How to register a company with CIPC
Registering a company in South Africa is done through CIPC, the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission. You can do it yourself online, and this guide walks you through exactly how: reserving a name, the government fees, what you need, and what you get at the end. If you would rather not deal with the portal, we can prepare and submit it for you for a fixed fee, but the registration itself is something anyone can do.
What registering with CIPC does
CIPC is the government body that registers companies in South Africa. Registering gives your business a legal identity of its own, separate from you as a person: the company can open a bank account, sign contracts and own assets in its own name, and your personal risk is limited. You register once, and the company then exists until you deregister it or CIPC deregisters it for missed filings.
What you need before you start
- Certified ID copies of every director and incorporator
- Your proposed company names, up to four choices in order of preference
- A registered address for the company
- Contact details for the directors
- The standard Memorandum of Incorporation is fine for most businesses; only a customised one costs extra
How to register, step by step
- Create a profile on CIPC's BizPortal (bizportal.gov.za) or CIPC eServices.
- Reserve your company name, or register as a "number company" and add a name later.
- Capture the directors and the company details, and upload the certified IDs.
- Pay CIPC's fees (see below). These are the government's fees, paid to CIPC.
- CIPC issues your registration certificate (CoR14.3) with your company registration number, and a company income tax number is generated with SARS automatically.
What it costs: the CIPC fees
CIPC charges R50 to reserve a name and R125 to register a company on the standard Memorandum of Incorporation: about R175 in total. Registering without a name, as a number company, is R125. A customised Memorandum costs more. These are the government's own fees and are the same whether you register yourself or use a service, so anyone quoting a much higher "registration fee" is charging for their help, not for CIPC.
What you get
Once registered you receive a registration certificate (CoR14.3) showing your company registration number, a standard Memorandum of Incorporation, and an income tax number issued automatically by SARS. With those in hand you can open a business bank account and start trading as a company.
After you register: the first steps
Registration is the start, not the finish. Three things follow quickly: open a business bank account, file your beneficial ownership with CIPC, and diarise your first annual return. A company that skips its annual returns is eventually deregistered, which is the single most common way small companies quietly lose their registration.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use a service to register a company?
No. You can register a company yourself on CIPC's BizPortal for the government fees only. A service like ProperSA just handles the portal, the paperwork and the follow-up for a fixed fee, so you don't have to. ProperSA is independent and not affiliated with CIPC.
How much does CIPC charge to register a company?
CIPC charges R50 to reserve a name and R125 to register a company on the standard Memorandum of Incorporation, about R175 in total. Registering without a name (a number company) is R125. A customised Memorandum costs more. These are the government's fees, the same whether you register yourself or use a service.
How long does it take to register a company?
Usually a few business days once your name is approved. A number company, registered without a reserved name, is often quicker. Timelines depend on CIPC's own processing volumes.
Do I need a name to register a company?
No. You can register with the enterprise number as the name and trade under a different brand, or add a formal name later. Many owners start as a number company to register faster.
Is ProperSA part of CIPC or the government?
No. ProperSA is an independent private company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to CIPC or any government department. You can always register your company yourself directly with CIPC; we offer optional paid help with the paperwork.