How to register a company in South Africa

Registering a company in South Africa is done online with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). Most small businesses register a private company, known as a (Pty) Ltd. This guide covers what you need, what it costs, how long it takes, and the deadlines that start the day your company is registered.

Last checked September 2026. CIPC fees and processes change from time to time, so confirm the current fees on the CIPC website before you pay.

Which type of company should you register?

• Private company, (Pty) Ltd. The usual choice for a small business. Its shares cannot be offered to the public, and the company is a separate legal person from its owners.
• Non-profit company (NPC). For organisations with a public benefit or social purpose. It has no share capital, and its income goes back into its objects rather than to owners.
• Close corporation (CC). You can no longer register a new close corporation. Existing CCs still operate, but new CC registrations stopped on 1 May 2011.

What you need before you start

• A certified copy of the identity document of every director. Foreign nationals use a certified passport copy.
• Up to four proposed company names, in order of preference.
• A physical address for the registered office. It goes onto the public register.
• How the shares will be split between the shareholders.
• An email address and cellphone number for each director.

Every director must be at least 18 and must not be disqualified from being a director.

How to register, step by step

1. Reserve a name

You can put forward up to four names at once. CIPC checks them against names already on the register and approves one, or rejects them all. An approved name is reserved for six months. If you are in a hurry, you can register the company under its registration number instead and change the name later, but a name change is a separate filing with its own fee.

2. Register the company

With a name in hand, you file the registration: the directors, the shareholders, the registered office address and the Memorandum of Incorporation. Most small companies use CIPC’s standard Memorandum of Incorporation, which is the quickest option.

3. Receive your registration documents

CIPC issues a registration certificate (CoR14.3). A newly registered company is also registered for income tax with SARS automatically, although the tax number is not always active or visible on eFiling straight away.

4. Issue share certificates

CIPC does not issue share certificates. The company issues them to its shareholders and records them in its securities register, which it must keep up to date.

5. Lodge beneficial ownership

Companies must tell CIPC who their beneficial owners are, and keep that information current. For most small companies the beneficial owners are simply the shareholders, but the declaration still has to be filed. CIPC will not accept an annual return while it is outstanding.

What does it cost?

At the time of writing, CIPC charges R50 to reserve each name, and R175 to register a private company with a standard Memorandum of Incorporation, or R125 where the name is already reserved. These are CIPC’s own fees, payable to CIPC.

Using a service provider costs more than filing yourself, because you are paying for the work as well as the filing. Our Starter Package is R650, and our fees page sets out what each package includes.

How long does it take?

Name reservation usually takes one to seven business days, and the registration itself one to five business days once the name is approved. Most registrations are done within about a week of having certified documents ready. CIPC turnaround depends on their workload, so it can take longer.

After registration: the deadlines people miss

• CIPC annual return. Due every year within 30 business days after the anniversary of your registration date, whether the company traded or not. See CIPC annual returns.
• Company income tax return (ITR14). Filed with SARS for every tax year, including a year in which the company did not trade. See SARS tax returns.
• Public officer. A company needs a public officer registered with SARS before it can file on eFiling. This is the step that quietly blocks many new companies.
• Beneficial ownership. Update it whenever your shareholding changes.

Can a foreign national register a company?

Yes. A foreign national can be a director and a shareholder of a South African company. You will need a certified passport copy, and the company still needs a South African address for its registered office.

Doing it yourself, or using a service provider

You can register directly with CIPC online. People use a service provider for the guidance, the paperwork and the time it saves, and to get the steps after registration right. Essa & Company is an independent private business service provider. We are not CIPC, SARS or any government department.

Ready to register? See company registration, or message us on WhatsApp about the R650 Starter Package.