Financial Licensing & Brokerage Setup

Serious financial services operators need proper licensing. The right jurisdiction delivers a clear regulatory framework, legitimate tax efficiency, and banking partners who actually understand the industry. We guide you through every step — from incorporation to live trading.

Mauritius Investment Dealer Licence

The Mauritius forex licence is officially an Investment Dealer Licence, issued by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) under the Securities Act 2005. Two categories matter for most operators:

• Investment Dealer (Broker) — agent model, routing orders to liquidity providers. Minimum capital: MUR 700,000.
• Investment Dealer (Full Service Dealer) — principal model, dealing desk, CFDs, market risk. Minimum capital: MUR 1,000,000.

Processing fees: MUR 5,000–100,000. Annual fees: MUR 60,000–290,000. You need a Global Business Corporation incorporated through a licensed Management Company, at least two resident directors, genuine local substance, and full AML/CFT systems with a designated MLRO.

Seychelles Securities Dealer Licence

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) under the Securities Act 2007 offers two paths:

• Securities Dealer License — full brokerage operations, dealing desk or STP, CFDs, forex, holding and trading client funds.
• Investment Advisor License — advisory-only operations without handling client money.

Minimum capital: $50,000 deposited in your company account (working capital — not a fee). Corporate tax rate: 1.5% on licensed financial entities. Annual ICAAP submission, local auditor, and qualified Compliance Officer required.

Choosing the Right Jurisdiction

The old playbook of unlicensed offshore operations is gone. FATF, OECD, and connected banking networks have transformed the landscape. Even well-intentioned operators running unlicensed financial businesses find themselves unable to open bank accounts or onboard payment processors.

The right jurisdictions offer strong regulation, reasonable costs, genuine international credibility, and banking partners that actually want to work with licensed businesses. We break down your options jurisdiction by jurisdiction — with real costs, real timelines, and honest assessments.