How is the SECP registration fee calculated?
The fee has a base amount for share capital up to Rs 100,000, plus an extra amount for each further Rs 100,000 or part of it. Electronic filing is charged differently from physical filing.
Where is the SECP fee schedule, and what is the Seventh Schedule?
SECP's filing fees are set out in the Seventh Schedule to the Companies Act 2017. The fee for incorporation is worked out from the company's authorised (nominal) share capital, and it is higher when documents are filed on paper than when they are filed electronically. SECP has revised the schedule more than once, including a large increase by SRO 1806(I)/2024, which is why older fee tables you find online are often wrong.
SECP publishes an incorporation fee calculator on its website. Run your own authorised capital through it before you pay, and keep the printout with your records. If you are still choosing a structure, see business registration in Pakistan.
Indicative fee tiers reported by recent guides
The table below reflects figures reported in public guides at different points in time, not a single confirmed current schedule. Treat it as a shape of how the fee scales, and confirm the exact number on SECP's own schedule before you pay.
| Item | Online filing | Physical filing |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | About Rs 200 to Rs 1,000 | About Rs 400 to Rs 2,000 |
| Incorporation, capital up to Rs 100,000 | Reported figures range from roughly Rs 1,500 to Rs 11,000 depending on the schedule in effect | Typically higher than the online rate |
| Incorporation, each additional Rs 100,000 of capital (or part) | An incremental amount on top of the base tier | An incremental amount on top of the base tier |
Why do different websites quote different SECP fees?
SECP amended the schedule in 2023 (a notice set Rs 2,200 for electronic filing at the lowest tier) and reported a new schedule from 21 April 2025 (Rs 11,000 electronic at the same tier, according to press reports). Some guides still show older figures. We have not verified today's figure against SECP's own schedule, so we do not present one number as final. Check the current fee notice on SECP's eServices portal before you file.
There is a second reason quoted totals differ: some guides show only the SECP government fee, while others fold in a consultant's service charge, a digital signature cost, or both, without labelling the total clearly. When you compare quotes from different firms, ask for the government fee and the service fee as two separate line items, not one combined number. That is the only reliable way to compare what you are actually being charged for.
What else adds to the cost?
- Name reservation fee, paid separately from the incorporation fee in most schedules.
- Digital signature, if required for filing (see SECP online filing); this is a one-time cost that also lets you file future SECP returns online.
- Drafting of the MOA and AOA if you use a professional instead of SECP's standard forms.
- Consultant or filing fee, which varies widely depending on what is included.
- NTN registration, which is free: NTN registration in Pakistan.
- Bank account opening, which is usually free but may require a minimum balance set by the bank.
- Trademark registration, if you also want to protect your brand name: see trademark registration fees.
Worked example: total cost of registering a company
For two founders incorporating a private limited company with Rs 100,000 share capital and filing everything online themselves, the rough building blocks of cost are set out below. Costs will differ for an SMC, a higher capital amount, or a filing done through a consultant, but the same categories of spend apply.
| Item | Who it is paid to | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | SECP | See the fee tiers above |
| Incorporation fee | SECP | See the fee tiers above |
| Digital signature (if used) | NIFT or an approved provider | A few thousand rupees, one-time |
| NTN registration | FBR | Free |
| Bank account opening | Your bank | Usually free; some banks ask for a minimum balance |
| Consultant fee (optional) | Your consultant | Varies by scope; see our fees guide |
Founders who do everything themselves pay only the government fees and any bank minimum balance. Founders who hire a consultant for the whole process add a service fee on top, which usually covers drafting, filing, chasing objections and the FBR and bank steps.
How and when do you pay the fee?
The SECP fee is paid at the point of filing, through the payment method offered inside eServices (typically a bank challan or an online payment option shown in the portal). You generally cannot submit the incorporation application without paying, so budget for it before you start the filing rather than partway through. If SECP raises an objection and you correct and resubmit under the same application, published guides generally describe this as not requiring a second fee; confirm this with SECP if it matters to your budget. A fresh, separate application is a new fee. Keep your payment receipt and the challan or transaction reference, since you may need it if you have to query a delayed confirmation.
How to keep company registration costs down
Choose share capital that fits your plans, since the fee rises with it. Prepare documents completely to avoid re-filing. Read how to register a company in Pakistan first.
- Start with a modest authorized capital and increase it later if you need to, rather than setting a high figure "just in case" on day one.
- File electronically rather than on paper; every published schedule has charged more for physical filing.
- Use SECP's standard-form MOA and AOA for a simple company instead of paying for custom drafting you may not need.
- Get your name and documents right the first time. An objection does not usually add a second fee, but it adds time, and time has its own cost if you are waiting to open a bank account or sign a contract.
- Compare what a consultant's fee actually includes before you pay it. Some quotes cover only filing; others cover filing, the digital signature, NTN registration and the first FBR filing.