Company Registration Search South Africa: How to Do It.

How to Search for a Registered Company in South Africa

To search for a registered company in South Africa, you use the CIPC (Companies and Intellectual Property Commission) online portal. CIPC is the government body responsible for registering and maintaining records of all companies and close corporations in the country. Anyone can search for a company on the CIPC website, and you do not need to be the owner of the company to do so.

The search allows you to see if a company exists, what its registration number is, whether it is active or deregistered, and who the directors are. This is useful if you are checking on a potential business partner, verifying a supplier for a tender, or confirming that your own company registration was successful.

Why You Might Need to Do a Company Search

There are several reasons you might want to search for a company on the CIPC database:

1. You want to confirm that a company is legitimately registered before doing business with them.
2. You are applying for a tender and need to verify the details of subcontractors or joint venture partners.
3. You registered your own company through a service provider and want to confirm it was actually done.
4. You need to find a company's registration number to request a B-BBEE certificate or a tax clearance certificate.
5. You want to check whether a company name is still available before you register it.

How to Do a Company Registration Search on CIPC

The CIPC website has a public search function that anyone can use. Here is the step by step process:

1. Go to the CIPC website at cipc.co.za.
2. Click on the "Search" or "eServices" option on the homepage.
3. You can search by company name, registration number, or enterprise number.
4. If you are searching by name, type in the name or part of the name of the company you are looking for.
5. The system will show you a list of companies that match your search.
6. Click on the company name to see more details.

The information you can see from a basic search includes the company name, registration number, company status (active, in business rescue, deregistered), and the type of company (Pty Ltd, NPC, etc).

What Information Can You Get from a CIPC Search?

A basic company search on CIPC will give you the following information:

• Company name and any previous names
• Registration number
• Company status (active, deregistered, in liquidation)
• Company type (Private Company, Public Company, Non-Profit Company, Personal Liability Company)
• Registration date
• Registered address

If you want more detailed information, such as the list of directors or the full company profile, you may need to register for a CIPC account and log in. Some detailed information requires you to be a registered customer of CIPC.

Searching for a Close Corporation (CC)

Close Corporations are no longer registered in South Africa, but many still exist from before the new Companies Act came into effect. You can still search for a CC on the CIPC portal using the same search function. The status will show whether the CC is still active or has been deregistered.

If you are doing business with a CC, it is important to check that it is still active. A deregistered CC cannot trade legally.

Checking Company Name Availability

If you are planning to register a new company and want to check if your chosen name is available, you can also use the CIPC search function. Type in the name you want and see if any existing companies already have that name or a very similar one.

CIPC will reject a name that is too similar to an existing company name, so it is worth checking before you submit your name reservation. Keep in mind that CIPC also has rules about what names are allowed. You cannot use a name that is offensive, misleading, or that implies a connection with the government or the state without permission.

What to Do If You Cannot Find a Company

If you search for a company on CIPC and cannot find it, there are a few possible reasons:

1. The company name you are searching for is slightly different from the registered name. Try searching with just part of the name.
2. The company has been deregistered. Deregistered companies may not appear in a basic search.
3. The company was never registered. Some businesses operate as sole proprietors and are not registered with CIPC.
4. The company is registered under a holding company or a different trading name.

If you still cannot find the company after trying different search terms, you can contact CIPC directly for assistance. You can also visit a CIPC office in person.

Using the CSD to Verify Suppliers

If you are checking on a company for tender purposes, you should also look at the Central Supplier Database (CSD). The CSD is the database that government departments and municipalities use to find suppliers. A company that wants to do business with government must be registered on the CSD.

You can search the CSD by supplier name or registration number. This will tell you whether the company is registered as a supplier, what their B-BBEE status is, and what categories of goods or services they are registered to supply.

Other Places to Search for Company Information

Besides CIPC, there are other places where you can find information about a South African company:

• The Companies Tribunal can provide information about company disputes and deregistrations.
• SARS can confirm whether a company has a tax number and is tax compliant, though you need the company's permission for this.
• The CSD, as mentioned above, for supplier verification.
• Credit bureaus can provide company credit reports, though these usually come at a cost.

How KAGO Can Help

If you are searching for a company because you want to register your own, KAGO can help you with the full registration process. Our Registration Basic package at R995 covers the standard company registration with CIPC. If you need a complete setup including a business plan, financial plan, company profile, and compliance documents, our Kago Complete package at R7,995 gives you everything you need to start your business properly.

KAGO does not do company searches on your behalf. You can do that yourself on the CIPC website for free. But once you have confirmed that your company name is available, we can handle the registration process for you from start to finish.

Tips for a Successful Company Search

Here are a few things to keep in mind when doing a company registration search:

• Use the exact spelling if you have it. CIPC search is not always forgiving of spelling mistakes.
• If you are not sure of the full name, type in just the first word or two.
• Remember that some companies trade under a different name from their registered name. The registered name is what appears on CIPC.
• The registration number is the most reliable way to search. If you have it, use it.
• If a company was recently registered, it may take a few days to appear in the search results.

Understanding Company Status on CIPC

When you search for a company, the status field tells you whether the company is still operating legally. Here is what the different statuses mean:

• Active: The company is registered and in good standing. It can trade legally.
• In Business Rescue: The company is under financial distress and is going through a rescue process.
• In Liquidation: The company is being wound up and its assets are being sold to pay creditors.
• Deregistered: The company has been removed from the CIPC register. It can no longer trade.
• Deregistration Process: The company is in the process of being deregistered.

If you are doing business with a company and its status is anything other than active, you should be cautious. A deregistered company cannot enter into valid contracts.

Final Thoughts

Doing a company registration search in South Africa is straightforward and free. The CIPC portal is the official source of company information, and anyone can use it. Whether you are verifying a supplier, checking on a business partner, or confirming your own registration, the CIPC search is your first stop.

If you need help with registering a new company, KAGO offers fixed-price packages that cover everything from basic registration to a complete business setup with plans, profiles, and compliance documents. We cannot guarantee funding or make promises about what CIPC will approve, but we can make sure your registration is done correctly and your business is set up the right way from the start.

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