Opening a company in Indonesia is more accessible than most founders expect — but the order in which you do things matters. Get the structure and the registered address right at the start, and the rest of the process moves quickly. This guide walks through the full path for 2026, whether you are a local entrepreneur or a foreign founder.
1. Choose the right company structure
Your first decision shapes everything that follows: ownership, capital, and which sectors you can operate in.
- PT (Perseroan Terbatas) — a local limited liability company, owned by Indonesian citizens. Lower capital requirements and the simplest path if you have local partners.
- PT PMA (Penanaman Modal Asing) — a foreign-owned limited liability company. This is the vehicle foreign founders use to own and operate a business in Indonesia.
The right choice depends on your business activity and who will own the shares. We break the decision down in detail in PT PMA vs Local PT.
2. Confirm your business activity (KBLI)
Every company in Indonesia must declare its business activities using KBLI codes (the Indonesian Standard Industrial Classification). Your KBLI codes determine:
- whether foreign ownership is allowed in your sector, and up to what percentage,
