START A COMPANY / AFRICA
How to register a company in South Africa
Register a (Pty) Ltd through CIPC (or BizPortal for ID holders): reserve a name, file the Memorandum of Incorporation, pay the fee, and receive the certificate within days. Then register with SARS for income tax and VAT, and with UIF.
- REGISTRY
- Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC)
- ONLINE
- Fully online
- FROM
- ZAR 0 (≈ £1)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Yes. Foreigners can own 100% of a Pty Ltd and be directors; no local director is required. You need passports, a South African registered address and a bank account (KYC is strict). Share and cash transfers out of the country follow exchange control rules; work visas are separate.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
(Pty) Ltd: Private Company (Proprietary) Limited
Most businesses, local or foreign-owned, wanting limited liability.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder and 1 director
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1 to 5 working days
Steps
Create a CIPC customer account (or use BizPortal with a South African ID).
Reserve the company name (about R50).
File the incorporation form (CoR14.1) with the Memorandum of Incorporation and director details.
Upload certified passport or ID copies for each director and shareholder.
Pay the CIPC registration fee (about R175 with name, R125 without).
Receive the registration certificate and company number.
Register with SARS for income tax and VAT, and open a bank account.
Documents
- Certified passport or ID of directors and shareholders
- Memorandum of Incorporation
- Registered address proof
- Name reservation
Official fees
CIPC registration about R125 plus R50 name reservation (about R175 total, unverified for 2026).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | ZAR 200≈ £9 | DIY: CIPC registration and name reservation, about |
| With an accountant or agent | ZAR 2,500≈ £110 | About: with an accountant or registration agent, including tax setup |
| Full service | ZAR 12,000≈ £550 | About: lawyer, registered address, visa and bank help |
Every year
- File CIPC annual return and pay annual fee (anniversary of registration)
- File beneficial ownership information with CIPC
- Annual income tax return to SARS
- VAT returns every two months if registered
- Provisional tax and employee taxes (PAYE, UIF, SDL)
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: fee figures from secondary sources; confirm on the CIPC or BizPortal fee page.
BRANCH OF A FOREIGN COMPANY
External company: Branch of a foreign company (External Company)
A foreign company carrying on business in South Africa without forming a subsidiary.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- Foreign parent and a local representative
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1 to 3 weeks
Steps
Prepare certified copies of the parent's incorporation documents.
Apostille them and translate to English if needed.
Complete the CoR20.1A form with directors and local address.
Reserve the name (CIPC).
Submit with the fee to CIPC within 20 business days of starting business.
Receive the registration certificate.
Register with SARS and open a bank account.
Documents
- Parent certificate and constitution
- Director list
- Local address and contact
- Certified, apostilled copies
Official fees
CIPC fee about R425 (unverified).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | ZAR 500≈ £23 | DIY: CIPC fee only, about |
| With an accountant or agent | ZAR 6,000≈ £270 | About: agent and document legalisation |
| Full service | ZAR 20,000≈ £910 | About: lawyer, address and bank help |
Every year
- Annual return to CIPC
- Tax return on South African profits
- VAT returns
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: exchange control approval may apply to funding from abroad.
SOLE TRADER
Sole proprietor: Sole Proprietor (no registration)
Individuals trading or freelancing under their own or a trade name.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 individual
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 1 to 5 days
Steps
Choose your business activity.
Register with SARS for income tax via eFiling.
Register for VAT if turnover is above R1 million.
Open a business bank account.
Get any municipal or sector licence.
Register for UIF if you hire staff.
Documents
- South African ID or valid visa
- Proof of address
- Bank details
Official fees
No registration fee with CIPC; SARS registration is free.
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | ZAR 0≈ £1 | DIY: no official fee |
| With an accountant or agent | ZAR 1,000≈ £46 | About: accountant setup for first year |
| Full service | ZAR 3,000≈ £140 | About: accountant and licence help |
Every year
- Annual income tax return
- Provisional tax twice a year
- VAT returns if registered
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: non-residents need the right visa to work for themselves.
After you register
- Register the company with SARS: corporate tax is 27% and VAT is 15% (mandatory above R1 million turnover in 12 months).
- Register with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the Compensation Fund; pay SDL if payroll is above R500,000 a year.
- Open a corporate bank account (needs CIPC certificate, MOI, directors' passports and proof of address).
- File beneficial ownership information with CIPC.
- Get municipal licences and sector approvals; B-BBEE affidavit if you sell to larger customers.
- Check exchange control rules (SARB) if moving money in and out of South Africa.
- Keep accounting records for at least 5 years.
Sources
Checked against:
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Africa
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.