Calculate the total cost to register a company with CIPC in South Africa. Covers Pty Ltd, NPC (Non-Profit), Co-operative, and Close Corporation conversions.
The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) is the regulatory body responsible for company registrations in South Africa. Whether you're starting a Pty Ltd, registering a non-profit, or setting up a co-operative, CIPC is your first stop. The process has been significantly digitised through the BizPortal platform, making online registration faster and cheaper than manual filing.
A standard Private Company (Pty) Ltd is the most common entity type for small to medium businesses in South Africa. The CIPC registration fee is R125 online (or R175 for manual filing), plus R50 for name reservation. However, the total cost of getting your company fully operational includes additional registrations with SARS (for income tax, VAT, and PAYE), the Department of Labour (for UIF and COIDA), and potentially B-BBEE compliance documentation.
Many entrepreneurs use registration agents or attorneys to handle the process, which adds R1,500-R5,000 to the cost but ensures everything is done correctly. This is particularly recommended for foreign nationals registering an external company, or for non-profit organisations that need customised Memoranda of Incorporation (MOI). The total cost for a basic Pty Ltd registration (DIY online) can be as low as R175, while a fully agent-managed registration with all ancillary registrations typically costs R3,000-R6,000.
Our calculator helps you estimate the total cost based on your specific requirements, entity type, and whether you plan to use a registration agent or go the DIY route through BizPortal.
Online registration through BizPortal typically takes 1-3 business days for a Pty Ltd. Name reservation takes 1-7 days. Manual (paper) filing takes 7-21 days. Complex entities like NPCs with custom MOIs may take longer. SARS tax registration can be done simultaneously and usually takes 1-5 business days.
Yes. Foreigners can register a Pty Ltd in South Africa. You'll need a valid passport, a South African registered address (can use a registered agent), and at least one director. If the company is already registered abroad, you'll register as an External Company (higher fees). A local director is recommended but not always required.
Close Corporations (CC) can no longer be registered since May 2011 when the Companies Act 2008 took full effect. Existing CCs can continue operating or convert to Pty Ltd. A Pty Ltd requires at least 1 director and 1 shareholder (can be the same person), has a MOI, and offers limited liability protection.
This workspace turns the cipc fee and name-reservation check result into a reusable matter note, dashboard item and gated PDF checklist. Use the app first, then save the evidence trail.
Benchmarked against LegalZoom, Firstbase, Stripe Atlas and registry portals. The goal is not to copy them; it is to bring the useful workflow pattern into an Africa-first tool with official-source caution and local evidence capture.
Use this app before paying for a South African company setup so the user can see the CIPC fee, name reservation choice, document route and the recurring annual-return obligation.
Before filing, signing, publishing, or sending anything, keep a short record that links the app result to evidence and official-source checks.
Save the country or regime, parties, dates, amounts, selected options, and final output. Add why this matters: Whether to reserve a name or register under an enterprise number first.
Verify the current CIPC fee schedule before paying an agent. Also keep the strongest supporting document, receipt, portal reference, ID, contract, policy, or court file beside the generated result.
If you see this risk, pause and get qualified help: Quotes that imply SARS, UIF, COIDA or tax clearance are included when they are separate steps.