CAF Management
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Company formation · Casablanca · since 1995

Set up your company in Morocco, without the guesswork

From the legal study to your first year-end close, CAF Management runs your whole Moroccan set-up: registration, registered office, tax, payroll and HR. You deal with one English-speaking point of contact in Casablanca.

Book a call See how it works
Registration
in 4 to 6 weeks
Single point of contact
based in Casablanca
Independent firm
member of the Execor network
Google rating
4.9 / 5
01

Why Morocco

A close, predictable market for UK and US businesses

Nearshoring, regional headquarters, manufacturing for export: four arguments come up in almost every project.

Close to the UK, connected to the US
About three hours’ flight from London and direct flights from New York. Morocco runs on GMT+1, so the working day overlaps fully with the UK and with the US East Coast morning.
Free-trade access
The US–Morocco Free Trade Agreement (the only US FTA in Africa) and the UK–Morocco Association Agreement give duty-free access for most goods, alongside Morocco’s agreements with the EU and across Africa.
Double tax treaties
Morocco has income tax treaties with both the United Kingdom and the United States, covering dividends, interest, royalties and intra-group pricing.
Competitive costs, skilled talent
Payroll and operating costs well below UK and US levels, with a multilingual talent pool in finance, engineering and customer service. Casablanca is an established nearshoring hub.

General information, accurate at the time of writing. It is not personalised legal or tax advice: every situation is confirmed during the scoping call.

02

What we handle

One firm, from incorporation to day-to-day management

Our four departments (Accounting, Advisory, Audit and Payroll/HR) work together, from the first filing to your monthly reporting.

  1. 01

    Legal structuring

    Choice of entity (SARL, single-shareholder SARL, SA, branch, liaison office), articles of association, shareholders’ agreement and governance that fits your group.

  2. 02

    Registration & filings

    Company name certificate (OMPIC), registration, filing with the court registry and Trade Register, tax ID, business tax and social security (CNSS) enrolment.

  3. 03

    Registered office in Casablanca

    A compliant business address with a proper domiciliation agreement, plus mail handling and scanning while you ramp up.

  4. 04

    Accounting & tax

    Moroccan chart of accounts set-up, VAT and corporate tax returns, year-end tax filings, and monthly reporting in English in the format your head office needs.

  5. 05

    Payroll & HR

    Employment contracts compliant with the Moroccan Labour Code, payslips, CNSS, health insurance (AMO) and income tax filings, and the staff register.

  6. 06

    Audit & financial advisory

    Statutory audit where thresholds require it, acquisition due diligence, business valuation and financing advice (leasing, factoring).

03

Process

Your Moroccan entity in 5 steps

You get a timeline at the scoping stage and an update at every milestone. Timings are indicative and depend on the entity type and sector.

  1. 01 Week 1

    Scoping

    In-depth call, review of your business model and flows, entity recommendation, timeline and detailed budget.

  2. 02 Weeks 2 – 4

    Incorporation

    Company name certificate, drafting and signing the articles, capital deposit at a bank, registration and legal notices.

  3. 03 Weeks 4 – 6

    Registration

    Entry on the Trade Register, tax ID, business tax and CNSS enrolment. The company legally exists and can invoice.

  4. 04 Month 2

    Go-live

    Bank account opening, registered office, accounting tools and first employment contracts.

  5. 05 Ongoing

    Day-to-day management

    Accounting, payroll, tax and social filings, and monthly reporting your parent company can consolidate.

Entity types

Which structure for your business in Morocco?

Most foreign subsidiaries are set up as an SARL, the Moroccan equivalent of an LLC or a private limited company. A branch or liaison office suits a test phase. We decide together during the scoping call.

EntityShare capitalShareholdersLiabilityBest for
SARL (≈ LLC / Ltd) Set freely (no legal minimum) 2 to 50 partners Limited to contributions SMEs and operating subsidiaries
Single-shareholder SARL Set freely 1 shareholder Limited to contributions Wholly owned subsidiary
SA (≈ corporation / plc) MAD 300,000 (MAD 3,000,000 if publicly offered) At least 5 shareholders Limited to contributions Larger projects, fundraising
Branch None (part of the parent company) — Parent company is liable Testing the market, delivering a contract
Liaison office None — Parent company Representation and prospecting, no sales

Simplified comparison, accurate at the time of writing. Thresholds, statutory audit requirements and sector rules change: the structure we recommend is confirmed in writing before any filing.

FAQ

Setting up in Morocco: what business leaders ask us

Can a UK or US company own 100% of a Moroccan company?

Yes. The vast majority of sectors are open to 100% foreign ownership, with no local partner required. A few regulated activities (some transport, deep-sea fishing, natural resource extraction) require Moroccan shareholding or prior approval; we check this during scoping.

Do I need to live in Morocco to set up a company?

No. The manager of an SARL or the chair of an SA can be non-resident. A trip is still useful to open the business bank account; otherwise we put the necessary powers of attorney in place.

How long does it take to set up an SARL in Morocco?

In practice 4 to 6 weeks from the company name certificate to entry on the Trade Register, depending on the business activity and on processing times at the authorities (OMPIC, tax administration, CNSS).

What is the minimum share capital for an SARL?

There is no longer a legal minimum for an SARL: capital is set freely in the articles, often between MAD 10,000 and MAD 100,000 depending on the activity and what banks expect. An SA (joint-stock company) requires minimum capital of MAD 300,000.

Which documents will I need from the UK or US parent company?

Typically a certificate of incorporation or good standing, the articles or bylaws, a board resolution approving the subsidiary, and ID for the directors. Documents usually need an apostille and a certified French translation; we give you the exact list at the start.

What is Casablanca Finance City (CFC)?

A status for companies with a regional or international remit, such as regional headquarters, holding companies and financial or professional service providers, with a dedicated tax and foreign exchange framework. We assess your eligibility during the structuring study.

Can you handle accounting and payroll after formation?

Yes, that is our core business. Once the company is registered, our Accounting and Payroll departments take over: bookkeeping, VAT and corporate tax returns, year-end filings, payslips, CNSS / AMO / income tax filings and monthly reporting your head office can consolidate.

What language do you work in?

English and French. Official Moroccan deeds are drawn up in French and, in some cases, Arabic; we explain every document to you in English before you sign.

More services

The rest of our legal support

Contact

Let’s talk about your Morocco project

A free 30-minute scoping call, by video at a time that suits UK or US hours, to settle the right entity type, a realistic timeline and the budget to plan for.

Tell us about your project in 2 minutes

A few questions about your business, your country and the service you need. A member of the CAF team will get back to you to book the call.

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