Online Business registration South Africa – How to register a company online in South Africa – How to register a small business in South Africa

Where do I register my small business?

1. You can register your company on-line on the Companies and material possession Commission (CIPC) web site, or on the Bizportal.gov.za website, a platform created by the CIPC that gives company registration and connected services.
2. You can conjointly register your company via a bank, together with Nedbank and 1st full service bank.
   [UPDATE] in our own way to register your business is to source the admin to businesses that have the experience to supply company registration services and connected services.
3. several of them give prepacked services that embody company registration and connected services like respiratory disease consulting, labour registrations, CIDB registration, and upgrades, tax returns/ compliance, or accounting services.

If you would like to speak to a professional to guide you through the process of registering your business, you can join Startwise. Startwise is an online consulting platform built exclusively for South African SME’s to have access to experts in their fields to guide you on all aspects of starting your own business.

What is the CIPC and what does the law say?

​The firms and material possession Registration workplace (CIPRO) was replaced by the businesses and material possession Commission (CIPC) in might 2011, along with the New firms Act, the act modified the means business homeowners had to register their firms. The Act stipulates that no new shut firms (CC) will be registered, however those registered before one might might still operate as CCs.

All firms constitute specific classes with, every with specific necessities in terms of the documentation that’s needed. {the firms|the businesses} Act provides for 2 main classes of firms – non-profit and profit companies, with different varieties falling beneath these classes.

What types of companies can register with the CIPC?

You can choose to register your company as one of the following:

1. Non-profit companies: A company incorporated for public benefit or other object relating to one or more cultural or social activities, or communal or group interests.

2. Profit companies: A business/organisation whose primary goal is making money, this includes anything from retail stores to restaurants to insurance companies to real estate companies.

3. Personal liability companies: Company directors and past directors are jointly liable for any debts and liabilities arising during their periods in office. The company name ends with the word ‘incorporated’.

4. Public companies: A public company is one that has issued securities through an initial public offering (IPO) and is traded on at least one stock exchange. It has more than 50 shareholders and its shares are offered to the public.

5. Private companies: These are similar to what was previously known as close corporations. Some of the changes made to private companies include fewer disclosure and transparency requirements, no longer being limited to 50 shareholders, and with a board that must comprise at least one director. The name of a private company must end with the expression ‘Proprietary Limited’ or ‘(Pty) Ltd’.

How long does it take to register a company?

According to the Online PTY Registration, a name reservation takes between seven to 21 days. A company certificate can be registered within three to five days afterward, depending on whether you have submitted your documents on time, and the workload of the registrar’s office.

How many Directors are allowed in a company?

At least one director.

Can I register a company if I have been blacklisted?

Yes.

Can foreigners register a company in South Africa?

Yes. In order to do this, you need to provide a valid passport copy or RSA ID document and have a residential address in South Africa.

Am I allowed to register a company without a company name?

Yes. in step with the CIPC, in terms of the businesses Act, 2008, an organization is also registered with or while not an organization name. an organization that’s registered while not a reserved name can still get a number, this may mechanically become the company’s name.

CIPC says the corporate will interact with a mercantilism (business) name or could apply to feature a reserved name at a later stage. during this case, the corporate can have to be compelled to 1st reserve a reputation so apply for a reputation amendment.

How does the name reservation work?

The process: According to the CIPC, if your initial name reservation application is not approved, you will need to apply for new names. During each application process you may apply for up to four names during each application process.
The cost: Each name reservation application costs R50. A company registration may vary between R125 and R475 (R125 for a private company, R475 for a non-profit company registered without members).

Should I register my new small business for tax?

​For each new business established, you’re needed to register along with your native severe acute respiratory syndrome workplace to get AN tax reference variety. Registration should be done at intervals sixty days when beginning operations by finishing AN IT77 type, accessible at your native severe acute respiratory syndrome workplace or from the severe acute respiratory syndrome web site.

Small businesses with a turnover of up to R1 million once a year can currently be ready to pay sure taxes (turnover tax, VAT and employees’ tax) double rather than once a year, creating the method additional economical for qualifying tiny business house owners.

Turnover tax could be a simplified legal system to form it easier for small businesses to accommodates their tax obligations. Turnover tax is figured out by applying a rate to the assessable turnover of a small business. looking on different factors like turnover, payroll amounts, whether or not you’re concerned in imports and exports etc. you may even be susceptible to register for different taxes, duties, levies and contributions like VAT, withholding tax (Pay-as-you-earn) UIF contributions (unemployment insurance contributions).

Where am i able to apply for funding when registering my business?

According to the South African Government, you’ll apply for various sorts of funding which is offered through the economic Development Corporation or the Department of Trade and Industry’s Government Investment Incentives. Besides government funding, you’ll conjointly apply for funding from the personal sector

What support is available to me after I have registered my business?

The Small Enterprise Development Agency (Seda) provides business development and support services for small enterprises. Seda will give you all the information you need to start a business, including how to write a business plan, and once you have a business, to grow it.

Other Services You Can Apply for on the CIPC  Portal

You can also apply for the following services on the Bizportal.gov.za portal: business bank accounts, tax registration, B-BBEE certificates, Compensation Fund and UIF registration, Company name changes, address changes, and Annual Returns (Turnover based). For the Annual Returns (Turnover based) you can pay from R100. The rest of the above services are free.

Should I register my company domain name as well?

In 2018, the .ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA), partnered with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) to enable businesses to register their domain name and business name simultaneously.

Domain name registration should be part of your trademark protection process.

“It is highly critical for a business to secure its domain name as early as possible to prevent online brand identity theft. A domain name gives your business digital presence and accessibility moreover, it enables a business an online brand establishment,” said Angel Selebano, Communications and Awareness Coordinator at .ZA Domain Name Authority (ZADNA).