Accounting & Audit Firm Setup Saudi Arabia | SOCPA & MISA Guide
SOCPA Compliant
Tax Advisory Boom

Establish Your
Audit Firm.

Tap into the Kingdom’s rapidly growing market for Audit, Tax, and Zakat services. We guide you through the complex MISA and SOCPA licensing landscape.

Sector

Professional Services

Licensed
Ownership 100% Foreign*
Regulator SOCPA + MISA
Key Role Licensed Partner
Requirement Prof. License from Home Country
AUDIT SERVICES TAX & ZAKAT ADVISORY FINANCIAL CONSULTANCY BOOKKEEPING VAT COMPLIANCE FORENSIC ACCOUNTING
Choose Your Path

Audit vs. Consultancy

There are two ways to enter the financial market. One requires a professional license (SOCPA), the other is a service license (MISA).

Professional Firm (Audit)

  • Can sign Audit Reports.
  • Requires SOCPA Membership.
  • Must have a Saudi Partner (25% min) OR a Foreign License + 1 Saudi Chartered Accountant.
Ideal For

Big 4, Mid-tier Audit Firms, Statutory Auditors.

Financial Consultancy

  • Advisory, Bookkeeping, Tax Strategy.
  • NO Audit Signing Authority.
  • 100% Foreign Ownership allowed (Service License).
  • Zero Capital Requirement.
Ideal For

Tax Consultants, CFO Services, Outsourced Accounting.

The Golden Era of Tax

15%

VAT Rate

The introduction of VAT created a massive demand for compliance and filing services.

E-Inv

ZATCA Phase 2

Mandatory E-invoicing integration requires tech-savvy accounting consultants.

IFRS

Convergence

Saudi Arabia’s full adoption of IFRS standards requires specialized reporting expertise.

Why Professionals Choose Mehwar?

SOCPA Registration

We assist your partners in registering with SOCPA (Saudi Organization for Chartered and Professional Accountants), a mandatory step for signing audits.

Local Partner Matching

If you need a Saudi CPA partner to meet the 25% requirement for Audit firms, we can facilitate introductions to licensed professionals.

Professional Indemnity

We guide you on the mandatory professional indemnity insurance required for accounting practices in the Kingdom.

Professional Services Div.

Visit Our Office

Discuss your firm’s structure with our experts.

  • Malaz District, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • +966 50 947 9768
  • info@businesssetup.company

Licensing FAQ

Generally, no. Professional companies (Audit) usually require at least 25% Saudi CPA ownership. However, ‘Financial Consultancy’ companies CAN be 100% foreign owned.
To be a partner in a Professional Company, you must hold a relevant professional license (e.g., CPA, ACCA, CA) from your home country and register with SOCPA.
For a Professional Company, there is no specific minimum capital, but you must prove financial solvency. For a Consultancy LLC, the capital is Zero.
Yes. You can start as a 100% foreign Consultancy firm to build a client base, and later restructure to bring in a Saudi partner and apply for the full Audit license.

Setup Your Practice

Choose your license type to proceed.

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