Business
CIPC Company Registration Cost Calculator 2026
Estimate what it costs to register a Pty Ltd, Close Corporation or sole proprietor in South Africa — CIPC fees, name reservation, SARS registration and ongoing annual returns.
✓ Updated with 2026 rates•✓ Free & no sign-up•✓ Instant results
Business registration cost
Live estimate · CIPC & SARS fees · 2026
Limited liability company with separate legal entity
First-year total
R1 345
Private Company (Pty) Ltd
Setup costs
R1 000
Annual costs
R345
Registering a Private Company (Pty) Ltd costs about R1 345 in the first year, made up of R1 000 once-off setup and R345 in annual costs.
Cost breakdown
Name reservationR50
CIPC registrationR600
Memorandum & articlesR200
Bank account openingR150
Annual return (CIPC)R345
First-year totalR1 345
Required registrations
- ✓CIPC Registration
- ✓SARS Tax Registration
Registration timeline
Name Reservation1-2 days
Document Preparation2-3 days
CIPC Registration5-10 days
SARS Registration1-2 weeks
Bank Account Opening1-2 weeks
Additional Registrations1-3 weeks
Fees are based on current CIPC and SARS rates and may vary. This is an independent estimate, not legal or tax advice — consult a qualified attorney or accountant for your specific situation.
Pty Ltd vs CC vs sole proprietor — which to register?
Each business structure has different registration costs, compliance duties and tax implications under South African law. New close corporations can no longer be registered, but existing CCs may continue to operate.
Private company (Pty Ltd)
A separate legal entity with limited liability. The standard choice for most businesses — registered at CIPC, taxed at the company rate and required to file annual returns.
Close corporation (CC)
Simple structure with up to 10 members. New CCs cannot be registered since 2011, but existing ones remain valid and can be converted to a Pty Ltd.
Sole proprietorship
Not a separate legal entity — the owner and business are one. No CIPC registration needed, but the owner is personally liable for all debts and taxed in their own name.
Partnership
Two or more people sharing ownership, profits and liability. No CIPC registration, but a written partnership agreement is strongly advised.
CIPC fees at a glance (2026)
Name reservation
R50 per application (up to four proposed names), valid for six months. Optional — you can register on the enterprise number instead.
Company registration
R125 to register a Pty Ltd via CIPC eServices, or R175 if registering without a reserved name.
Annual return
Tiered by turnover — from R100 a year for small companies, rising with revenue. Failing to file leads to deregistration.
After CIPC: SARS & compliance
Income tax (automatic)
CIPC registers every new company for income tax with SARS automatically and a tax reference number is issued — no separate application needed.
VAT registration
Compulsory once taxable turnover exceeds R1 million in any 12 months. Voluntary registration is allowed from R50,000 turnover.
PAYE, UIF & SDL
Register with SARS once you employ staff. UIF is also registered with the Department of Labour. SDL applies above R500,000 annual payroll.
Business bank account
Banks require your CIPC documents and director IDs. Allow 1–2 weeks. Keeping business and personal funds separate is essential for a Pty Ltd.
Tips before you register
- Reserve your company name early to avoid delays and rejected submissions.
- Doing it yourself on CIPC eServices is cheapest; agents charge more for convenience and fewer errors.
- Budget for ongoing annual returns and compliance — not just the once-off registration fee.
- Register for VAT and PAYE only when you actually meet the thresholds.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the most common questions.
How much does it cost to register a Pty Ltd with CIPC?
CIPC charges R125 to register a private company (Pty Ltd) plus R50 to reserve the company name — about R175 in official fees if you do it yourself on the CIPC eServices portal. Registration without a reserved name (using the enterprise number) is R175. Most people instead pay an accountant or registration agent R600–R2,000 to handle the whole process.
How long does it take to register a company in South Africa?
Online registration through CIPC typically takes 5–10 working days once all documents and director details are submitted correctly. Name reservation adds 1–2 days. Using a registration agent can be faster as they avoid common submission errors that cause rejections.
What is included when you register a Pty Ltd?
You receive a CIPC registration certificate (CoR 14.3), the company's Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI), a unique enterprise (registration) number and an automatic income tax reference number from SARS. You still need to separately register for VAT, PAYE and a business bank account where applicable.
Do I need a tax number to register a company?
No. CIPC automatically registers your new company for income tax with SARS at the point of incorporation, and SARS issues a tax reference number. You only need to register separately for VAT (if turnover exceeds or is expected to exceed R1 million) and for PAYE/UIF once you employ staff.
How much does CIPC name reservation cost?
Reserving a company name with CIPC costs R50 and the reservation is valid for six months. You can propose up to four names per application. Reserving a name is optional — you can register a company using only its automatically allocated enterprise number and add a name later.