An architecture consulting firm in Indonesia is a business entity that provides architectural planning, design, and construction supervision services, as governed by Law No. 6 of 2017 on Architects. For a foreign investor or expatriate architect, setting one up involves two parallel tracks: company legality (deed, business license, activity code) and professional legality for the licensed architect who signs off on the technical work.
Key Takeaways
- An architecture consulting firm needs a PT or PMA with business classification code (KBLI) 71101, plus at least one architect holding an STRA (Architect Registration Certificate) under Law No. 6 of 2017.
- A Business Entity Certificate (SBU) from LPJK is a separate requirement if the firm wants to bid on government or mid to large scale private tenders.
- Minimum authorized capital for a standard PT is IDR 50,000,000, with at least 25 percent paid up, excluding professional certification and SBU fees.
- A virtual office can satisfy the domicile requirement, provided the location sits within a commercial zone recognized by the OSS RBA system.
What Is the Legal Basis for Architectural Practice in Indonesia?
The main legal basis for architectural practice in Indonesia is Law No. 6 of 2017 on Architects, further detailed by Government Regulation No. 15 of 2021. Together these replaced an older framework that relied mostly on the broader Construction Services Law of 1999, which did not address the architecture profession as a distinct, regulated field.
Under Article 6 of Law No. 6 of 2017, anyone practicing as an architect in Indonesia must hold an STRA (Surat Tanda Registrasi Arsitek), issued by the Indonesian Architects Council. This certificate later becomes a required document when the consulting firm applies for its Business Entity Certificate (SBU), since the STRA is used to satisfy the construction work competency certificate requirement.
Government Regulation No. 15 of 2021 adds procedural detail: how STRA is issued and revoked, licensing requirements tied to building permits, performance standards for architects, and rules for foreign architects practicing in Indonesia. If your business plan includes government or institutional projects, both regulations are worth reading in full before finalizing your company structure.
What Are the Requirements to Set Up an Architecture Consulting Business?
Three layers of requirements run in parallel: the business entity itself, the licensed professional inside it, and the office domicile. In practice, many founders register the company first and only later discover that the SBU cannot be issued without an STRA-holding architect already in the corporate structure.
- A PT or PT PMA structure. A PT limits shareholder liability to the capital contributed, under Law No. 40 of 2007 on Limited Liability Companies. Foreign investors seeking full ownership typically use the PMA structure instead.
- At least one STRA-holding architect named as the technical person in charge (PJTBU) for the SBU application.
- A domicile address in a recognized commercial zone, since this data is checked by the OSS RBA system before the business license is issued.
How Do You Establish a PT for an Architecture Consulting Firm Step by Step?
The process breaks down into five main stages, and the order matters, since some documents become prerequisites for the next.
1. Line Up Founders and Ownership Structure
A standard PT requires at least two founders under Article 7 of Law No. 40 of 2007. At least one founder or director should be an STRA-holding architect, or the company should already have a firm commitment from one to serve as technical lead from the start.
2. Draft the Deed of Establishment with a Notary
The notary prepares a deed listing the company name, business purpose, management structure, and capital structure. The correct KBLI for architectural activities should be included at this stage to avoid a costly amendment later.
3. Register the Legal Entity with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights
Once the deed is signed, the notary submits it for legal entity approval through the AHU Online system at the Ministry of Law and Human Rights. This step typically clears within a few business days if the documents are complete.
4. Register the Business License Through OSS RBA
The business identification number is issued through Indonesia’s risk-based OSS system once domicile, KBLI, and capital data are verified. This single number replaces the older trade license and company registration certificate.
5. Apply for SBU and Complete Professional Certifications
The final stage is applying for the architecture (AR) sub-classification SBU through an LPJK-accredited certification body, attaching the STRA and the Work Competency Certificate (SKK) of the responsible architect.
Notes from vOffice Consultants
One mistake we see often with clients establishing architecture firms is choosing a generic management consulting KBLI instead of code 71101, which is specific to architectural activity. When the SBU application goes in, LPJK’s system rejects it because the KBLI on file does not match the SBU classification requested. Get the KBLI right at the deed stage, not after the business license is already issued.
In practice, this document sequence sends many founders back and forth between the notary, OSS, and LPJK. For those who want the deed, KBLI, and business license aligned from day one, PT establishment services from vOffice support this process from initial consultation through license issuance, including KBLI selection matched to the intended SBU application.
Not Sure About the Order of KBLI, Deed, and Business License?
The vOffice team, ISO 9001 certified, helps match your KBLI to your planned SBU application.
Which Business Classification Code Applies to Architecture Consulting?
The business classification code for architecture consulting is KBLI 71101, covering building design and drafting services, urban planning and landscape architecture, heritage building architecture, and building inspection. KBLI 71101 has several risk-based sub-classifications, so the activity description in the deed should match the actual scope of work the firm intends to perform.
KBLI 71101 can be combined with other codes in the same entity. It does not fall under the single purpose category. That means a firm that also wants to offer interior design or feasibility study services can register multiple KBLI codes under one PT, as long as each activity is genuinely carried out.
What Is an SBU and Why Does an Architecture Firm Need One?
An SBU (Sertifikat Badan Usaha) is an official certificate issued by an LPJK-accredited certification body confirming that a business entity meets the competency and qualification standards required to provide construction services, including architectural consulting. Without an SBU, a firm can technically still take on small private projects, but is effectively locked out of government tenders and most large corporate contracts that list the SBU as a mandatory bidding document.
The SBU classification for architecture consulting falls under the Architecture (AR) sub-field within the Construction Planning category, with three qualification tiers: Small, Medium, and Large. This tier determines the maximum project scale and contract value the firm is eligible to bid on.
How Much Capital and Cost Does Setting Up an Architecture Consulting PT Require?
Under Article 32 of Law No. 40 of 2007, the minimum authorized capital for a PT is IDR 50,000,000, with at least 25 percent, or roughly IDR 12,500,000, paid up at incorporation. This is the legal floor, not a realistic benchmark for a firm planning to bid on tenders, since some government procurement packages require higher paid-up capital tied to the contract value being pursued.
Beyond the base capital, three cost items are commonly missed in early budgeting:
- Notary and legal entity registration fees, which vary by notary and the complexity of the deed.
- STRA and SKK professional certification fees, processed through the relevant professional association and certification body.
- SBU application fees at the certification body, which differ between accredited bodies and depend on the qualification tier requested.
What Kind of Office Address Is Valid for an Architecture Consulting Firm?
The business domicile must be listed in the articles of association under Article 5 of Law No. 40 of 2007, and this address is checked against zoning data by the OSS RBA system before the business license is issued. For a small architecture consulting team just starting out, committing to a full-time CBD office lease rarely matches actual need, especially when most client meetings happen at the project site rather than at the firm’s own office.
A residential home address is not a safe fallback either. Many local sub-district offices decline to issue a domicile certificate for addresses in purely residential zones, and if that problem only surfaces during a tender submission or bank loan application, amending the articles of association through a notary becomes an unnecessary delay.
For architecture consulting firms that want a credible office address without a full-time physical lease, vOffice Virtual Office is available at more than 40 strategic locations already verified against commercial zoning, so the business license process does not stall at the location verification stage.
Tips from vOffice consultant team:
- Confirm that the building domicile certificate is issued right after payment, since the notary needs it to draft the deed of establishment.
- Check whether the virtual office package includes enough meeting room hours for client or agency presentations.
- If the team starts meeting clients in person more often, consider a hybrid model: keep the legal domicile at the virtual office while renting workspace separately as needed.
What Happens If a Firm Operates Without an STRA or SBU?
Practicing without an STRA carries an administrative sanction of practice suspension, except for the design of simple buildings and traditional structures, which are exempted from this requirement. On the business side, operating without the correct SBU effectively disqualifies an architecture consulting firm from most government and state-owned enterprise tenders, since the SBU is a mandatory document cross-checked against the business license and deed during tender verification.
There is a subtler risk too. A KBLI that does not match the SBU classification being applied for can get the SBU application rejected outright, forcing the company to amend its articles of association through a notary before reapplying. Aligning the KBLI, STRA, and planned SBU classification at the deed stage is far cheaper than fixing it later.
Ready to Set Up Your Architecture Consulting Firm the Right Way?
The vOffice team, trusted by 50,000+ clients, supports you from the deed and KBLI to the business license and office domicile.
References
1. Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia. (2017). Law No. 6 of 2017 on Architects. Retrieved from
https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/37643/uu-no-6-tahun-2017
2. Cabinet Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia. (2021). Government Regulation No. 15 of 2021 on the Implementing Regulation of Law No. 6 of 2017 on Architects. Retrieved from
https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/161845/pp-no-15-tahun-2021
3. Statistics Indonesia (BPS). (2020). BPS Regulation No. 2 of 2020 on the Indonesian Standard Industrial Classification. Retrieved from
https://bps.go.id/id/regulation/2020/09/30/3/peraturan-bps-nomor-2-tahun-2020.html
4. Audit Board of the Republic of Indonesia. (2007). Law No. 40 of 2007 on Limited Liability Companies. Retrieved from
https://peraturan.bpk.go.id/Details/39965
5. Government of the Republic of Indonesia. (2021). Government Regulation No. 5 of 2021 on Risk-Based Business Licensing. Retrieved from
https://peraturan.go.id/id/pp-no-5-tahun-2021
6. Indonesian Institute of Architects (IAI). (2023). Summary of Law No. 6 of 2017 on Architects. Retrieved from
https://iai.or.id/media/pages/informasi/peraturan/VEp4cUZMd0NVUXc9
