Starting a Business FAQ

In South Africa, companies are registered at the Companies and Intellectual Property Commissions Office- known as CIPC.

Steps to register a company:

• Reserve a name – this name cannot be the same or similiar to a name already registered
• Complete the details of the incorporators of the company (there must be at least 1)
• Appoint the directors of the company (must be at least 1)
• Complete the registered office address of the Company
• Complete all details of the company, including email address and telephone number
• Submit certified copies of the directors ID
• Sign CIPC form completing registration

CIPC issues a company with:

• A memorandum of incorporation
• Certificate of Incorporation

A medium sized business should also have a shareholders agreement between the shareholders of the company

Before the New Companies Act 2008, this document was known as the Memorandum of Association and the Articles of Association – Now combined to form the Memorandum of Incorporation.

A MOI is the constitutive document of the company and is a compulsory document issued by CIPC. This document sets out:

• The name of the company
• The details of the incorporators of the Company
• The share capital of the company (being the total number of shares that the company is entitled to issue to its shareholders)
• The details of the shares issued to the shareholders
• The provisions of the Companies Act

Costs range between R550 to R1050

We have 3 packages available – other services are available on request

our packages include:

1. Package 1: Company Name + Registration
2. Package 2: Company Name + Registration + Memorandum of Incorporation
3. Package 3: Company Name + Registration + Memorandum of Incorporation + Tax Certificate + BEE Certificate

• Completion of our form with your details
• Certified copies of your ID

Yes – We offer this service in Package 3

1-7 days

In gereneral, in order to trade, you will require at minimum:

1. Registration of a private company
2. Certificate of Incorporation
3. Tax registration

Other requirements would include:

1. BEE Certificiate
2. Bank Account
3. Share certificates

A company must file annual returns every year with CIPC

We suggest:

1. A Business Plan
2. A logo
3. Letterhead
4. Invoices
5.