A Société Anonyme (SA) is a type of business structure that is equivalent to a public limited company (PLC) in the UK or a corporation in the US1. It is designed for larger companies and is suitable for raising capital from numerous investors. The SA structure limits the owners’ personal liability and allows the company to be recognized as a legal entity that can own property, enter contracts, and be held liable for its actions

A SARL (Société à Responsabilité Limitée) is a type of private company in French-speaking countries, similar to a limited liability company (LLC) in the United States. It is characterized by having limited liability for its shareholders, meaning that their personal assets are protected and only the company’s assets can be used to pay off debts.

An Economic Interest Group (GIE), also known as an Economic Interest Grouping (EIG), is a consortium of related businesses, companies, foundations, organizations, or institutes that formally pool their efforts for competitive advantage. Unlike for-profit entities, a GIE operates for collective, public, or social benefit rather than generating profits for its owners1. It serves as an intermediate structure between a company and a partnership, allowing members to collaborate on specific activities.

When an individual entrepreneur sets out to set up a business in Senegal, he must go to the Business Creation Support Office (BCE) with all the documents necessary for the incorporation of his business. Once these documents are in hand, they must wait 24 hours to be able to collect the various certificates required for