Company Registration in South Africa 2025

Understanding Company Types

South Africa recognizes several forms of registered enterprises:

Private Company (Pty) Ltd: The most common form, limited liability, at least one shareholder and one director, easy to set up and manage.
Public Company (Ltd): Suitable for businesses with many shareholders planning to list on the stock exchange.
Non-Profit Company (NPC): Focused on charitable, public benefit, or social causes.
Personal Liability Company: For professionals (e.g., lawyers, accountants) whose directors bear joint liability.
State-Owned Company: Owned by the government.
Co-operative: Democratically run by members for shared benefit.
Foreign or External Company: A foreign entity registering domestically.

You can register a business without a reserved name and use your registration number initially, but a unique name builds credibility.

Apply for name reservation via the CIPC e-services portal or BizPortal. Submit 1-4 options in order of preference.
Approved names are reserved for six months.
Common pitfalls: Choosing a name too similar to an existing entity; using restricted/prohibited words.

Standard MOI: Most businesses use this default set of company rules.
Custom MOI: For complex ownership or specific shareholder arrangements.
Review carefully: The MOI governs decision-making, share transfers, and dispute resolution.

For every registration, you’ll need:

Certified copies of the director(s) and incorporator(s) IDs.
Certified copy of the appointed representative’s ID if completed by a third party.
Proof of physical business address (utility bill, bank statement no older than three months).
Name reservation certificate (if applicable).
Completed registration forms and signed resolutions (if required for multiple directors/shareholders).
MOI (signed).
For foreign companies: additional proof of registration in their home jurisdiction.
For co-operatives: supporting documentation as outlined by CIPC.

TIP: Certification should be recent most banks and government agencies want documents certified within the last three months.

Register for a customer code/profile on CIPC or BizPortal if you haven’t already.
Complete the application with all required fields; mistakes trigger delays.
Upload all documents in PDF format; check for readability and correct labeling.
Pay the fee (varies by company type; private company currently is under R200).

If approved, CIPC sends:

Extra Info: You can track application status online. Check junk/spam folders they sometimes send documents by email.

Within a few days, CIPC automatically registers new companies with SARS (South African Revenue Service), and you will receive your income tax reference via email.
Register for VAT if your turnover will exceed R1 million/year; below that threshold, it’s voluntary.
Register for PAYE, UIF, SDL if you have employees.

Professional Tip: It’s wise to consult a tax specialist before you hire staff, due to compliance complexity.

Depending on your business, you may need further registration:

Department of Labour: For employing staff and compliance with workplace regulations.
Department of Health.
National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications.
Sectoral licenses: Construction, health, transport, and financial services each require specific permits.

Ask your industry association for guidance so you’re always compliant.

Open a business bank account: Most banks demand the CIPC certificate, CoR 14.3, proof of address, and certified IDs of directors.
Accounting & Record Keeping: South African law requires retaining records for 7 years, including financial statements and tax filings.
Annual Returns: Submit to CIPC every year non-compliance risks deregistration.
B-BBEE (Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment): Consider getting a B-BBEE certificate for government tenders and supplier opportunities.

Name issues: Many applications are rejected due to confusing, misspelled, or restricted names.
Wrong documentation: IDs not certified correctly or expired proof of address.
Missing annual returns: A main reason for company deregistration.
No shareholder agreements: If you have multiple partners, get this done early to avoid future disputes.

Extra Insights:

Digital registration is fastest, but in-person registration can resolve complex issues for foreign entities or those with custom MOIs.
There are specialist services and consultants for complex registrations, mergers, or if you wish to convert your entity type.
If you operate online, you will need to comply with POPIA (Protection of Personal Information Act).

Step	Required Documents	Platform/Action
Reserve Name	Name reservation certificate	CIPC/BizPortal
Register Company	Certified IDs, MOI, proof of address	CIPC/BizPortal
Tax Registration	CIPC documents, director info	SARS (automatic)
Open Bank Account	CoR 14.3, cert. IDs, proof of address	Bank
Annual Returns/Compliance	CIPC login info, financial records	CIPC