You register a company with the CIPC through BizPortal or CIPC e‑Services. The cheapest route is R125 if you use the registration number as the company name, or R175 if you reserve a name at the same time. Start by creating your CIPC customer profile, and have your payment ready, because unpaid transactions are cancelled.
Key Takeaways
Registering a company through CIPC’s BizPortal or e‑Services is streamlined and requires correct planning, documentation, and timely payment to avoid delays or cancellation.
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| Create a profile first | Start by creating or logging into a CIPC profile with your ID, email, and cellphone for verification. |
| Choose the right company type | Most startups choose a private company (Pty) Ltd; consider your goals before selecting non-profit or professional options. |
| Prepare documentation in advance | Gather addresses, director details, statutory forms, and beneficial ownership info before starting registration. |
| Make timely payments | Complete payment within the specified window, usually five to 14 days, to prevent cancellation of registration. |
| Use PocketAdvisor for legal setup | After registration, utilize PocketAdvisor legal toolkits for contracts, shareholder agreements, and IP protection. |
Table of Contents
- How do you register a company on BizPortal or e‑Services?
- Which company type should you choose?
- What does registration cost and how long does it take?
- What information and forms do you need ready?
- What must you do after receiving your certificate?
- How can we help you put your legal foundations in place?
- FAQ
- Sources
How do you register a company on BizPortal or e‑Services?
Whichever portal you use, the sequence is the same. Work through it in one sitting if you can, because the payment clock starts once you submit.
- Create a CIPC customer profile, or log in if you already have one. Keep your ID number, cellphone number and email address at hand, because CIPC uses them to verify you.
- Choose the company type and your name option. You can reserve a name or register without one, in which case the registration number becomes the company name.
- Complete the CoR14.1 details: incorporators, directors and the registered office. If you are not using the standard Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI), attach your own.
- Pay the prescribed fee and keep the proof of payment. CIPC’s step-by-step guide for new e‑Services confirms that card payment is the only option on the new platform.
- Download and store your registration certificate and company number once they are issued.
Why does the order matter? Your name choice and company type shape every later field in the form, so changing your mind halfway means starting again. The CIPC e‑Services portal is the online channel for these transactions.
Pro Tip: Read through the whole form with your documents beside you before you pay. A typo in a director’s email address can delay the verification messages you need to complete the registration.
Which company type should you choose?
For most founders the choice is narrower than the list of company types suggests. CIPC’s registration materials set out the profit and non‑profit options. In practice, these are the ones you are likely to weigh up:
- Private company ((Pty) Ltd): the usual choice for startups and SMEs. It needs at least one natural person as director, plus an incorporator.
- Non‑profit company (NPC): an option to consider for social or community objectives. Check CIPC’s requirements when deciding whether it suits your plans.
- Personal liability company (Inc.): an option to consider for a professional practice. Get advice on the implications for directors before choosing this structure.
- Public and state‑owned companies: designed for much larger or specialised ventures, and rarely suitable for a new small business.
A private company can use its company number instead of reserving a name. If you currently trade as a sole proprietor, our guide to converting a sole proprietor to a Pty Ltd covers the switch, and our overview of business structures explains when registering makes sense at all.
What does registration cost and how long does it take?
Costs are small compared with the consequences of missing a deadline, so plan the payment before you submit.
- R125: a private company registered without a name.
- R175: a private company registered with a name.
- R50: each name reservation, where you reserve separately.
- Payment window: some CIPC channels require payment within 5 calendar days, while other guidance refers to 14 days. Missing the window cancels the transaction.
BizPortal advertises registering a company in one day for R175, which in practice depends on prompt payment and successful verification.
If you get stuck, contact the CIPC call centre or BizPortal support. Check both channels for live fee and process updates before you pay.
What information and forms do you need ready?
Gather this before you log in to make the registration process easier.
- Company addresses: physical and postal addresses for the registered office.
- Director and incorporator details: ID or passport numbers, plus accurate cellphone numbers and email addresses. A private company needs at least one natural director and one incorporator, as CIPC’s explanatory notes on CoR14.1 explain.
- Statutory forms: the CoR14.1 Notice of Incorporation and the matching CoR15.1 annexure, or a bespoke MOI where you use one. CIPC’s self‑service guidance explains why the MOI matters.
- Foreign nationals: CIPC may ask for supporting documents, so prepare certified copies where needed.
- Beneficial ownership information: collect it now. The declaration is required with annual returns, and CIPC’s beneficial ownership notice describes a “hard stop” that blocks annual return filing unless it is up to date.
Our company registration documents checklist goes into more detail on each item.
What must you do after receiving your certificate?
Registration is the start of your compliance life, not the end of it. CIPC frames registration as an ongoing compliance commitment, including annual reporting.
- SARS: CIPC registration triggers automatic corporate income tax registration, but the company representative must still register on SARS eFiling to transact and file returns.
- Employees: if you hire staff, check which tax and employment-related registrations apply to your business.
- Annual returns: file them on time, with beneficial ownership information current.
- Records: keep your incorporation documents and MOI accessible, and update company registers whenever something changes.
Pro Tip: Diarise your annual return date on the day your certificate arrives, and update beneficial ownership details as soon as a shareholding changes, not at filing time.
Our month one legal checklist and business registration overview map out the first tasks in more detail.
How can we help you put your legal foundations in place?
A certificate proves your company exists. It does not tell you what happens if a co‑founder leaves, a supplier defaults or your first employee needs a contract. PocketAdvisor Legal Toolkits™ give you expert‑led videos, practical workbooks and professionally drafted South African agreements, so you understand the reasoning behind each document.
- Choose between the standard and a bespoke MOI with confidence
- Set up shareholder agreements, employment basics and supplier contracts
- Protect your intellectual property
Our Legal Toolkit™ for Start‑Ups and Solopreneurs costs R1,495 once off. Explore PocketAdvisor Legal Toolkits™ to make more informed decisions about your business’s legal readiness.
FAQ
What is required to register a business in South Africa?
You need a CIPC customer profile, a company type and name option, director and incorporator details, a registered office address and the CoR14.1 notice with an MOI. You then pay the prescribed fee through BizPortal or e‑Services.
Can you run a business without registering in South Africa?
You can operate as a sole proprietor or consider registering a company. The right structure depends on your circumstances and the implications for your business, so seek professional advice where needed.
What are the contact details for CIPC?
CIPC supports applicants through its call centre and through BizPortal support. Use the contact details published on the CIPC website and on BizPortal, since these can change.
What small business can you start with R1,000?
Registration itself costs far less than that, at R125 or R175 for a private company. What you can run on a small budget depends on your sector, so confirm which permits or licences apply before you launch.
Sources
- BizPortal – Brought to you by the CIPC
- Sars
- INCORPORATING BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP INFORMATION WITH ANNUAL RETURN FILINGS FOR COMPANIES AND CLOSE CORPORATIONS
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This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional advice.
