Formalities for the operation of your business

When opening a commercial establishment, it is necessary to comply with a series of formalities and legal requirements that ensure its correct operation in compliance with the regulations in force. These procedures not only guarantee the legality of the business, but also protect both owners and customers.

Below, you will find some of the procedures that you must carry out to start up your business successfully and smoothly.

If you are a taxpayer of district taxes such as the industry and commerce tax (ICA) and its complementary tax of notices and boards, you and your company are identified and classified by registering in the RIT.

For start your application, please take into account the following: In Bogota: This procedure is carried out with the information you report at the time of registration. Outside Bogota: Check with the Treasury Department of your municipality if it has an agreement with the Bogota Chamber of Commerce for registration in the RIT.

Find out about the permitted use of the property, premises or building where your business is located.

For you start your application, please take into account the following: Formalities In Bogota: Issued by the District Planning Secretariat. Outside Bogota: Consult with the Planning Secretariat of your municipality about the steps to follow.

You must validate if the property meets the conditions for a quick and safe evacuation by means of the Fire Department's Technical Report, through a visit to the commercial establishment. For you carry out the procedure, take into account the following: In Bogota: It is issued by the Special Administrative Unit of the Official Fire Department of Bogota. Outside Bogota: Check with the Fire Department of your municipality which are the steps to follow.

Find out what health requirements your business must meet in order to operate if you manufacture, process, prepare, package, store, transport, distribute and market food and food raw materials. In this case, you must manage the medical certifications of the personnel and the food handling courses. For you carry out your procedure, take into account the following: In Bogota: Consult with the District Health Secretariat for the issuance of the sanitary concept. Outside Bogota: Check with the Secretary of Health of your municipality which are the steps to follow for the issuance of the sanitary concept.

Playing a certain audiovisual work in your business generates the payment of royalties. For doing this procedure, please take into account the following: In Bogota and Outside Bogota: Check the website of the National Directorate of Copyrights to find out which entities are authorized to collect the contribution, according to the type of work you use in your establishment.

If you have employees in your company, it is important that you affiliate your business to a Family Compensation Fund to guarantee your workers' access to the benefits of family subsidies, education, recreation and social welfare. In Bogotá and Cundinamarca you can choose from the following Cajas de Compensación:

• CAFAM

• COLSUBSIDIO

• COMPENSAR

• COMFACUNDI Remember that affiliation to a Compensation Fund is a mandatory requirement for employers and must be done at the beginning of the labor relationship with your workers.

For more information on this and other topics related to the Social Protection System, consult the Ventanilla Única Empresarial (VUE)