How Much Does a Business Setup Consultant Cost in Saudi Arabia?

By Motaded Limited Team |  June  |  11 min read

The most common question before starting: "How much will a consultant cost me to set up my company?" Most articles avoid giving clear figures and offer loose ranges that are not useful for decision-making. This guide is different: we give you Motaded's published prices explicitly, explain what each price includes, and clarify when self-setup is a reasonable option.

Transparency in pricing is not merely a "value" — it is a criterion that distinguishes a professional consultant from others. A setup consultant who refuses to price their service clearly before engagement, or offers a vague "depends on the case" price, places you in a weak negotiating position later.

This guide reviews: Motaded's published packages for business setup in Saudi Arabia, the differences between each package, separate government fees, and how to choose the right package for your case.

The figures in this guide are Motaded's currently published prices. To verify the latest pricing, review the packages page directly before commitment. Other consultants' pricing in the market varies and may not match what is shown here.

What a Setup Consultant Actually Does

Before discussing price, understanding the actual service scope is essential. A professional setup consultant provides two distinct types of value:

Execution Value: Carrying Out Steps on Your Behalf

• Trade name reservation, drafting the AOA

• Submitting applications on government platforms

• Tracking approvals and responding to requests

• Issuing the Commercial Registration and national address

• Coordinating bank and residency procedures

Advisory Value: What to Do and When

• Choosing the right legal form (LLC, JSC, branch, RHQ)

• Identifying the activity within the unified economic activities list

• Evaluating capital and international experience requirements

• Determining optimal sequencing and avoiding conflicts

• Anticipating future annual obligations

A consultant providing only execution value is in reality a "field employee." A consultant who combines both values is an investment partner. The price difference reflects the scope difference.

Motaded's Business Setup Packages: Three Transparent Options

Motaded Limited offers three published packages for business setup, each with a defined service scope and fixed price. The packages page details what each package covers. Summary here:

The differences between the three packages are substantive:

▸ Basic (SAR 31,300): Full Government Platform Setup

Covers opening company accounts at 12 main government authorities. Suitable for an investor who will serve as their own General Manager, or for a Saudi company that does not need GM residency and whose manager will attend the bank in person.

▸ Pro (SAR 48,600): Field Activation and Account Linking

Adds to Basic the in-person attendance of the GM at the Chamber, actual activation of accounts (not just opening), and electronic linking across authorities. Suitable for a Saudi/GCC investor with a mid-sized company.

▸ Inclusive (SAR 77,250): Complete Package for Foreign Investors

Adds to Pro the issuance of the General Manager residency, opening of corporate and personal bank accounts within 3 working days. This package is most suitable for the foreign investor who needs both residency and a bank account — the two most complex steps in the journey.

Government Fees: What the Consultant's Package Does Not Include

The package covers Motaded's fees for advisory and execution service. Government fees are paid separately to their respective authorities and vary by case:

Separation between consultant price and government fees should be clear before signing. Motaded itemizes the separate government fees in writing for each client before starting procedures.

What Factors Raise or Lower the Price?

▸ 1. Company Type and Legal Form

A single-shareholder Saudi LLC is simpler than a closed JSC with multiple shareholders, a foreign branch with attested documents, or an RHQ with specific executive requirements. Each structure carries different complexity reflected in the service scope.

▸ 2. Founder Nationality

Saudi/GCC investor: does not need a MISA license or residency, so simpler packages (Basic/Pro) suffice. Foreign investor: needs a MISA license + attested documents + GM residency + all complexities. The Inclusive package (SAR 77,250) is designed for this case.

▸ 3. Activity Nature

Regulated activities (healthcare, education, financial activities, media) require additional sector approvals from separate authorities. Each additional sector approval may be added to a custom package at a price determined after case review.

▸ 4. Number of Partners and Ownership Structure

A single-shareholder company is simple. A company with 3-5 partners needs: shareholders' agreement, authority definitions, decision mechanisms. A company owned by other companies (multi-layered structure) needs Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) identification and additional documents.

▸ 5. Geographic Scope

A company with one CR is simpler than a company with branches in multiple regions, each requiring: a national address, Chamber subscription, separate renewals.

▸ 6. Accompanying Subsequent Services

Some consultants offer integrated packages combining: setup + accounting + HR + PRO services. Combining these in an annual package lowers their price in return for ongoing commitment.

Warning Signs in Other Consultants' Offers

▸ 🚩 Unrealistically Low Price

Setting up a foreign company at SAR 5,000 all-inclusive (as sometimes advertised) is not possible. Government fees alone for a MISA license + CR + national address + residency may exceed that figure. A very low price means one of: the consultant is hiding fees that will surface later, or the service is superficial and will leave your file half-finished.

▸ 🚩 No Service Scope Detail

"Comprehensive setup package" without defining: what the consultant covers and does not cover? What happens if the application is rejected? Are annual renewals included? A professional consultant provides a written, clear service scope, as Motaded's packages page does.

▸ 🚩 Unverifiable Guarantees

"We guarantee MISA acceptance in 7 days" or "We guarantee 100% acceptance" — guarantees no consultant can offer because the final decision is the ministry's. A professional consultant guarantees: their execution role in full, correct document preparation, and application follow-up. They do not guarantee government decisions.

▸ 🚩 Full Upfront Payment Requested

A professional consultant divides payment across milestones based on step delivery. Full upfront payment reduces your assurance of service completion.

▸ 🚩 No Official Tax Invoice

A consultant who does not issue Fatoora-approved (ZATCA) tax invoices means: they are not tax-registered (a non-compliant regulatory status), or they do not provide invoices to customers (makes obtaining payment proof difficult for accounting).

▸ 🚩 Company Without an Active CR

Ask the consultant for their company CR. A consulting company without an active CR, or with an expired CR, is a sign of an unorganized status. The consultant is offering you a service they themselves cannot maintain for their own company.

How to Choose the Right Package for Your Case

Choosing among Motaded's three packages depends on three questions:

Question 1: Are you Saudi/GCC or foreign?

• Saudi/GCC → Basic or Pro suffices

• Foreign → Inclusive is suitable (includes GM residency + bank)

Question 2: Do you need Motaded's field presence at every step?

• "I will attend the Chamber and bank myself" → Basic

• "I need a team to attend with me" → Pro or Inclusive

Question 3: How quickly do you want to start operating?

• "I have time to receive residency and bank in stages" → Pro

• "I need the bank account opened within 3 working days" → Inclusive

If your case is complex (foreign branch, Regional Headquarters (RHQ), regulated activity, or multi-layered ownership structure), a custom package is determined after consultation. Book a free consultation to discuss your situation.

When Does Self-Setup (DIY) Make Sense?

Not every setup needs a consultant. Self-setup may be sensible in these cases:

▸ DIY Works for You If...

• You are Saudi/GCC (no MISA needed)

• You are establishing a sole proprietorship with simple professional activity (consulting, design, private tutoring)

• You have prior experience with government registration procedures

• You have time to track 12+ government platforms yourself

• You do not plan to hire foreign employees in the first year

▸ Hiring a Consultant Becomes Necessary If...

• You are a foreign investor (MISA complexity + attestation + translation + residency)

• You will open a branch of an existing company abroad (complex documents)

• You will establish a Regional Headquarters (RHQ) with its specific conditions

• You will operate in a regulated activity (healthcare, education, financial, media)

• You have a multi-shareholder or multi-layered ownership structure

• Your time is valuable (your hourly wage exceeds the consultant's daily cost)

Choose Your Package or Get a Custom Quote

Motaded Limited offers published packages at transparent, fixed prices. The business setup packages page shows the three packages (Basic SAR 31,300 / Pro SAR 48,600 / Inclusive SAR 77,250) with details of what each includes. No hidden fees, no vague pricing.

For cases outside the described packages (RHQ, complex foreign branch, regulated activity, ownership transfer), book a free consultation to receive a custom offer for your case after requirements review.