If you are thinking of starting a business in Costa Rica, such as importing products, its necessity to obtain a commercial license in order to operate legally in the country.

A commercial license is an official document that authorizes an individual or legal entity to carry out a commercial activity in the country. To obtain it, it is important to comply with certain requirements established by the competent authorities, such as the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), in order to guarantee that the commercial activity will be carried out in a legal and safe manner for consumers and the community in general. It is essential to take into consideration that in some cases, depending on the activity to be carried out or the product to be handled, the authorities may issue permits and specific requirements to comply with all that is stipulated by Costa Rican regulations.

Some of the reasons why it is important to have a commercial license are as follows:

1. Legality: Allows you to operate your business legally. Without this license, you could face sanctions and fines.
2. Safety: Obtaining a business license involves complying with a series of requirements and regulations. These are designed to protect consumers, which provides security and confidence to your customers and third parties.
3. Credibility: It can increase the credibility and trustworthiness of your business. This is because obtaining this license means that you have complied with all the necessary requirements to carry out this activity.
4. Competitiveness: It can help keep your business competitive in the marketplace. Most consumers prefer to do business with companies that operate legally and comply with the necessary regulations, which helps increase your company’s opportunities for development and growth.

In order to obtain a commercial license, it is necessary to follow several steps, such as identifying the activity to be carried out and the requirements established by the Costa Rican authorities, obtaining all the necessary documentation such as, for example, plans of the commercial premises. Once you have this information, you must submit the formal procedure, pay the corresponding fees, and wait for the review and approval of the license.  For example, if you are importing products from abroad, you must follow specific procedures before the General Directorate of Customs (Dirección General de Aduanas) and the Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud) to obtain the commercial license.

It is important to take into consideration that the process of obtaining a Business License can be complex and vary according to the type of activity you wish to carry out. For this reason, it is essential to have the legal advice of a specialist in the subject. A lawyer, besides advising you in the whole process of obtaining the Commercial License, helps you to make sure that all the requirements and regulations necessary to operate legally in the country are fulfilled. Undoubtedly, having a proper legal advice can help you avoid legal and financial problems in the long run and make sure that your business develops in a solid and sustainable way.

If you require advice on this matter, at ERP Lawyers we have a team of lawyers specialized in this area ready to provide you with the best assistance. For more information do not hesitate to contact us by e-mail at info@erplawyers.com.