Business & company registration

Business and company registration in South Africa: fees and what to check

Updated 4 November 2026

Registering a private company in South Africa costs R 125 through the official CIPC route, or R 175 with a company name. Packages that add name reservation and a tax number usually run from R 880 to R 985. The quickest way to compare offers for your business is a request on BlaBlaPrice.

Rules and what to check

Registration is done with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC). The official route states that a company registered without a reserved name takes its registration number as its name, with (South Africa) added. Each company is registered for tax automatically, and you need an ID or passport and a home or business address in South Africa. Packages often add name reservation and a tax number, so compare what each price includes.

Timing and monthly compliance

Online registration through the official route can be completed within a few hours, so a request sent this week can finish well before December. Registration is not seasonal, so work back from your start date rather than from the weather. Some packages also offer monthly compliance plans; check whether they are required, and compare the price with and without them.

How it is priced and delivered here

The official fee is set by CIPC, and packages add their own fee on top. Prices are quoted in rand, usually as one fee per company. Registration is done online, so you do not need a visit. You can still use a provider in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Pretoria or Gqeberha and deal with them from anywhere in the country.

What to write in your request

Say what kind of business you want: a private company, a non-profit company, or another structure. Give the number of founders and their ID or passport details, the business address in South Africa, and whether you need a company name reserved. Add the tax and activity codes you expect to need, any extras such as a bank account or accounting, your city, your deadline and your budget.

On BlaBlaPrice you describe the company in your own words in a chat, and a photo can be added. BlaBlaPrice's AI asks for missing details, looks through providers' websites and price lists in South Africa, and shows the prices and services it found. Registered sellers receive your request and reply in the chat with their own price, what is included, and timing. Your contact details stay hidden until you choose to share them. Start with legal support for business or legal help.