Fractional CFO services in the Dominican Republic

Free trade zones

Dominican Republic free trade zones offer 0-3.5% effective corporate tax rates, customs benefits and simplified mechanics for export-oriented operations. Cibao, Santo Domingo and various provincial zones host significant BPO, software and tech-services operations.

Banco BHD and BanReservas

Banreservas, BHD and Banco Popular Dominicano anchor SME lending in the DR. State development banking via PROMIPYME and Banco de Reservas-administered programmes provides subsidised SME credit.

ProDominicana and CNC

ProDominicana (Center for Export and Investment) and CNC (National Competitiveness Council) administer programmes for innovation, exports and SME competitiveness. The main public-sector non-dilutive sources.

Dominican VC ecosystem

The DR's VC scene is small and emerging. Most material venture activity involves cross-border participation from regional Latin American Pacific Alliance funds and US investors. Local family offices participate at growth stage.

Dominican angel ecosystem

Small but active angel scene anchored by regional family offices and the growing tech alumni base. Networks include Endeavor República Dominicana.

Cross-border venture debt

Domestic venture debt is limited. Cross-border providers operate occasionally via Latin American or US arms. Banco BHD and BanReservas provide standard SME working capital and growth lending.

Standard stock options

Dominican stock options are typically taxed at exercise as employment income at marginal rates. Less favourable than UK or Western European regimes; structuring around grant pricing matters.

Offshore (Delaware) ESOPs

Most venture-backed Dominican startups operate via a Delaware holding parent over Dominican operating subsidiaries. ESOPs at the offshore parent benefit from cleaner cap-table mechanics.

Phantom shares and SARs

Cash-settled equity-like instruments are widely used. Taxed as employment income at payout.

Restricted Stock Units (RSUs)

Used at later-stage Dominican companies, particularly Delaware-parent structures with US investors. Taxed as employment income at vesting at marginal rates for Dominican-resident employees.

Option valuation

Dominican startups typically peg option strike values to the price of the most recent priced round (often in USD via the offshore parent).

Reporting and DGII

Option exercises flow through Dominican payroll for income tax (ISR) and TSS (social security) contributions. Annual employer reporting required.

Accounting

• •Local Dominican accounting platforms - common at SMEs and accounting firms.
• •QuickBooks Online or Xero - widely used by internationally-facing Dominican companies.
• •NetSuite - for late-stage companies needing multi-entity consolidation.

Payroll

• •Local Dominican payroll providers - common at accounting firms.
• •Deel or Remote - for hiring contractors and staff outside the Dominican Republic.

Business banking

• •Banreservas, Banco Popular or BHD - for treasury, FX and traditional debt facilities.
• •Scotiabank Dominicana - alternative with strong corporate coverage.
• •Mercury - for Dominican founders with a US C-corp parent.
• •Wise Business - for multi-currency operations.

Cap table & equity admin

• •Carta - for Dominican venture-backed companies (typically with Delaware parent).
• •Pulley - strong alternative.
• •Ledgy - alternative with cross-border coverage.

Expenses & corporate cards

• •Clara - Latin America-wide spend management platform.
• •Brex or Ramp - for Dominican founders with US C-corp parent.
• •Local Dominican corporate cards via Banreservas, Banco Popular or BHD.