What licences does your business actually need?
Nobody hands new business owners the list, so most discover a missing licence from an inspector. Answer eight quick questions and get your personalised checklist: what each item is, who issues it, and roughly what it costs. Free, printable, nothing leaves this page.
Deadlines and rule changes, by email
Filing dates, fee increases and rule changes that affect small South African businesses. One email when something matters, never more than monthly.
More questions people ask
What licences does a small business need in South Africa?
It depends on what you do. Everyone deals with SARS; companies register at CIPC; employers add UIF, COIDA and PAYE. Food businesses need a municipal trading licence and a Certificate of Acceptability; liquor, music, imports and passenger transport each add their own licence. Eight questions on this page build your specific list.
Do I need a trading licence for my business?
Only certain trades under the Businesses Act need a municipal licence: selling meals or perishable food, health and entertainment businesses like salons offering massage, cinemas and nightclubs, and hawkers of food. An online consultancy does not; a takeaway does.
What is a Certificate of Acceptability?
The hygiene certificate every food handling premises must hold under regulation R638, issued by the municipal environmental health department after an inspection, before trading starts. It is premises and owner specific and must be displayed.
Do I need both SAMRO and SAMPRA to play music in my shop?
Yes. SAMRO licenses the songwriters' rights and SAMPRA the recordings; a venue playing recorded music needs both. They invoice separately with tariffs based on your floor area or seating.
Costs shown are the published official fees where they exist; municipal fees vary by municipality and provincial liquor fees by province. Built from official sources current at August 2026. Free tools are estimates and guidance, not legal advice.