Most PNG businesses start informal, and informal businesses are real businesses. But some doors only open with paperwork — bigger customers, bank loans, and many support programs require it.
The usual first steps
- A TIN (Taxpayer Identification Number) from the Internal Revenue Commission — needed for most formal dealings
- Business name registration with the Investment Promotion Authority (IPA) — protects your name and is required for contracts with companies and government
- A bank or mobile money account in the business name — so your records and your money agree
You do not need all of it on day one. Each step opens the next door.
Where this register fits
The PNG SME Digital Hub is open to formal and informal businesses alike — registering here is free and puts you on the national map either way. The database also helps SMEC and its partners design support for businesses exactly at this formalising stage — so being counted matters.