Everything CIPC, in one place
Registering a company, keeping it registered, and fixing it when CIPC has deregistered it are three different jobs with three different price tags. Every CIPC service, free tool and guide we have is gathered here, with the CIPC fee shown separately from ours so you always know what you are paying for.
Start a company
A private company, a Pty Ltd, gives you a separate legal entity so business debts belong to the company rather than to you personally. It is the structure clients, suppliers and tender boards expect. CIPC charges R125 for the registration and R50 for a name reservation; we charge R790 with both included and the paperwork handled.
Register a company for R790Not sure this is the right one for you? Ask us first and you get a written answer within one business day.
Keep it registered
Registration is the easy part. What catches most owners is the yearly filing, and CIPC deregisters companies that skip it.
Annual return
Filed every year on the anniversary of registration. The CIPC fee depends on your turnover and is charged at cost. Miss it and the company goes into deregistration.
From R320 →Beneficial ownership
Everyone who ultimately owns or controls 5 percent or more, filed with CIPC. It goes in with the annual return and CIPC rejects returns filed without it.
R490 →Company changes
Directors appointed or resigned, a new registered address, or a change of company name. Each is its own CIPC filing with its own fee.
From R390 →Fix it when CIPC has deregistered it
A deregistered company cannot trade lawfully, its bank account is usually frozen, and tender applications fail on the spot. Reinstatement brings it back and files the returns that were missed. It always costs more than filing on time would have, which is the argument for the annual return above.
Company reinstatement R1 490Free tools, no signup
Both of these run in your browser and nothing you type leaves the page.
Company name checker
Test a name against the CIPC naming rules: format, prohibited and restricted words, and the conflicts worth searching for yourself. Honest about what no website can tell you.
Check a name →CIPC company search
Work out whether a company is registered, what its status means and where to look it up properly before you trade with it.
Open the tool →Read it first
Every one of these is free and written in plain English. Most people who read them end up doing the filing themselves, which is fine by us.
How to register a company
The full process, what CIPC actually charges, and the things you must do in the first weeks afterwards that nobody tells you about.
Read the guide →Annual returns
Deadlines, how the fee is worked out from turnover, and exactly what happens as a company slides into deregistration.
Read the guide →Beneficial ownership
Who counts as a beneficial owner, what CIPC wants on the register, and how it interacts with the annual return.
Read the guide →Deregistered by CIPC
What deregistration actually means for your bank account and contracts, and the route back if the company still matters.
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a company in South Africa?
CIPC charges R125 to register a company with a standard memorandum of incorporation, plus R50 if you reserve a name first. ProperSA registers the company for R790 with the name reservation and all CIPC fees included.
Can I check if a company name is available before I register?
You can test a name against the CIPC naming rules and search for obvious conflicts, which our free checker does. True availability is only decided when a CIPC examiner reviews a name reservation, because they also block names confusingly similar to existing ones. That is why you reserve up to four names in order of preference, so a rejection moves to your next choice instead of restarting.
What happens if I do not file my CIPC annual return?
CIPC places the company in deregistration and eventually deregisters it. A deregistered company cannot trade lawfully, its bank account is usually frozen and tender applications fail. Reinstatement is possible but costs more than the returns would have.
Do I need to file a beneficial ownership register?
Yes. Every company must file its beneficial ownership register with CIPC, listing everyone who ultimately owns or controls 5 percent or more. It is filed with the annual return and CIPC rejects returns that are not accompanied by it.
This page is general information about South African company law, not legal or tax advice. CIPC fees are the Commission's own and change from time to time; where a figure matters to a decision, check it against cipc.co.za on the day.