Question 1

What is CIPC company registration?

Accepted Answer

Company registration is the process of legally establishing a business as a separate entity with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
This gives the business its own legal identity, rights, and responsibilities.

Question 2

What types of companies can be registered?

Accepted Answer

Common types include:
 • Private Companies (PTY Ltd)
 • Non-Profit Companies (NPC)
 • Personal Liability Companies (Inc)
 • Public Companies

Each type has different requirements and governance structures.

Question 3

How long does registration take?

Accepted Answer

Typical company registration takes 1–7 working days, depending on name approval and CIPC processing speed.

Question 4

Do I need a company name to register?

Accepted Answer

Not necessarily.
You can register a numbered company and change the name later.
However, most businesses prefer reserving a name upfront.

Question 5

What documents are required?

Accepted Answer

• Director ID copies
 • Proof of address
 • Name options (if reserving a name)

CIPC may request additional documents depending on the structure.

Question 6

Can foreigners register a company?

Accepted Answer

Yes — as long as they have a valid passport.
A South African address is still required for business registration.

Question 7

What is a MOI (Memorandum of Incorporation)?

Accepted Answer

The MOI outlines the governance rules of a company.
For standard PTY Ltd registrations, CIPC provides a short standard MOI.

Question 8

Is a tax number automatically issued?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Once registered, SARS automatically generates a tax number for the company.

Question 9

Do companies need a bank account?

Accepted Answer

Yes, especially for compliance, tenders, and payroll.
Banks require your CIPC documents and SARS tax number.

Question 10

What is an enterprise number?

Accepted Answer

It is the unique registration number given by CIPC, starting with “202X/…../07”.

Question 11

Do companies have annual compliance requirements?

Accepted Answer

Yes — annual returns must be filed with CIPC to avoid deregistration.

Question 12

Can a company operate without registering?

Accepted Answer

Only as a sole proprietor.
If you want a PTY Ltd, you must register with CIPC.

Question 13

Can directors be added or removed later?

Accepted Answer

Yes — CIPC allows director amendments via formal submissions.

Question 14

What happens if my name is rejected?

Accepted Answer

You must submit new name options.
Names are rejected if they are too similar to existing ones or misleading.

Question 15

Can I reserve multiple name options?

Accepted Answer

Yes — up to four names can be submitted for reservation.

Question 16

Does company registration expire?

Accepted Answer

No. But companies can be deregistered if annual returns are not filed.

Question 17

Do small businesses need a shareholder agreement?

Accepted Answer

Recommended, especially for multiple founders.
A shareholder agreement clarifies ownership and responsibilities.

Question 18

Is a PTY Ltd better than a sole proprietor?

Accepted Answer

Yes — it offers limited liability protection and better credibility for contracts and tenders.

Question 19

Can a company register for VAT immediately?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but VAT is separate from company registration.

Question 20

What happens after registration?

Accepted Answer

You receive:
 • CIPC documents
 • Tax number
 • MOI

You can then proceed with tax compliance, bank account setup, and trading.

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