Business
Sociedad anónima under the 1970 Commercial Code
Company law sits in the Código de Comercio (Decreto 2-70). The sociedad anónima is the standard vehicle, and registration runs through the Registro Mercantil, which has moved most filings onto its Ventanilla Ágil electronic counter.
Key rules
- A sociedad anónima needs at least two shareholders and a minimum subscribed capital of GTQ 5,000, a quarter of it paid in.
- Incorporation requires a notarial escritura pública followed by registration in the Registro Mercantil.
- A patente de comercio de empresa and a patente de sociedad are both issued on registration.
- Foreign companies operating locally must register a branch and appoint a resident legal representative.
- Beneficial ownership must be reported to the Registro Mercantil, and banks apply the anti-money-laundering regime in Decreto 67-2001.
Governing law
- Código de Comercio (Decreto 2-70)Company forms, merchants and commercial obligations.
- Ley de Inversión Extranjera (Decreto 9-98)National treatment for foreign investors.
- Ley contra el Lavado de Dinero u Otros Activos (Decreto 67-2001)Customer due diligence.
In practice
Registration also requires a NIT from the SAT, and most businesses need a municipal licence from the relevant municipalidad. Simple incorporations complete in a few weeks; delays usually come from name clearance or notarial defects rather than the registry itself.