Legal & Business Setup

Foreign-owned businesses in Indonesia must be a PT PMA, and setting one up means getting the KBLI business codes, capital thresholds and ownership caps right from day one.

Corporate services firms handle the mechanics: deed, Ministry of Law approval, NIB and OSS licensing, bank account and ongoing filings. Law firms add contracts, joint ventures, due diligence, IP, employment disputes and litigation.

For a simple trading or consulting entity, a corporate services firm is faster and cheaper. For a joint venture, an acquisition or a likely dispute, use a licensed Indonesian lawyer.

Choosing a firm: in Kuningan, InCorp Indonesia (formerly Cekindo, AXA Tower) and Emerhub (Satrio Tower) both list PT PMA registration and licensing alongside accounting, tax, work permits and virtual offices. In Cilandak, Bizindo at South Quarter covers PT PMA, local PT and representative office registration, corporate bank accounts and sworn translation. For contracts, due diligence, M&A, IP or a dispute, Kusuma & Partners at One Pacific Place in SCBD combines corporate lawyers with tax consultants. For larger transactions, HHP Law Firm, the Indonesian member firm of Baker McKenzie at Pacific Century Place in SCBD, lists corporate M&A, employment, competition, customs, disputes and tax among its practices.

Once the company exists, staff still need permits: see Visa & Immigration for KITAS agents and immigration offices, Tax & Accounting for monthly bookkeeping and tax filings, and Business Consulting for market-entry advice.