QUOTE BENCHMARK

Compare the price of a usable company, not the price of a signed deed

For a straightforward foreign-owned PT PMA, a professional setup quote commonly falls around IDR 25–75 million. That range may cover structure review, notarial incorporation, legal-entity processing and basic OSS or tax work, but the exact scope matters more than the headline number.

A registered address may add roughly IDR 8–30 million per year. Monthly accounting and tax support may commonly range from IDR 2.5–15 million, depending on transaction volume, payroll, VAT status and reporting complexity. Together, those planning bands create a first-year administrative baseline of about IDR 63–285 million, before staff, commercial rent, immigration, regulated permits, import work or the company’s capital.

The general paid-up capital of IDR 2.5 billion and the investment plan commonly exceeding IDR 10 billion are not setup charges. They belong to the company’s funding and investment position. A clean incorporation may take about 2–4 weeks, while bank, tax and license readiness often extends the practical launch to 6–12 weeks.

The main pricing risk: a low quote may exclude the work that makes the company usable—KBLI analysis, bank evidence, tax access, verified permissions, address checks and monthly compliance.

PRICE CHECK RECEIPT FOREIGN-OWNED PT PMA
PROFESSIONAL SETUP IDR 25–75m

One-time professional and incorporation planning range.

REGISTERED ADDRESS IDR 8–30m

Estimated annual address or office-support range.

ACCOUNTING AND TAX IDR 2.5–15m

Estimated monthly compliance-support range.

SECTOR AND IMMIGRATION Project-based

Permit, import, product, visa or industry-specific work.

FIRST-YEAR ADMINISTRATIVE BASELINE IDR 63–285m

Setup, address and routine accounting planning range before industry-specific costs.

PRACTICAL LAUNCH TIMELINE 6–12 weeks

Planning range when bank, tax and license readiness are included.

PAID-UP CAPITAL Not a service fee

Capital belongs to the company’s funding position, not the consultant’s fee.

Compare the scope: these are estimated market planning ranges, not mandatory tariffs. The quotation should separate provider fees, third-party charges, recurring compliance and excluded operating work.

Every quote should identify the work, the proof and the consequence of omission

Two proposals may both say “complete company registration” while covering very different outcomes. Use this scope ledger before comparing totals. If a provider cannot explain who performs an item, what evidence is delivered and whether it is completed before filing, the price is not yet comparable.

STRUCTURE AND OWNERSHIP

The activity, shareholders and officers must work together

Minimum standard: foreign ownership is checked against the precise KBLI; the cap table, beneficial ownership, director and commissioner are confirmed before the deed is drafted.

Who and proof: founders and filing team; activity memo, ownership chart, identity records and officer authority.

If omitted: restricted ownership, nominee pressure, deed amendment, bank delay or unusable signing arrangements.

DOCUMENT FILE

Foreign shareholder documents must be filing-ready

Minimum standard: passports or corporate records, resolutions, ownership details, translations and certification steps are identified before the filing calendar begins.

Who and proof: each shareholder and proposed officer; accepted copies, translated documents and signing instructions.

If omitted: repeated document requests, legalization expense, missed launch dates or a new quote after work starts.

INCORPORATION AND OSS

The quote must define the legal and licensing outputs

Minimum standard: deed, legal-entity approval, tax number, NIB and the agreed risk-based licensing work are listed by deliverable rather than grouped under “registration.”

Who and proof: notary, provider and company; issued documents and OSS status evidence.

If omitted: a legal entity exists but the standard certificate, sector approval or activity status remains incomplete.

ADDRESS AND TAX READINESS

The company needs a usable address and reporting workflow

Minimum standard: address eligibility, lease evidence, tax access, invoice method, bookkeeping handover and VAT or PKP review are defined.

Who and proof: office provider, tax team and director; address file, credentials and reporting calendar.

If omitted: tax verification trouble, invoice delays, missed filings or a second provider needed immediately after incorporation.

BANK AND FUNDING FILE

Account support is not the same as an account guarantee

Minimum standard: bank selection, beneficial-owner evidence, funding origin, signatory arrangements, business proof and expected transaction profile are prepared.

Who and proof: shareholders, director, provider and bank; KYC pack and meeting support.

If omitted: the company waits for banking after legal work is complete, while launch commitments continue.

POST-REGISTRATION COMPLIANCE

The price must continue past incorporation

Minimum standard: accounting, tax filings, payroll support, investment reporting, license monitoring, annual corporate work and document retention are priced by frequency.

Who and proof: company finance owner and compliance team; monthly calendar, fee schedule and handover process.

If omitted: first-year spending rises sharply and dormant-company obligations are ignored.

The safest comparison is a deliverable-by-deliverable comparison. A provider may reasonably exclude sector permissions or immigration work, but the exclusion should be explicit and priced as an option before you sign.

If two quotes use different labels or one price hides multiple assumptions, pause before choosing the lower total. This is where a neutral scope audit can prevent duplicated work, change orders and an incomplete operating file.

Put competing quotes on one scope

Different labels can conceal missing bank, tax, licensing or compliance work.

A line-item comparison can identify the actual price to reach first usable operations.

Three quote types lead to three different launch outcomes

A founder who only needs a clean legal shell should not pay for complex sector work. A founder with a fixed first-invoice date should not buy a filing-only package. These indicative bands help identify what type of proposal you are reading; they are market planning estimates rather than fixed official charges.

Quote profile Indicative one-time band Usually covers Common gap Best fit
Filing-only Often IDR 15–35m Basic deed, legal entity and limited registration outputs Detailed KBLI work, bank pack, tax workflow, verified permission, accounting Experienced founders with separate local teams
Operational setup Often IDR 25–75m Structure, incorporation, core OSS/tax work and defined handover support Address, bank work, PKP, sector permissions and monthly compliance may remain separate Most service, trading or technology entries with clear activities
Complex launch Often IDR 75m+ project-based Corporate shareholders, multiple KBLIs, regulated permissions, banking and launch coordination Commercial rent, product work, customs, immigration and technical consultants may still be separate Import, F&B, manufacturing, multi-location or fixed-date projects

Do not reject a filing-only quote merely because it is narrow. Reject it when it is sold as a complete launch package. The decision depends on whether the excluded work is already owned by your internal team and whether its cost has been added to the full budget.

The price rises when the file contains more review, evidence or regulatory dependency

A higher quote is not automatically better. It should be higher for a visible reason. Use the pressure map to test whether the extra cost reflects real complexity or generic premium pricing.

Foreign corporate shareholder documents MEDIUM–HIGH PRESSURE
 

Corporate records, resolutions, ownership charts, translations and certification can add time and third-party expense.

Multiple KBLIs or locations MEDIUM PRESSURE
 

Each activity can change ownership, investment calculation, risk level, permission path and the evidence needed to operate.

Regulated sector or technical permission HIGH PRESSURE
 

F&B, health, manufacturing, construction, import, education, logistics and other regulated activities can need specialist documents or inspections.

Fixed launch date and bank dependency MEDIUM–HIGH PRESSURE
 

A provider may need to coordinate contracts, bank evidence, tax access, premises and sector approvals in parallel rather than sequentially.

Simple individual shareholders and open service activity LOWER PRESSURE
 

When ownership, documents, address and activity are clear, a standard professional package is more likely to cover the real work.

Ask the provider to connect every premium to a deliverable, dependency or third-party cost. “Complex case” is not a sufficient price explanation.

A cheap quote becomes expensive at the first missing operational milestone

The cost of an omission is not only the extra provider fee. It can include a delayed contract, idle staff, unusable premises or a shareholder amendment. Track the quote against milestones that matter to the business.

COMPANY EXISTS

Deed and entity approval

A filing-only quote may stop here. The company still may not have a complete tax, bank or license path.

COMPANY CAN RECEIVE MONEY

Bank and signatory ready

The quote should define KYC preparation, meeting support and follow-up without promising bank approval.

COMPANY CAN INVOICE

Tax and billing ready

Tax credentials, invoice design, withholding treatment and PKP assessment should be assigned before the first sale.

COMPANY CAN OPERATE

Permission and compliance ready

The NIB, verified standards, sector work, accounting calendar and employment or immigration needs support the planned activity.

Plan the quote backward from the first invoice, bank target, employee start, marketplace launch or shipment date. Several preparation tasks can run together, but bank submission, tax activation and certain permissions require company documents first. A low quote with no launch owner can lose more time than it saves in fees.

Recurring fees should be priced before the company is incorporated

The first-year budget is often underestimated because the proposal ends at registration. A PT PMA has obligations even before it becomes profitable, and a low-activity company still needs records, filings and corporate control.

MONTHLY

Accounting and tax

Bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, withholding, tax returns, invoice checks and management reporting. Higher transaction volume and foreign payments increase the fee.

PERIODIC

Investment and license reporting

Investment activity reporting, license monitoring, OSS updates and compliance evidence under the schedule applicable to the company.

ANNUAL

Address and corporate maintenance

Office renewal, annual tax work, corporate records, shareholder decisions and any recurring service-provider support.

TRIGGER-BASED

Changes and new activities

Share transfers, officer changes, address moves, additional KBLIs, PKP registration, hiring, visas, customs or new products create separate work.

Ask for a twelve-month fee schedule and the price trigger for higher transaction volume, payroll, VAT, foreign currency, related-party dealings and audits. This converts an attractive setup fee into a realistic operating budget.

A quote that looks affordable at signing may not remain affordable once the company needs an address, bank work, monthly filings and license follow-up. A budget review should test the first twelve months rather than only the incorporation invoice.

TWELVE-MONTH BUDGET CHECK

Add recurring and trigger-based costs before choosing the package

A complete budget review can separate capital, one-time setup, annual address, monthly compliance and project-specific permissions.

Red flags that make a low company setup price unsafe

The problem is not that a quote is inexpensive. The problem is a promise that cannot be explained, measured or delivered lawfully.

“All licenses included” without naming the KBLI or risk level

Why it matters: a NIB is not always the final permission to operate.

Fix before payment: request the exact OSS outputs, verification work and sector exclusions.

“Bank account guaranteed”

Why it matters: the bank makes its own KYC and risk decision.

Fix before payment: define preparation, meeting, follow-up and alternative-bank work without an approval promise.

Paid-up capital is included in the agent fee

Why it matters: company capital should be documented as shareholder funding for company use, not confused with service revenue.

Fix before payment: separate provider fees, government-related charges and shareholder funding routes.

One fixed price for every business activity

Why it matters: ownership, permits, address and technical evidence change by activity.

Fix before payment: require a written activity and KBLI assumption in the proposal.

A local nominee is bundled as the easy solution

Why it matters: legal ownership, bank control, dividends and exit rights can move away from the foreign founder.

Fix before payment: use the lawful ownership route or reconsider the market-entry model.

Founders can compare these warning signs with a broader Indonesia registration package audit before accepting a discount or expedited package.

The same incorporation price does not create the same company in every industry

Providers sometimes quote one standard package before they understand how the company will earn revenue. That is acceptable only as an initial estimate. Once the operating model is known, the proposal should change to reflect the actual license, address, bank and tax path.

Consulting, software and professional services

These projects often fit the standard setup range when ownership is open, the service description is clear and no physical operating license is required. The quote should still cover contract wording, foreign payment logic, withholding treatment, bank evidence and the correct address.

Typical hidden item: tax and bank preparation is omitted because the provider assumes a simple service company will automatically pass onboarding.

Trading, e-commerce and marketplace operations

The price can rise when the company needs wholesale or retail activity, product approvals, warehousing, merchant facilities, marketplace onboarding or a broader transaction profile. The proposal should identify which items are company registration work and which are separate commercial or platform tasks.

Typical hidden item: the quote includes a NIB but not the work needed for product, customs, platform or payment readiness.

Import, manufacturing and physical operations

These projects commonly exceed the standard professional range because premises, customs, environmental, technical, industrial or product work may be needed. Landlord evidence, project location and investment calculations also become more important.

Typical hidden item: the provider prices the legal entity but leaves the factory, warehouse, importer or technical approval path undefined.

F&B, hospitality, health and other regulated services

A broad “license included” promise is not enough. The quote should identify premises conditions, technical approvals, inspection work, product or food requirements, employment needs and the stage at which the business can open to customers.

Typical hidden item: the company is incorporated under a plausible activity, but the location or operational certificate is not ready for opening.

Before accepting a standard package, ask the provider to restate the quote using your first customer transaction, premises, staffing, import, platform and permission facts. A fair price comparison begins only after the operating assumptions are the same.

Score the provider on clarity, not confidence

A polished sales call does not prove that the company will be usable. Give each provider zero, one or two points for every test. A strong proposal should score at least sixteen out of twenty before price becomes the deciding factor.

Comparison test 0 points 1 point 2 points
Activity and KBLI logic No written assumption Codes listed only Revenue, ownership and permission logic explained
Deliverables “Complete package” only Some outputs named Every output, owner and completion point named
Third-party charges Hidden or bundled Partially separated Provider, notary, office and government-related items separated
Timeline One optimistic date Incorporation stages only Document, legal, bank, tax and license milestones separated
Bank support Approval promised Introduction only KYC pack, meeting and follow-up scope defined
Tax and accounting Not discussed Monthly fee given Scope, volume bands, VAT, payroll and handover defined
Change orders No rule Hourly or case-by-case Price triggers and approval process stated
Capital handling Mixed with service fees Separated verbally Shareholder funding path and company use documented
Post-registration owner No handover Documents delivered Credentials, calendar, open items and compliance owner documented
Risk language Everything guaranteed General disclaimers Assumptions, authority decisions and provider limits explained

A score below sixteen does not automatically disqualify a low-cost provider, but it means the buyer must own the missing analysis and operations. Compare this score with the detailed full PT PMA setup cost breakdown and the broader Indonesia company registration path before signing.

The final comparison should fit on one page

Before approval, rewrite every proposal into the same seven lines: pre-filing analysis, legal incorporation, OSS and licenses, address, bank, tax and recurring compliance. Add third-party charges, exclusions, payment stages and the milestone at which each item is complete.

Price Separate one-time, annual, monthly, project-based and company capital.
Scope Name every output and every exclusion in plain English.
Assumptions Confirm shareholders, KBLI, address, risk level, launch date and transaction model.
Dependencies Show what requires company documents, bank action, landlord evidence or authority approval.
Completion test Define whether completion means entity approved, bank ready, invoice ready or operation ready.
Change control Set the approval and price process when facts change.
First-year total Add address, accounting, reporting, payroll, immigration and likely amendments.

The best quote is not always the lowest or the most expensive. It is the proposal whose scope, assumptions and recurring cost match the business that will actually operate.

FINAL QUOTE DECISION

Choose the quote that reaches your first usable business day

A low price can be right when your team owns the excluded work. It is dangerous when the proposal hides bank, tax, licensing or first-year compliance behind the word “complete.”

A structured comparison can normalize the prices, identify missing work and show the full cost from filing to lawful operation.

  • Normalize one-time and recurring prices
  • Separate capital from provider fees
  • Identify omitted bank, tax and license work
  • Map the cost to first invoice and operation readiness