Company registration, done for you
First, the honest version: you can do this yourself
Registering a private company directly with CIPC through BizPortal costs R125 without a name, or R175 with one. A name reservation on its own is R50, covers up to four proposed names, and holds for six months. Our free step-by-step guide walks through the whole thing. If you are comfortable with the process and have the time, you do not need us — and we would rather you knew that than found out later.
What the R899 actually buys
| Included | DIY at CIPC | Rateweb |
|---|---|---|
| Company registration (CIPC filing fee) | R125–R175 | ✓ included |
| Name reservation, resubmitted if rejected | R50 per try, your time | ✓ we handle rejections |
| SARS income tax number | DIY at SARS | ✓ included |
| Share certificates for founding shareholders | draft your own | ✓ included |
| B-BBEE affidavit | draft and commission | ✓ included |
| Beneficial-ownership filing | DIY on eServices | ✓ included |
| Business bank account — compared, not defaulted | — | ✓ see the comparison |
| Someone to phone when something sticks | CIPC call centre | ✓ that is the product |
How it works
- Tell us the basics — proposed names, directors, and when you want to start. Two minutes, no documents.
- We confirm and verify. We contact you, confirm the details, and complete the legally required identity checks with each director through a secure channel. South African law requires us to verify who we are registering a company for — treat any provider that skips this as a warning sign, not a convenience.
- We file and follow up — name reservation, incorporation, beneficial ownership, tax number. If a name is rejected we move to your next choice and tell you, rather than going quiet.
- You get the pack — registration certificate, MOI, share certificates, B-BBEE affidavit, tax number — and a comparison of business bank accounts so the next step is ready.
How we compare — named, priced, dated
Most providers in this market compare themselves to nobody. Here are the published prices of the three best-known services as of July 2026, next to ours and next to doing it yourself:
| Provider | Published price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Yourself, at CIPC | R125–R175 | Our free guide covers it |
| SwiftReg | from ~R460 | Basic filing; the statutory extras are add-ons |
| Rateweb | R899 | Full statutory pack, DIY cost disclosed above |
| Company Partners | R899 | Bronze package |
| Govchain | R950 | Comparable pack; further services priced on request |
Where we part company with the industry is what happens around the filing. The pattern in this market is a cheap-looking registration followed by a subscription to stay "penalty-free" — with the deadlines themselves kept vague, because the vagueness is what sells the subscription. We publish the deadlines. Our free compliance calendar takes your incorporation date and gives you every CIPC and SARS date that keeps your company alive, whether or not you ever pay us a rand. And when you need a business bank account, you get our comparison of the market — not whichever bank pays a registration agent the best referral fee.
Straight answers
How long does it take? Typically 3–5 working days end to end once your details are confirmed, most of which is CIPC processing. Passport-only directors take longer because CIPC's verification path for them is slower — we will tell you upfront rather than promise a date we can't hold.
Why are you cheaper than some and dearer than others? The market runs from about R460 to R4,700. Below us you generally get the filing alone; above us the packages bundle websites and business cards. R899 is the full statutory pack — registration, name, tax number, share certificates, B-BBEE affidavit — with no upsell built into the price.
Do I need a company at all? Not always — a sole proprietorship has no registration cost and less admin, and for many one-person businesses it is the right answer. A Pty Ltd separates your personal assets from the business, looks stronger to clients and funders, and is required for some contracts and tenders. If you are not sure, read the guide before paying anyone.
What happens to my information? It is used by Rateweb to deliver this service and for nothing else. It is not sold, shared with partners, or added to marketing lists without a separate opt-in. Identity verification is a legal requirement for company formation services and happens through a secure channel after you engage us — never over email.
What about after registration? Every company must file an annual return with CIPC each year or face deregistration — that is a real, recurring obligation most new owners learn about the hard way. We will remind you when yours is due. When you need a business bank account, a card machine or funding, the comparisons are already here.
