, and businesses not listed on it. A business listed on the Controlled List must complete enterprise registration with the Industry and Commerce Sector, then apply for an investment license through the One-Stop Investment Service Office before obtaining a business operating license. A business not on the Controlled List may proceed directly to enterprise registration and a business operating license under the Law on Enterprise, without a separate investment license step.
Official source: Law on Investment Promotion (Amended), No. 62/NA, Articles 32–40
OFFICIAL INFORMATION
Enterprise registration itself is described by InvestLaos as “the acceptance of lawful enterprise establishment for both domestic and foreign individual and legal entity” and as a one-time registration valid throughout the enterprise’s operation. Non-controlled business registration is governed by a Ministry of Industry and Commerce decision; controlled business activities are governed by a separate Government decree establishing the Controlled Business List.
Official source: InvestLaos — How to Do Business in Laos
Note on sourcing: InvestLaos cites the enabling instruments as the “Decree on the Endorsement of the Controlled Business List and the Concession List, No. 03/PM, dated 10 January 2019” (controlled activities) and “Decision on Enterprise Registration No. 0023/MOIC.DERM, dated 9 January 2019” (non-controlled registration). We have confirmed these citations exist on the official InvestLaos site but have not independently read the full text of either instrument, and the current, itemized Controlled Business List itself is not published in full on InvestLaos as of this review — this should be confirmed directly with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce or IPMC for any specific business activity.
AQQOUNT Practical Guidance
AQQOUNT PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
In practice, the single most important early decision is classification: is your intended activity on the Controlled Business List or not? This determines whether you can register directly or need an investment license first, and it is not always obvious from a business’s general description — related activities can be classified differently. We generally recommend confirming classification with the relevant authority (or with AQQOUNT, who can make that inquiry on your behalf) before committing to a specific business structure, office lease, or capital plan.
A second practical consideration is that enterprise registration authorizes you to exist as a legal entity — it does not automatically authorize every business activity you might want to conduct. Certain activities require a separate business operating license from the relevant sector agency (for example, specific licenses apply to financial services, education, healthcare, and other regulated sectors) in addition to enterprise registration.
Step-by-Step Process
The sequence below is a general pattern. Your actual process may differ depending on your business activity, structure, and whether you are a domestic or foreign investor — this is not a guarantee that every business follows exactly this sequence.
01Define your business activity
Be specific about what your business will actually do — this determines which rules apply.
02Check Controlled Business List status
Confirm with the relevant authority whether your activity is controlled or non-controlled.
03Choose your business structure
Individual enterprise, partnership, limited company, or another structure — see our Business Structures guide.
04Register your enterprise
Enterprise registration with the Industry and Commerce Sector applies to both domestic and foreign individuals and legal entities.
05Apply for an investment license, if controlled
Controlled List activities require an investment license from the One-Stop Investment Service Office before proceeding further.
06Obtain a business operating license, where required
Certain activities require a sector-specific operating license in addition to enterprise registration.
07Complete tax registration
Register with the tax authority as part of establishing your business obligations.
08Begin operations
Once registration and any required licenses are in place.
Documents & Requirements
Generally Required
- Proposed enterprise name
- Description of the intended business activity
- Registered business address in Laos
- Identification documents for owners/shareholders (ID card or passport)
- Founding/incorporation documents appropriate to the chosen business structure
May Be Required, Depending on Circumstances
- Investment license application and supporting documents, for Controlled List activities
- Sector-specific business operating license application
- Additional documentation for foreign investors, such as passport copies and — depending on structure — proof of capital or a joint-venture agreement
- Notarized or translated documents, where foreign-issued documents are used
This list is illustrative, not exhaustive. The exact document set depends on your specific business activity and structure, and should be confirmed with the relevant authority before you apply.
Costs & Timeline
The Law on Investment Promotion specifies a statutory timeframe of 25 working days for an investment license relating to a Controlled List business, once a complete application is received by the One-Stop Investment Service Office (Article 36). We have not been able to confirm a current, official processing timeline or fee schedule specifically for non-controlled enterprise registration, and secondary sources suggest this may have changed in recent years (from a previously reported 10 working days to a shorter period under more recent regulation) — we recommend confirming the current timeline and any fees directly with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, IPMC, or AQQOUNT before planning around a specific date. We have not found a current, verifiable government fee schedule for enterprise registration and do not want to state a figure we cannot confirm.
Common Issues
01Activity classification is not always obvious
Similar-sounding business activities can fall into different categories. Requirements may vary depending on the precise activity description used in your application.
02Registration alone does not authorize every activity
Some sectors require a separate operating license even after enterprise registration is complete.
03Foreign-issued documents may need translation or notarization
Requirements may vary depending on the specific document and the receiving authority.
04Structure decisions have downstream effects
The business structure you choose affects registration requirements, liability, and — for some structures — shareholder minimums. See our Business Structures guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I register a business in Laos without a local partner?
It depends on the business activity. Wholly foreign-owned investment is explicitly permitted under the Law on Investment Promotion for many activities, but some Controlled List activities may carry additional requirements. See our guide on foreign ownership for a fuller explanation.
How long does it take to register an enterprise in Laos?
This depends on whether your activity is on the Controlled Business List. Controlled activities carry a statutory 25-working-day timeline for the investment license stage (Article 36 of the Investment Promotion Law). We have not confirmed an official current timeline for non-controlled enterprise registration and recommend confirming this directly with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Do I need a business operating license in addition to enterprise registration?
For some activities, yes. Enterprise registration establishes your legal entity but does not automatically authorize every business activity — certain sectors require a separate operating license from the relevant sector agency.
What is the difference between a Controlled and Non-Controlled business activity?
A Controlled Business List activity is one the Government has identified as having potential impact on national security, public order, or the environment, requiring additional review before an investment license is granted. Non-controlled activities can proceed directly to registration and licensing under the Law on Enterprise.
Where can I find the current Controlled Business List?
As of this review, the itemized current list was not published in full on InvestLaos’s own Controlled Business List page. We recommend confirming the classification of your specific activity directly with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, IPMC, or AQQOUNT.
What business structures are available in Laos?
Common structures include individual enterprise, ordinary and limited partnerships, limited companies (including single-shareholder “sole limited companies”), and public companies, each with different liability and shareholder requirements. See our dedicated Business Structures guide for a full comparison.
Can AQQOUNT handle the registration process for me?
Yes — this is one of AQQOUNT’s core services. We can help confirm your activity’s classification, prepare documentation, and manage the registration process on your behalf.
Related Guides
01Can a Foreigner Own a Company in Laos?
Understand foreign ownership rules and structures.
02Business Structures in Laos
Compare individual enterprise, partnership, and company structures.
04Accounting & Bookkeeping in Laos
What to expect for ongoing bookkeeping and financial statements once the business is registered.
See also: Business in Laos (overview) and AQQOUNT’s Company Registration service.
Ready to Start Your Business in Laos?
Tell us about the business you’re planning to establish. We can help confirm the right pathway and handle the registration process.
Last reviewed: September 2026
Official sources:
- Law on Investment Promotion (Amended), No. 62/NA (2024)
- InvestLaos — How to Do Business in Laos
- InvestLaos — General Investments
- Decree on the Controlled Business List and Concession List, No. 03/PM (10 Jan 2019) — cited via InvestLaos, full text not independently reviewed
- Decision on Enterprise Registration, No. 0023/MOIC.DERM (9 Jan 2019) — cited via InvestLaos, full text not independently reviewed