How to register the commercial registration of a business establishment in Colombia

If you are going to open a shop, a workshop, or a food venue, there is a procedure that many people leave for later because they think, "I already registered with the Chamber of Commerce." They almost always registered as a merchant, but the venue itself is something else. Here I explain how it works, how much it costs in 2026, and where most people get tangled up.

Quick answer: The commercial registry involves two different registrations: the merchant's and the one for each establishment. The one for the venue must be requested within the month following its opening, at the Chamber of Commerce with jurisdiction over where it operates, and its cost depends on the owner's assets, not on what you have inside the venue.

Two registrations, not one

The commercial registry registers the merchant and, separately, each commercial establishment. According to Article 515 of the Commercial Code, an establishment is a set of goods organized for the purposes of the company: the merchandise, the furniture, the business name, the place where you serve customers. That is why having your personal registration does not replace the one for the venue.

There is one detail that carries weight: having an open commercial establishment is one of the presumptions that you are engaged in commerce. In other words, if you serve the public in a venue, the law assumes you are a merchant. This is not an optional procedure that can be left "for when the business takes off."

Watch out for a gray area: if you only sell via WhatsApp or social media and do not have an open venue, do not assume you need an establishment registration. Ask your chamber if it is necessary in addition to the merchant registration.

When and before which chamber

The deadline is the month following the opening. It is not a flat "30-day" period as many blogs repeat, but rather what is stated in Article 31 of the Commercial Code (Decree 410 of 1971): within the following month. And do not confuse this with the annual renewal from January to March; they are different duties.

A practical detail about dates: as of October 6, 2026, the renewal window for this year has already closed. If you open a venue now, you are not in the renewal campaign; you are doing a new registration.

The registration is done at the chamber with jurisdiction over the place where the venue will operate. If that is not the chamber of your main address, the rate changes: the column for a different jurisdiction is applied, which is higher. The operating guide I reviewed for documents and virtual passwords is that of the Bogota Chamber of Commerce, so confirm with your chamber if they ask for anything different.

What data goes into the application

The request for the establishment indicates:

• Denomination (the business name).
• Address.
• Main activity.
• Owner, and whoever appears in the registry is presumed to be the owner.
• Factor, if there is one.
• Whether the venue is owned or rented.

In its company creation guide, the CCB lists ID, RUT, and RUES form for the establishment, and the online procedure uses a virtual password. If you still do not have a RUT, look at how to get your RUT from the DIAN step by step; it is a separate document, it does not replace the registration.

Two things are requested separately and do not replace the registration: the land use concept and the homonymy check (ensuring no one else has the same name). Do these before spending money on signs.

How much does the registry charge in 2026

Since Decree 045 of 2024, the establishment fees are settled in UVB based on the ordinary assets of the parent company, that is, those of the owner. They have a lower rate if the venue is in the same jurisdiction as the chamber of your main address and a higher one if it is in another. The 2026 UVB is $12.110 as of January 1, 2026 (Resolution 3488 of 2025 of the Ministry of Finance).

This corrects a common error: the base is no longer the value of the furniture or assets linked only to the venue. That rule from Decree 2260 of 2019 was replaced.

The 2026 Confecámaras table (national in scope, published here by the Medellin Chamber of Commerce, it is not a municipal rate) gives these values according to the owner's total assets:

Separately, the merchant registration uses another formula: in the first bracket, up to $78.715.000 in assets, it is $24.220 plus $8.477 per million in assets. Do not add it up by hand with the venue's; the chamber performs the final calculation, which is the one that counts. And be wary of anyone charging you "to manage it": I did not find any source that makes an intermediary mandatory.

Multiple venues and the SAS

Article 515 allows the same person to have multiple establishments. If you already have one shop and open a second, you register the new venue in your name; you do not need to form a SAS for that. Each establishment has its own registration and renewal.

This does not mean that a SAS is a bad idea. It may be convenient for liability or partners, but that is a different decision with other costs, and it is worth discussing with an accountant. What is false is that it is a requirement to have more than one venue.

What this procedure does not cover

To avoid mixing apples and oranges:

• Annual renewal: done in the first three months of each year. I explain it in the guide on renewing commercial registration.
• Venue lease: if the venue is rented, the commercial notice period is a different matter; check the eviction of commercial premises.
• Real estate registration: this is the property deed at the Superintendency of Notaries and Registry, it has nothing to do with commercial registration.
• RUT, land use, and homonymy: separate procedures.

Regarding the consequences of omitting it: Article 37 applies the same penalty to those who do not register the establishment as to those who engage in commerce without registration, with a capped limit cited of up to 17 SMMLV at the time it is imposed. It is not a fixed or automatic fine. The legal text and Law 1727 of 2014 still name the SIC, but the complaints channel currently published by the Superintendency of Corporations receives reports for failing to register or renew an establishment.

Week of October 12, 2026

If you opened the venue recently and the month expires near the October 12, 2026 long weekend: the Commercial Code does not say that this holiday suspends the month mentioned in Article 31, and I did not find official closing hours for the chambers on that date. The online procedure avoids the problem, and if you are going to go in person, confirm the hours at your local branch.

If you also want to offer an office or a venue

With your registration resolved, you might want to rent or sell a space. According to the active listings on Colombia Move (October 6, 2026), there are 9 office listings and 6 commercial listings. If it helps, here I explain how to list an office or commercial space for rent; this does not replace any Chamber of Commerce procedure.

Frequently asked questions

❓ Is the property registration the same as the merchant registration?

No, they are two different registrations. The mercantile registry keeps the merchant's registration and that of each establishment, and Article 515 defines an establishment as a set of goods organized for the purposes of the business. Having one does not exempt you from the other.

❓ How much does it cost to register the establishment in 2026?

In the first bracket, with owner assets up to $78,715,000, the 2026 Confecámaras table lists $48,400 for the same jurisdiction and $97,000 for a different one. Other brackets increase according to assets, and the Chamber handles the final settlement (verify with the official source).

❓ Do I have 30 days from when I open?

The Commercial Code says within the month following opening, not a fixed count of 30 days. That deadline is different from the annual renewal, which takes place in the first three months of each year. When in doubt, make the request as soon as possible (verify with the official source).

❓ Can I register several stores without creating a SAS?

Yes, one person can have several commercial establishments, according to Article 515. Each property has its own registration. Forming a SAS is a separate decision, with different costs and effects, which is worth consulting with an accountant (verify with the official source).

❓ Is the SIC fine automatic and how much is it in pesos?

It is not automatic nor a fixed value in pesos. Article 37 cites a cap of up to 17 SMMLV when imposing it, and the legal text still names the SIC, although the Superintendency of Companies (Supersociedades) currently publishes the channel for complaints regarding failure to register an establishment (verify with the official source).

❓ Where do I carry out the procedure and where do I list the office?

The registration is done at the Chamber with jurisdiction over where the property operates; the Bogotá Chamber of Commerce offers its procedure online with a virtual key. To offer an office for rent, you can use the Colombia Move office category, with price, photos, and address (verify with the official source).

❓ What happens if I don't renew the registration?

Renewal is annual, in the first three months of the year. Being late exposes you to the sanctions of Article 37 and, if five years pass without renewal, Law 1727 of 2014 provides for the purging of the registry, with cancellation of the registration (verify with the official source).