Local Advisory Desk · Dhaka, Bangladesh
Local Business Advisor in Bangladesh for Foreign Companies
One English-speaking advisor on the ground in Dhaka who plans your entry structure, coordinates RJSC and Invest Bangladesh Authority filings, sets up tax, VAT and banking, and keeps you compliant after launch. You run the business. We handle the local process.
- Updated for the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026
- RJSC, NBR and trade licence filings
- One accountable point of contact
What Does a Local Business Advisor in Bangladesh Do?
A local business advisor in Bangladesh is an on-the-ground expert who guides a foreign company through choosing an entry structure, registering with the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies (RJSC) and the Invest Bangladesh Authority, getting tax, VAT and trade licences, opening bank accounts and meeting ongoing compliance. The advisor also acts as your local point of contact with regulators, banks and service providers.
For overseas founders and regional managers, the hard part of Bangladesh is rarely the opportunity. It is the sequence: which approval comes first, which document must be notarised or apostilled abroad, which bank will process your inward remittance, and who follows up when a file stalls. Our local business advisory service gives you one accountable person who owns that sequence, from the first call to your first invoice.
BPO Bangladesh works from Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka, and connects advisory with execution: the same team can run your company registration, accounting and regulatory compliance after launch.
Key Facts for Foreign Investors
- Up to 100% foreign ownership is generally allowed in most sectors, except restricted and controlled sectors.
- Three common entry routes: liaison office, branch office or private limited subsidiary.
- Liaison and branch offices need a minimum USD 50,000 inward remittance after registration.
- A private limited company needs at least two shareholders and two directors.
- Investment registrations now sit with the Invest Bangladesh Authority, formerly BIDA.
Updated October 2026
2026 Update: BIDA Is Now the Invest Bangladesh Authority
The Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026 took effect on 20 August 2026. It merged the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) and the Public-Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) into one statutory body, the Invest Bangladesh Authority, which works under the Prime Minister’s Office. The BanglaBiz portal remains the online channel for investment services, while BEPZA and the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority continue as separate bodies.
Many older guides still tell foreign investors to apply to BIDA. Your local business advisor follows the current authority, forms and process, so applications are not delayed by outdated instructions.
Local Business Advisory Services We Provide
Pick a single service or hand us the full setup. Every engagement starts with a written roadmap so you know the sequence, documents and costs before anything is filed.
Market Entry and Structure Advice
We compare a liaison office, branch office and private limited company against your activities, tax position, hiring plans and exit options, then give you a written entry roadmap.
Company Incorporation Coordination
Name clearance, Memorandum and Articles, provisional bank account and RJSC filing, coordinated end to end with your head office.
Liaison and Branch Office Approval
Application to the Invest Bangladesh Authority, planning of the USD 50,000 inward remittance, RJSC intimation and periodic renewals.
Tax, VAT and Trade Licence
e-TIN with the National Board of Revenue, VAT registration (BIN), city corporation trade licence and any sector-specific permits.
Banking and Inward Remittance
Bank selection, account opening, inward remittance of capital and the encashment documents you need to stay within foreign exchange rules.
Work Permits and Expat Onboarding
Visa recommendation and work permit applications for foreign staff, plus the capital and document checks that come with hiring expatriates.
Government and Stakeholder Liaison
Follow-ups with RJSC, NBR, city corporations and other agencies, so a pending file gets attention without you flying in.
Ongoing Compliance and Reporting
Annual returns, statutory registers, tax and VAT filings, and a compliance calendar so deadlines never become surprises.
Liaison Office vs Branch Office vs Subsidiary in Bangladesh
The entry structure decides what you can legally do, how much capital must arrive and how profits leave the country. Here is how the three main options compare.
| Factor | Liaison Office | Branch Office | Private Limited Subsidiary |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it can do | Liaison, market research, sourcing or distributor support. No income-earning activity. | Approved trading or commercial activity. No manufacturing. | Full operations, including trading, services and manufacturing. |
| Main approval | Registration with the Invest Bangladesh Authority, usually granted for 2 to 3 years and renewable, plus RJSC intimation. | Registration with the Invest Bangladesh Authority plus RJSC intimation. Parent company must meet eligibility criteria. | Incorporation with RJSC. Invest Bangladesh registration depends on the activity. |
| Funding | Remittances from the parent company. | Parent remittances and revenue from approved operations. | Equity, preference shares, loans and business revenue. |
| Capital | Minimum USD 50,000 inward remittance after registration. | Minimum USD 50,000 inward remittance after registration. | No fixed minimum. USD 50,000 is expected if you plan to employ expatriates. |
| Legal status | Extension of the parent. Parent carries liability. | Extension of the parent. Income is taxable in Bangladesh. | Separate legal entity under the Companies Act, 1994. |
| After setup | e-TIN, trade licence, VAT registration and any sector-specific licences or approvals. | ||
Sources: PwC Bangladesh, Setting up and doing business in Bangladesh (September 2026); Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the current position before you file.
Which Entry Structure Should You Choose?
Choose a liaison office if you only need a presence for research, sourcing or coordinating local distributors. Choose a branch office if the parent company will earn revenue in Bangladesh from approved commercial work. Choose a private limited subsidiary if you plan to manufacture, sign local contracts in your own name or build a long-term team. Your advisor tests each option against your tax, hiring and profit repatriation goals before anything is filed. Ready to set up a representative office? See our liaison office setup service.
How Our Local Business Advisory Works
Five clear steps, with a named advisor and written updates at each stage.
1. Free Discovery Call
We learn your activity, timeline, budget and who will run the business locally.
2. Written Entry Roadmap
Recommended structure, document checklist, order of approvals and a cost estimate.
3. Documents and Filings
We draft and file. You sign only what must be signed, with guidance on notarisation and apostille abroad.
4. Bank, Tax and Licence Setup
Account opening, capital remittance, e-TIN, VAT registration and trade licence.
5. Ongoing Advisory
Monthly retainer or on-call support for compliance, renewals and growth decisions.
Who Uses a Local Business Advisor in Bangladesh?
- Foreign SMEs testing Bangladesh before a full investment
- Multinationals opening a liaison or sourcing office in Dhaka
- Apparel buyers and buying houses managing local suppliers
- Technology and BPO firms building an offshore team
- Project offices delivering a time-bound contract
- Overseas investors who need a trusted local representative
Why Choose BPO Bangladesh as Your Local Advisor
- One accountable advisor and a written roadmap, not scattered vendors
- Advisory connected to execution: accounting, payroll and compliance after launch
- Payroll processing for your first local hires
- Scoped, written quotes agreed before work starts
- English-language updates for your head office
- Office in Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka
Local Business Advisor in Bangladesh: FAQs
What is a local business advisor in Bangladesh?
A local business advisor in Bangladesh is a Dhaka-based expert who helps a foreign company choose an entry structure, register with RJSC and the Invest Bangladesh Authority, obtain e-TIN, VAT and trade licences, open bank accounts and stay compliant. The advisor also acts as the company’s local point of contact with regulators and banks.
Do foreign companies need a local partner to start a business in Bangladesh?
In most sectors, no. Up to 100% foreign ownership is generally permitted, except in restricted and controlled sectors. A private limited company needs at least two shareholders and two directors, a registered office address and an authorised local representative to handle filings. A local business advisor fills the representative role without taking equity.
What is the Invest Bangladesh Authority?
The Invest Bangladesh Authority is the country’s single investment promotion agency, created by the Invest Bangladesh Act, 2026, which took effect on 20 August 2026. It replaced BIDA, BEZA and the PPP Authority, works under the Prime Minister’s Office and handles investment registrations, approvals coordination, incentives and work permit recommendations.
How much capital is needed for a liaison or branch office in Bangladesh?
A liaison office or branch office needs a minimum inward remittance of USD 50,000 from the head office after registration, to cover setup and initial operating costs. Branch office approval also depends on the parent company meeting the prescribed eligibility criteria.
Is there a minimum capital for a private limited company in Bangladesh?
There is no fixed minimum share capital for a private limited subsidiary. However, USD 50,000 in capital is expected if the company plans to employ expatriates. The proposed share capital is brought in through a provisional bank account before the incorporation application is filed with RJSC.
Which registrations are needed after incorporation?
After incorporation, most companies need an e-TIN from the National Board of Revenue, a trade licence from the local city corporation, VAT registration (BIN) and any sector-specific licences. Factories and regulated sectors need further approvals. A compliance calendar keeps renewals and filings on time.
Can you represent us while our team is outside Bangladesh?
Yes. We act as your authorised local representative for filings and follow-ups with RJSC, NBR, banks and other agencies, and send regular English-language updates. Documents that legally need your signature are signed by your authorised signatories, and we guide you on notarisation and apostille.
How much does a local business advisor cost in Bangladesh?
Cost depends on the entry structure, sector and scope. Setup work is usually quoted as a fixed project fee, and ongoing support as a monthly retainer. You receive a written, itemised quote after a free discovery call, before any work begins.
Talk to a Local Business Advisor in Dhaka
Tell us what you want to do in Bangladesh. Within one discovery call you will know the right entry structure, the order of approvals and what it will cost.
BPO Bangladesh · Suite 610, 5th Floor, Rupayan Shopping Square, Bashundhara R/A, Dhaka 1229 · +880 1711-990020