Doing Business in Haiti

Do you want to expand your business into Haiti or hire employees there? Here are some key things you need to know about a Haiti expansion.

Haiti Economy Overview

Currency

Haitian gourde (G, HTG)

Working hours

40 hours/week

Public/bank holidays

11 public holidays

Capital

Port-au-Prince

Languages

French and Haitian Creole

Population

12.5 million

Minimum hourly salary

62.50 to 93.75 Haitian gourdes per hour

Tax year

1st Jan – 31st Dec

Date format

DD/MM/YYYY

Misclassification penalties

In Haiti, misclassifying workers as independent contractors instead of employees can lead to tax issues, unpaid social security contributions, and denial of legal protections. Employers may face legal and financial penalties for incorrect classification, making accurate worker classification essential for compliance with labor laws.

Fun fact

Haiti is home to the world’s first successful slave revolt, which led to its independence from France in 1804, making it the first independent Black republic and the second oldest republic in the Americas.

Haiti is a small Caribbean country comprising the western side of the island of Hispaniola, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Its capital is Port-au-Prince, and its official languages are French and Haitian Creole. The country was previously a French colony that declared its independence in 1804. Since then, the country has developed on its own but faced multiple challenges, leading to a UN intervention from 2004 to 2017. From 2004 to the present, the country’s GDP more than quadrupled to reach $21.53 billion in 2023 despite a devastating earthquake in 2010. Although it was faced with predictions of negative growth in 2024, the GDP has already expanded to $24.05 billion this year. The population of 12.39 million continues to strive toward economic improvements and is consistently showing its resilience. If you’re interested in the possibility of doing business in Haiti, read on to find out more about its economy, major industries, and competitive advantages.

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Overview of Haiti's Economy

Haiti has used its own local currency, the Haitian gourde (HTG), since 1813. This currency had a moderate stability of roughly 40 HTG to the USD until 2010, when it started to greatly decrease in value after devastating earthquakes. However, this currency has maintained its stability at 130 HTG compared to the USD for the past year.

Haiti’s economy is moderately large in the Caribbean and Latin American regions. However, due to its large population, it has the lowest per capita GDP in this region by far at just $1,914 per person/year.

Economic Sectors	Contribution to GDP
Services	54%
Manufacturing and other industries	25%
Agriculture	21%

The country ran a big trade deficit in 2023, importing $3.996 billion worth of goods while exporting just $0.896 billion. Still, trade makes up 37% of the country’s GDP and is largely focused on textiles. Roughly 54% of the country’s GDP comes from the services sector (banking, tourism, energy), with 25% coming from manufacturing and other industries (textiles, mining, beverages, butter, cement, detergent, edible oils, and refined sugar), and 21% from agriculture (forestry products and coffee, mangoes, and cocoa).

Haiti’s biggest trading partner by far is the US, and it also has significant trade relationships with Canada, Mexico, The Dominican Republic, Thailand, and China.

Haiti has a relatively young population and workforce. The minimum wage in Haiti is set by industry.

Industry	Minimum Wage (HTG/day)	Minimum Wage (USD/month)
Domestic servants	350 (about $2.60)	72
Many other industries	770 (about $5.80)	158
Highly skilled workers	–	400 to 500

While employers pay 11% on top of a worker’s salary for social security contributions (workers are also deducted 9%), hiring Haitian workers can still be very affordable for most foreign-based organizations.

Taxes

Employer tax: 27%

Social Security Contributions

10%

Health Insurance Contributions

Other Contributions

11%

Employee tax: 10%

Social Security Contributions

6.6%

Income tax

As of the most recent data, Haiti’s personal income tax rates are progressive and structured as follows:

Gross income

Up to HTG 150,000
HTG 150,001 to HTG 600,000
Above HTG 600,000

Progressive tax rate

Business Regulation in Haiti

Each country in the world has its own unique rules for enterprises. The following regulations should give you a good idea of how to start doing business in Haiti.

Registration and Compliance

Launching a new business in Haiti can be quite challenging and time-consuming. According to the World Bank, it can take roughly 97 days to register a limited liability company and start doing business. The necessary steps to do so include:

preparing the company’s articles and memorandum of association
notarizing the company deeds and articles of association
depositing the required initial capital in the National Bank and obtaining deposit evidence
registering with the Direction Générale des Impôts (DGI)
registering with the Commercial Registry at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
obtaining a tax ID number from the DGI and obtaining a business license
obtaining a Professional ID (Carte d’Identité Professionelle) from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
obtaining special commercial books
submitting a declaration on the hiring of personnel to the Labor Ministry
legalizing commercial books by the Dean of the First Instance Court (Doyen du Tribunal) and DGI
registering with social security (Office d’Assurance Accidents du Travail, Maladie et Maternité – OFATMA)
registering for retirement insurance (Office Nationale d’Assurance – ONA)

Taxes and Investments

The corporate tax rate (CIT) in Haiti is 30%. VAT is 10% on most goods and services, and the capital gains tax is 15%.

However, companies can set up in Free Zones where they pay no CIT for 15 years, followed by partial exemptions, and receive customs and import tax exemptions. They can sell up to 30% of their products locally and export their products without paying taxes.

Employment Laws

Employees in Haiti work eight hours a day and 48 hours per week. They can perform overtime of up to 80 hours per quarter and must be paid at least 150% for these extra hours. They should receive an annual paid leave of at least 15 consecutive days per year (counted as two working weeks and three Sundays). Haitians receive 12 paid public holidays per year. Maternity leave is granted for twelve weeks and is currently paid by the employer but will eventually be covered by social security. Paternity leave is not mandated.

Workers should be given between 15 days and four months of notice of termination, depending on their seniority. They normally receive between half a month’s salary and four months’ salary for severance pay, depending on seniority, except in cases of gross misconduct.

Intellectual Property

Copyrights can be registered with the Haitian Copyright Office (BHDA) and last for the creator’s life plus 60 years. Patents can be registered for 5, 10, or 20 years with the Ministry of the Interior and Territorial Communities, and five- and ten-year patents can be extended to 20 years. Trademarks can be registered with the Haitian Trademark Office for ten years and renewed for ten-year periods.

Benefits of Doing Business in Haiti

There are always competitive advantages to setting up a business in any country around the globe. The specific advantages of Haiti include:

Located near to the US market
Highly affordable labor
Free Zones offering tax breaks and other incentives are available
Energy, telecommunications, agribusiness, manufacturing, and construction industries are not restricted for foreign companies as in other countries

Downsides of Doing Business in Haiti

While the benefits of doing business in Haiti are clear, there are also disadvantages to consider when giving a balanced assessment of setting up in this country. The downsides of doing business in Haiti include:

Slow bureaucracy with a lack of transparency
Security issues
Low purchasing power in the domestic market
Natural hazards, mainly hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes

International Expansion Into Haiti

Expanding into a new market can always be a challenge. To make things easier, it’s useful to know the different ways you can start to do business in Haiti. These include:

Haiti Employer of Record (EOR)

The Haiti EOR becomes the official legal employer of your Haiti team. This method is fast and efficient, making it perfect for companies that need to quickly deploy staff on the ground.

An EOR handles payroll, benefits, taxes, and compliance with local labor laws, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities. They may also provide additional services, such as Haiti talent acquisition and visa support.

Learn more about EOR in Haiti

Haiti Professional Employer Organizations (PEO)

Foreign-based companies can also hire Haitian workers to work for them remotely without needing to register entities in the country. They can legally do so by using a professional employment organization (PEO) or employer of record (EOR) to hire local workers on their behalf. This lets them access Haitian employees and their local knowledge, often as a first step to setting up in the country.

Partnering with a professional employer organization (PEO) allows companies to employ local staff in Haiti without the need to establish a legal entity. This approach is quicker and less expensive, making it ideal for businesses testing the Haiti market or those with limited operations. PEOs handle administrative tasks and ensure that companies comply with Haiti regulations, reducing the complexity and risk associated with hiring local employees.

Subsidiary Incorporation

Many foreign companies choose to set up subsidiaries in Haiti. Their most common structure by far is the limited liability company (LLC) or Societe Anonyme (SA) as it is known in Haiti. This structure needs at least three shareholders (one must be a Haitian national) to be incorporated. One of the shareholders can be appointed as the director and does not need to be a resident of Haiti. An SA requires a minimum paid-in share capital of 25,000 HTG (about 190 USD).

Branch Registration

Another popular option for foreign-based companies is to open a branch office in Haiti. Unlike a subsidiary, which is treated as a separate legal entity from its owner(s), a branch office is considered the same as its parent company registered elsewhere. A branch office is directed and defined by its parent, which also has full liability for its activities. The law requires that a Haitian lawyer be used for the incorporation of a branch in Haiti.

Business Opportunities in Haiti

Haiti offers a range of business opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs, despite the challenges faced by the country. The country’s strategic location in the Caribbean, young and affordable workforce, and untapped potential in various sectors make it an attractive destination for businesses looking to establish a presence in the region.

Business Opportunities	Reasons
Textiles and Garment Manufacturing	Low labor costs, duty-free access to the US market, established industry
Agriculture and Agribusiness	Fertile land, favorable climate, opportunities for export-oriented production
Tourism and Hospitality	Unique cultural heritage, natural attractions, untapped potential for growth
Infrastructure Development	Growing need for improved infrastructure, government initiatives to attract foreign investment
Renewable Energy	Abundant solar and wind resources, increasing demand for clean energy, government support for renewable energy projects

Haiti’s textile and garment manufacturing sector offers promising opportunities due to its low labor costs, skilled workforce, and duty-free access to the U.S. market through the HOPE Act. Similarly, the agriculture sector presents potential in exporting crops like coffee, mangoes, and cocoa, thanks to the country’s fertile land and favorable climate.

Opportunities also abound in tourism, particularly eco-tourism and cultural tourism, given Haiti’s rich cultural heritage and natural attractions. Additionally, infrastructure development, including transportation and energy, is a growing sector, fueled by government efforts to attract foreign investment. The renewable energy sector, supported by abundant solar and wind resources, is another key area for growth.

With its young workforce, proximity to major markets, and improving business environment, Haiti is a promising destination for investors willing to navigate its unique challenges while contributing to its economic growth.