This case study describes theexperiences and draws lessons from varied businessregistration reform programs in economies in vastlydifferent stages of development: Bulgaria, Estonia, Ireland,Madagascar, and Malaysia. The case studies were writtenbased on a desk study of reforms in each country discussed.Then, more detailed information was gathered by field?basedresearchers. In some cases, detail on the businessregistration process that was in place prior toimplementation of reforms was unavailable. As such, data onthe number of businesses registered and the time required tocompleted registration before and after the reforms cannotbe compared and contrasted. This case study focuses on theattempts of the government of Estonia (GoE) to promote andimplement reform of the business registration system tobetter suit the new economic framework that emerged in thecountry following Estonia's independence and thecollapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The purpose of thiscase study is to show that 1) business registration reformcan be successful, regardless of the institution in chargeof the reform process; and, 2) membership (or the prospectof membership) in international trade blocs or organizationssuch as the European Union (EU) can be a powerful triggerfor business registration reforms.