Company Registration Durban covers registering a new private company with CIPC and getting it operational: name reservation, incorporation, tax registration, a bank account and the compliance obligations that start immediately.
Registration itself is cheap and fast. What follows costs more, which is what most people underestimate.
Whether you need a name reserved, how many directors and shareholders, and whether you want tax and bank setup included.
Get Quotes From Accountants in DurbanWhat Registration Involves
| Step | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Name reservation, if used | 1 - 5 business days |
| Incorporation at CIPC | 1 - 5 business days |
| Income tax number issued | Automatic on registration |
| Business bank account | 1 - 10 business days |
| UIF and COIDA registration | 3 - 15 business days |
| Beneficial ownership filing | Same day once registered |
| B-BBEE affidavit, if needed | Same day |
| CSD registration for government work | 5 - 15 business days |
Registering through BizPortal is usually the fastest route, and an income tax number is issued automatically on incorporation. UIF and COIDA registration can be done at the same time.
What You Need
- Director and shareholder details. Certified ID copies, contact details and email addresses for each.
- A physical registered address. A post box is not accepted.
- Name choices. Up to four, in order of preference, if you are reserving a name.
- Shareholding split. Who holds what percentage, agreed before registration rather than after.
- Financial year end. February is the default and simplest for tax alignment.
The First Month After Registration
- File beneficial ownership. Required, and it blocks your first annual return if missed.
- Open a business bank account. Keep business and personal money apart from day one.
- Register as an employer if you have staff. PAYE, UIF and SDL with SARS, plus COIDA separately.
- Set up accounting software. Cheaper than reconstructing a year of records later.
- Diarise the annual return date. Within 30 business days of your registration anniversary, every year.
- Consider a shareholders agreement. The standard MOI does not deal with deadlock, exits or what happens if a founder leaves.
A company creates permanent annual obligations at both SARS and CIPC from the day it is registered, whether it trades or not. See Accountants Durban for firms that handle the ongoing work.
Company Registration Durban Prices
Indicative Durban ranges, excluding VAT. CIPC fees are shown separately because they are fixed.
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| CIPC registration, no name | R125 | Paid to CIPC, registration number as the name |
| CIPC registration with a name | R175 | Via BizPortal |
| Name reservation | R50 electronic | Optional, up to four name choices |
| Customised MOI | R475 | Only if you depart from the standard MOI |
| Service provider fee | R500 - R2,000 | On top of the CIPC fee |
| Full registration package | R950 - R2,500 | CIPC fee, registration, share certificates |
| Package with bank account and tax setup | R1,800 - R4,500 | Including SARS registrations |
| VAT registration, if needed | R1,500 - R4,000 | Only above the threshold or voluntarily |
| PAYE, UIF and SDL registration | R1,000 - R3,000 | Once you employ anyone |
| B-BBEE affidavit | R0 - R950 | Free to complete, some providers charge |
Indicative Durban ranges, not a quotation. CIPC fees are fixed and public. Anything above them is the provider's service fee, so compare those separately.
Compare registration packages and what each one actually includes.
Compare Registration ProvidersFrequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to register a company in South Africa?
The CIPC fee is R125 without a name or R175 with a name reserved through BizPortal, plus R50 for name reservation. Service providers typically charge R500 to R2,000 on top, so a full package runs about R950 to R2,500.
How long does company registration take?
Through BizPortal, often one to five business days where documents are in order. Name reservations and customised MOIs add time, and rejections for incorrect documents are the usual cause of delay.
Do I need a name?
No. A company can be registered with its registration number as its name and a trading name used commercially. Reserving a name costs R50 and you can submit up to four choices in order of preference.
Do I need to register for VAT immediately?
No. VAT registration is compulsory only once taxable supplies exceed R2.3 million in any 12-month period. Voluntary registration is available from R120,000 if it suits your customer base.
What must a new company do every year?
File an ITR14 with SARS within 12 months of year end, submit provisional returns, prepare annual financial statements, and file a CIPC annual return with beneficial ownership information. These apply even if the company never trades.
Related Accounting Services in Durban
Accountants Durban is a free quote-comparison service. The accounting, tax and audit work is carried out by the independent firms and practitioners that quote you, and your engagement is with the firm you appoint. Ask each firm for its registration details, professional body membership and a written engagement letter before appointing anyone.
Company Registration Durban. Compare company registration packages from providers covering Durban.
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