COJ launches 10-minute online business registration service

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Entrepreneurs and business owners across Jamaica will soon have a faster, more convenient way to register their businesses, following the introduction of a new online registration system by the Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ), which allows eligible applicants to complete the application process in approximately 10 minutes. According to a release on Friday, the new EZ Registration service, which forms part of the agency’s Go Green, Go Paperless initiative, is designed to streamline business registration through electronic signing, online payments and automated processing. Applications that meet the required criteria can be automatically approved, significantly reducing the time and administrative requirements traditionally associated with registering a business. The initiative is supported by Compete Caribbean through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and forms part of broader efforts to modernise government services, improve Jamaica’s business environment and strengthen access to essential corporate services. Under the EZ Registration system, eligible applicants can complete their business registration online using a reserved business name and a valid Jamaican driver's licence. Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill, said the initiative reflects the importance of digital transformation in building a more efficient and competitive economy. “Every unnecessary hour an entrepreneur spends travelling to an office, waiting in line or navigating an inefficient process is time that could have been spent serving customers, making sales, producing goods or growing the business. That is why digital transformation must be part of Jamaica’s economic transformation,” the minister said. Beyond the new registration platform, the COJ is introducing and expanding several digital solutions aimed at improving customer service and reducing reliance on paper-based transactions. These include electronic certificates and a digital document library, a registration checklist, entity searches and validation, electronic queue ticketing, electronic Letters of Good Standing and the COJ Mobile App. The new services will allow customers to securely store and share business documents, verify registered entities, check outstanding documents and fees, and better manage visits to COJ offices. Chief Executive Officer and Registrar of Companies, Shellie Leon, described the initiative as another significant step in transforming how businesses interact with the agency. “Digital transformation is no longer optional; it is the engine of our future growth. We are continuing to embrace digitisation and automation so that businesses can free up valuable time and resources that can be redirected toward innovation and growth,” Leon said. The latest improvements build on the COJ’s earlier introduction of the Electronic Business Registration Form (EBRF), which reduced the paperwork required to start a business from 58 pages to just eight pages. The expanded digital services are expected to further reduce administrative burdens and transaction costs while making services more accessible, particularly for customers living outside Kingston and Montego Bay who may otherwise face additional travel requirements to access the agency’s services. Karisa Maia Ribeiro, chief of operations at the Inter-American Development Bank, highlighted the role of digital innovation in strengthening Jamaica’s business environment and improving public-sector efficiency. “The tools being launched today are practical solutions that help entrepreneurs spend less time navigating administrative procedures and more time focused on growing their businesses, creating jobs, and contributing to Jamaica's economy,” Ribeiro said. Acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the COJ, Inger Hainsley-Bennett, said the transformation is being guided by the changing needs and expectations of customers. “Our customers want services that are accessible, convenient and responsive. As more transactions move online, our focus is on ensuring that customers can access services more easily while getting the support they need throughout the process,” Hainsley-Bennett said. In addition to improving convenience, the expanded digital platform is expected to strengthen transparency and public access to corporate information. The new services will allow third parties to conduct due diligence on registered entities 24 hours a day, seven days a week, making it easier to verify business information and establish the legitimacy of registered companies and other entities. The increased accessibility of corporate records is also expected to help identify individuals or businesses fraudulently presenting themselves as registered entities, thereby strengthening public confidence in the accuracy and legitimacy of business information. The Go Green, Go Paperless initiative forms part of Jamaica’s wider efforts to improve its ease of doing business and investment climate through more efficient, digitally enabled and environmentally sustainable government services. Compete Caribbean+ is a partnership involving the Inter-American Development Bank, the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Canada. The programme supports economic growth, productivity and innovation across 13 Caribbean countries, with a focus on promoting sustainable and inclusive private-sector development.