Open a consulting firm in Indonesia

Most consulting is open; some isn't

Management consulting (KBLI 70209), IT consulting (62022), engineering consulting (71101 / 71102), and HR / recruitment consulting (78101 / 78102) are 100% PMA-open. Legal services (69100) and notarial services are reserved for Indonesian-licensed professionals — a foreign-owned PT PMA can\'t practise law in Indonesia. Audit services (KAP) require partners to hold an Indonesian audit licence. Tax consulting is open but the consultants themselves need an Indonesian tax-consultant licence (Konsultan Pajak).

Capital and the IDR 10b commitment

Consulting PMAs hit the IDR 10b investment commitment naturally through office, equipment, and working capital — but the commitment is real, tracked via LKPM. Many consulting PMAs underestimate this, register the company, then get LKPM-flagged for under-investment two years in. Plan the capital deployment realistically before incorporation.

Professional licensing on top of company licensing

The PT PMA itself is just the company. The individual professionals delivering services may need their own Indonesian licences — KAP (audit), Konsultan Pajak (tax), Notaris (notary, closed to foreigners), Advokat (lawyer, closed to foreigners), and various engineering / architecture professional certifications (IAI, PII). For some sectors (architecture, engineering), the PT PMA needs at least one Indonesian-certified professional on staff to deliver licensed work.

KBLI codes that fit this goal

Permits you'll typically need

• NIB (basic business identification)

  OSS / BKPM

  Standard for any consulting PMA.

• Konsultan Pajak licence (per consultant)

  Ministry of Finance / IKPI

  Required for individuals delivering tax consulting services in Indonesia.

• IAI architect certification

  Ikatan Arsitek Indonesia

  Required for individuals delivering architecture services — a PT PMA needs at least one certified architect on staff to operate.

• PII engineer certification

  Persatuan Insinyur Indonesia

  Required for engineering consulting; PT PMA needs Indonesian-certified engineers for licensed work.

How much capital and what ownership rules apply

Standard PT PMA: IDR 2.5b paid-up, IDR 10b total investment value per KBLI per location. Consulting KBLIs are universally low-risk OSS classification. 100% PMA-open for management / IT / engineering / HR consulting. Legal services (69100), notary, and Indonesian-only professional services are closed. Audit firms (KAP) need partners holding Indonesian audit licences regardless of foreign ownership.

Step-by-step setup

1. 01
   Confirm the consulting service line you'll deliver maps to a PMA-open KBLI (and not a closed one like legal / notary).
2. 02
   If a profession requires Indonesian certification (architecture, engineering, tax), confirm you can hire at least one certified professional before incorporation.
3. 03
   Incorporate PT PMA — register the consulting KBLI(s) in the deed.
4. 04
   NIB via OSS, NPWP + tax registration.
5. 05
   Apply for any professional certifications individual consultants need (Konsultan Pajak, IAI, PII).
6. 06
   Open + first engagements + LKPM quarterly reports.

Common gotchas worth knowing

• ·Legal services (KBLI 69100) and notary services are closed to foreign-owned firms — a foreign-owned PT PMA can't practise law or issue notarial deeds.
• ·Audit firms need ≥75% of partners to hold Indonesian audit licences — foreign ownership is allowed but governed by separate KAP rules, not standard PMA rules.
• ·Tax consulting is PMA-open but each consultant needs an Indonesian Konsultan Pajak licence (IKPI) to issue tax opinions / represent clients before the tax authority.
• ·Architecture / engineering PMAs that fail to keep at least one IAI / PII-certified Indonesian on staff lose their ability to take on licensed work.

Frequently asked