Company Setup · Business & Trade

How to register a sole proprietorship in Pakistan

A sole proprietorship is registered with FBR, not SECP: add your business to your NTN on IRIS (Form 181), then open a business bank account. Full steps.

By Ahtisham Imtiaz · Updated · 3 min read

Register with
FBR (IRIS)
Form
Form 181
Your NTN
Your CNIC
FBR fee
None listed
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AI Summary

In Pakistan you register a sole proprietorship with FBR, not SECP. On the IRIS portal, register as an individual (your CNIC is your NTN) and fill in the Business tab of Form 181 with the business name, activity and address; if you already have an NTN, add the business through Form 181 filed for modification. FBR lists no fee. To open a business bank account, banks need your CNIC plus one proof of the business, such as your NTN certificate or a declaration on letterhead.

You register a sole proprietorship with FBR, not SECP. On FBR’s IRIS portal you register as an individual (your CNIC is your NTN) and add your business name, activity and address on Form 181. If you already have an NTN, you add the business to it. FBR lists no fee. Then you open a business bank account with your CNIC and proof of the business.

Do I register with SECP?

No. SECP registers companies and limited liability partnerships. A sole proprietorship is simply you, trading under your own NTN, so FBR registration is what makes it official. FBR’s document lists ask companies, partnerships and trusts for registration papers, but nothing extra for an individual’s business. If you’re weighing a company instead, see business structures compared.

How do I register, step by step?

If you don’t have an NTN yet:

  1. Get ready: a SIM registered in your own name, a personal email, a scanned personal bank account certificate, proof you own or rent the business premises, and a paid utility bill for the premises no older than 3 months.
  2. Register on IRIS as an individual. See how to get an NTN for the sign-up steps.
  3. On Form 181, fill in the Business tab: business name and principal activity.
  4. In the Address tab, enter the business address and link it to the business. IRIS won’t let you submit until you do.
  5. Submit.

If you already have an NTN: log in to IRIS, go to Registration, then 181 (Form of Registration filed for modification), pick the current tax year, add the business and its address, and submit. FBR lets you add a business address and branches online. Closing a business needs a visit to your Regional Tax Office.

How do I open a business bank account?

Banks follow the State Bank’s minimum list. For a sole proprietorship they need your CNIC plus any one of:

  • a registration certificate, if the business is registered
  • your NTN or sales tax registration certificate
  • proof of membership of a trade body
  • a declaration of sole proprietorship on business letterhead
  • an account-opening request on business letterhead

This list is from National Bank of Pakistan and MCB Islamic Bank, which both reproduce the State Bank’s minimum. Your bank may ask for more.

What about a sole proprietor certificate?

There’s no separate government certificate. Your FBR registration certificate showing the business is the usual proof. See how to download your NTN certificate.

What else might I need?

  • A trademark to protect your business name: IPO-Pakistan lists Rs 3,000 per class for an application (as of October 2026). See trademark registration.
  • Sales tax registration if you manufacture, import, sell wholesale or sell goods online. See what an STRN is.
  • An income tax return every year, now that you have an NTN.

More guides: Company Setup.

Questions people ask

How do I register a sole proprietorship with FBR?

Register on IRIS as an individual (your CNIC is your NTN) and fill in the Business tab of Form 181 with the business name, activity and address, linking that address to the business. If you already have an NTN, add the business through Form 181 filed for modification.

What is a sole proprietor certificate?

There's no separate government certificate for a sole proprietorship. Your FBR registration (NTN) certificate showing the business name is the usual proof, and banks also accept a declaration of sole proprietorship on business letterhead.

Do I need SECP registration for a sole proprietorship?

No. SECP registers companies and LLPs. A sole proprietorship is you trading under your own NTN, so FBR registration is what makes it official.

What do I need to open a sole proprietorship bank account?

Your CNIC plus any one of: a registration certificate if the business is registered, your NTN or sales tax certificate, proof of trade-body membership, a declaration of sole proprietorship on business letterhead, or an account-opening request on business letterhead.

Can a bank refuse my account because I don't have an NTN yet?

In 2016 the State Bank told banks that a missing NTN should not be a reason to refuse service, and that sole proprietors' accounts can be opened with the NTN supplied later.

Sources

  1. Requirements before Registration, FBR (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
  2. Registration process, FBR (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
  3. Change Your Personal Details, FBR (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
  4. IRIS FAQs, FBR (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
  5. List of documents required for account opening, National Bank of Pakistan (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
  6. Minimum documents to be obtained for identification of customer, MCB Islamic Bank (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
  7. State Bank eases norms; NTN not mandatory to open bank account, The News (accessed 7 Oct 2026)
  8. Trademark Fee & Forms, IPO-Pakistan (accessed 7 Oct 2026)

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