How to Register a Company Online for Free in South Africa (2026)

You cannot register a Pty Ltd company in South Africa completely free: the official CIPC fee is R175 (R125 registration plus R50 for a name), paid online on BizPortal. What you can do is register online yourself without paying an agent, get your SARS income tax number, B-BBEE certificate and CSD registration at no extra cost, and in some cases open a bank account through a bank that does the paperwork for you without charging a service fee.

This guide explains exactly what "free company registration" means in 2026, how to do it yourself on BizPortal step by step, which bank channels exist, what documents you need, how long it takes and what to do after you receive your registration certificate (COR 14.3).

Is company registration free in South Africa?

No, not strictly. The Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) charges a small government fee for every new private company. The fees on BizPortal at the time of writing are:

Fees can change, so always check the amount shown on BizPortal before you pay. Even so, R175 is the whole government cost of starting a company. Anyone who charges you R700, R1 000 or more is charging for their time and extras, not for a higher government fee.

So what does "free company registration" actually mean?

When you see an offer for free company registration, it is usually one of these:

• Do-it-yourself on BizPortal: you pay only the R175 CIPC fee and no agent fee. This is the cheapest legal route and what most people mean when they search "register a company online for free".
• A bank channel: some banks register the company for you when you open a new business account with them. The bank does not charge you for the service, but the CIPC fee is normally still payable.
• A bundle: a company or agent "gives" you registration when you buy something else (an accounting package, a website, a business bank account). The registration is paid for inside the price of the other product.
• Free extras: the tax number, B-BBEE certificate and Central Supplier Database (CSD) registration really are free. Be careful of anyone charging you for these.

If a website promises a completely free company with nothing to pay and nothing to buy, read the small print before you share your ID number.

What do you need to register a company online?

Have these ready before you start. It saves time and avoids rejected applications.

• A valid South African ID number for yourself and every director. BizPortal checks each ID against the Department of Home Affairs records, so names and ID numbers must match exactly.
• Each director's details: full names, cellphone number and email address. Directors must be at least 18 years old.
• Up to four proposed company names, in order of preference.
• A physical business address for the registered office (a street address, not a PO Box). Your home address is fine for a small business.
• A financial year end (most small companies choose the end of February to match the tax year).
• Your own cellphone and email, because BizPortal sends one-time PINs to verify you.
• A bank card to pay the R175 fee online.

Foreign nationals without a South African ID cannot use BizPortal for registration. They register through the CIPC e-Services website with a CIPC customer code instead.

How to register a company in South Africa for free (step by step on BizPortal)

BizPortal is the official CIPC website for registering new companies. It is the route that costs the least because there is no middleman.

1. Create a BizPortal account. Go to bizportal.gov.za and register as a customer using your SA ID number, email and cellphone. You will receive a one-time PIN to confirm your details.
2. Choose "Company Registration". Select a private company, (Pty) Ltd. This is the right choice for almost every small business.
3. Enter your proposed names. Add up to four name options. CIPC rejects names that are too similar to existing companies or trademarks, so pick distinctive names. If you need inspiration, see our list of company name ideas for South African businesses. You can also register without a name for R125 and add a name later.
4. Add the directors. Enter each director's ID number and contact details. At least one director is required for a private company. Double-check spelling against the ID document.
5. Add the address and financial year end. Enter the registered office address and choose your financial year end.
6. Accept the standard Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI). The short standard MOI suits most small companies. You can change it later if you bring in investors.
7. Tick any extra services you want. BizPortal lets you add options such as a business bank account referral, a domain name, a B-BBEE certificate and UIF registration in the same process.
8. Pay the fee. Pay R175 by card. If you do not pay within a few days, CIPC deletes the application and you must start again.
9. Wait for approval. CIPC emails you when the name is approved and the company is registered.
10. Download your documents. Your registration certificate (COR 14.3) and MOI are available as PDF files on BizPortal and are also emailed to you.

Tip: if your names keep getting rejected, register the company without a name first so you can start trading and opening accounts, then apply for a name change later.

How long does company registration take?

BizPortal advertises registration in one day, and many applications really are approved within 24 to 72 hours. In practice, allow 1 to 7 working days. The most common reason for delays is rejected names, which can add a week or two while you submit new options. Registration through a bank is usually slower (FNB, for example, says its process can take up to 10 working days after your documents and payment are received), because the bank submits the application to CIPC on your behalf.

Can a bank register your company for free?

Yes, some can, but read what "free" covers. Several major banks are linked to BizPortal, so when you register on BizPortal you can ask one of the partner banks to contact you about a business account. BizPortal offers accounts with the big banks, and its partner list has included ABSA, Capitec, FNB, Nedbank and Standard Bank.

Bank offers change often, so check the bank's own website or branch before you rely on a free registration promise. Remember that the account itself has a monthly fee, so "free registration" through a bank is really a way of attracting you as a banking customer. That is not a bad deal if you needed a business account anyway.

What documents does a bank need from a new company?

To open a business account after registration, banks generally ask for your COR 14.3 certificate, the MOI, the ID documents of the directors, proof of the business address (not older than three months) and the company's tax number. Some banks accept everything through their app.

What do you get after registering: the COR 14.3 and other documents

• Registration number in the format YYYY/XXXXXX/07. The "07" means a private company.
• COR 14.3 Registration Certificate: the official proof that your company exists. This is the document banks, clients and tender offices ask for. It is a PDF you download from BizPortal, which is why many people search for "register a company online for free pdf".
• Memorandum of Incorporation (MOI): the company's founding rules.
• SARS income tax reference number: every new company is registered with SARS automatically, so you do not need to apply separately for the company's tax number.

Your documents are free to download for the first 30 days. After that CIPC charges a small fee for copies, so save them to your computer and email as soon as they arrive.

What to do after registering your company

Registration is step one. These next steps turn a certificate into a working business.

1. Set up the company on SARS eFiling

The tax number is issued automatically, but a company cannot log in to eFiling on its own. A director or accountant must register as the company's representative taxpayer on eFiling and link the company to their profile. You only need to register for VAT if your taxable sales go over the compulsory threshold (R2.3 million a year from 1 April 2026), or if you choose to register voluntarily.

2. File your beneficial ownership information

CIPC requires every company to declare who ultimately owns and controls it. File this on the CIPC website soon after registration. It is free, and CIPC will not accept your annual returns without it.

3. Open a business bank account

Keep business money separate from personal money from day one. Compare monthly fees: small businesses often do well with a low-fee account and upgrade later.

4. Get a B-BBEE affidavit or certificate

Small businesses with turnover under R10 million qualify as Exempted Micro Enterprises (EMEs). You can get a free B-BBEE certificate on BizPortal, or sign a sworn affidavit (using the official EME affidavit template) at a commissioner of oaths such as a police station. You should not have to pay a consultant for this at EME level.

5. Register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD)

If you want to do business with government departments or municipalities, register on the CSD. It is free, and you need your company registration number, tax number, bank details and director information.

6. Register a domain and professional email address

Clients, banks and tender officials take info@yourcompany.co.za much more seriously than a Gmail address. Once your name is approved, secure the matching .co.za domain before someone else does. BizPortal lets you reserve a .co.za domain during registration, but you still need an email host to create mailboxes on it. Our guide on how to create a .co.za email address explains the whole process.

7. Stay compliant every year

Every company must file an annual return with CIPC each year in the month of its registration anniversary. Small companies pay a modest fee (it depends on turnover), and late returns cost more. If you skip annual returns for long enough, CIPC can deregister the company. You also submit an annual income tax return (ITR14) to SARS, even if the company made no money.

Common mistakes when registering a company online

• Paying an agent for free services. The tax number, EME B-BBEE certificate, CSD registration and beneficial ownership filing cost nothing.
• Names that are too generic. "Best Construction" or "Mzansi Trading" will almost certainly be rejected. Add a unique word, a surname or a place name.
• Typing errors in director details. The ID check fails if spelling does not match Home Affairs records.
• Not paying on time. Unpaid applications are deleted after a few days.
• Forgetting annual returns. Many small companies get deregistered simply because nobody filed the annual return.
• Using a free email address on tenders and quotes. It makes a registered company look unregistered. See how to get a domain email without a website.

Do you even need a company?

Not always. If you work alone, have low risk and are not chasing tenders or corporate clients yet, you can trade as a sole proprietor using your own ID and tax number, with nothing to register at CIPC. A company makes sense when you want limited liability, want to bring in partners, need to tender, or clients insist on a registration number. We compare the options in detail in do I need to register my small business in South Africa.

Summary: the cheapest way to register a company in 2026

1. Register yourself on BizPortal and pay only the R175 CIPC fee (or R125 without a name).
2. Get your SARS tax number automatically, and your B-BBEE certificate, CSD registration and beneficial ownership filing for free.
3. If you need a business bank account anyway, ask whether the bank will handle the registration at no service fee.
4. Secure your .co.za domain and set up a professional email address so your new company looks the part.