Frequently asked questions
What does Nongor actually do?
It lets you win paid work in Bangladesh first, then sets up whatever that contract needs: verification, escrow at a partner bank, company registration if you want one, withholding certificates and the paperwork to send money home. For Bangladeshi experts it does the reverse: a verified profile that foreign buyers can find and contract.
Do I need a Bangladeshi company to get paid?
No. As a non-resident individual you can be paid on a contract, invoice and withholding certificate; the bank withholds 20% (less with a treaty certificate). Most people form a company at their second or third contract, when the numbers say it pays. The calculator in each brief shows when.
Do I need an NID?
No. A passport is enough for L1. Until the rail supports passport e-KYC, an officer reviews it, which is why L1 can take up to 48 hours for passport holders.
What does it cost?
Nothing until a contract pays you. Then 4% of the released amount, capped at BDT 2,00,000 per contract. Government fees at cost. A fixed BDT 15,000 partner fee if you form a company. Concierge BDT 12,000 a month from the month after your first contract, dropping to zero if you go dormant.
Is Nongor a government service?
No. Nongor is a private platform that sits on top of the state rail (BanglaBiz, run by the Invest Bangladesh Authority). Registrations, tax numbers and permits come from the government; Nongor prepares, tracks and wraps them around your contract.
Where does the money sit while I work?
In an escrow or retention account at a partner bank (BRAC Bank or City Bank), never with Nongor. The deal room shows Funded when the bank confirms receipt.
How fast do I get paid after acceptance?
The bank releases within 1 to 2 working days of the instruction. Sending abroad by Wise or Payoneer adds 1 to 3 days depending on the route.
Can I use PayPal?
No, PayPal does not operate in Bangladesh. Payoneer works. Wise can pay out to you abroad but cannot receive in Bangladesh.
What is withholding tax and can I avoid it?
It is tax deducted at source by the payer's bank: 20% for a non-resident individual, 10% for a non-resident company, 7.5% for a Bangladeshi company, 15% for a resident expert. You cannot avoid it, but a treaty certificate from NBR reduces the non-resident rates if your country has a treaty (44 do; Australia does not), and a Bangladeshi company can credit it against its own tax.
Does the 4% apply to reimbursed expenses?
No. Only to the fee part of a milestone. Mark expenses as expenses in the milestone and they release without the platform fee.
Why four levels?
So that browsing is free and instant, and the heavy checks happen only when money is about to move. L0 to browse, L1 to respond, L2 to be paid, L3 for partners and big volumes.
Who sees my passport?
Our verification vendor (to read it and match your selfie) and the officer who approves your level. Never another user, never a partner firm.
My degree shows "declared". Why?
We asked the university to confirm and have not heard back. Upload a scan of the certificate to speed it up. "Verified" appears only when the issuing institution confirms.
How long does a company take?
BanglaBiz's starter package (name clearance, temporary bank account, incorporation, e-TIN, trade licence) targets 3 working days. Today it averages 3.5 for our clients, because a director without an NID must appear in person for the company TIN. That step disappears when the rail supports it.
Can I own 100% as a foreigner?
Yes, a private limited company can be 100% foreign-owned. It needs two shareholders; the one-person company is not open to foreigners yet, so the second share is usually a nominee under a declared trust.
What if I stop getting work?
You move to the dormant plan: only the legal minimum filings, at cost, and concierge drops to zero. If you want out, a registration partner winds the company up at a fixed quoted fee; it takes 4 to 6 months.
Can I use a virtual office as my address?
Not yet; Bangladesh has no virtual-office licence. A desk at a partner co-working space (from about BDT 4,000 a month) serves as the registered address.
I am a foreign firm. Do I need an entity to hire a Bangladeshi expert?
No. You verify to L1 (L2 above USD 5,000), fund the milestone at the partner bank, and receive an invoice, withholding certificate and escrow statement on every release.
Is this a freelance marketplace?
It is a professional market for named specialists with verified credentials: no bidding, no ratings race, no per-task pricing. Each engagement is a scoped contract with milestones.
Will my rate be public?
No. A buyer sees your rate only after you reply to their enquiry.
What happens if the client does not accept my work?
They must accept or object within 5 days of delivery. An objection opens a 15-day dispute window in the deal room. If you cannot agree, a Nongor officer reviews the record and proposes a split; if either side refuses, arbitration in Dhaka under BIAC rules.
Where is my data stored?
Singapore, on Supabase. Documents are encrypted and every access is logged. See the privacy policy for retention periods.
Can Nongor speed up a government approval?
No. We track every clock and chase on your behalf, and we publish where the rail is slow, but we do not lobby and we do not pay to jump a queue.