You reserve a company name by submitting a name-reservation application through CIPC and waiting for its written approval. An online reservation costs R50, and a name search alone does not reserve the name or guarantee that CIPC will approve it.
Before you spend money on signs, a domain or printed invoices, check the proposed name and decide whether you need a company name, a trading name or a trademark. These are different forms of protection. Your accounting records and customer documents must still identify the legal business behind the name.
What a name reservation does
A reservation is CIPC's approval of a proposed company name for use in the incorporation or name-change process. It is not the same as registering the company. You must complete the company-registration application afterwards, or follow the name-change process for an existing company.
CIPC confirms an approved reservation in writing on a CoR9.4 notice. Keep that notice and the reference number with your company documents. Until you have the confirmation, do not tell a supplier or customer that the name has been approved. A successful search is only a preliminary check.
What it costs
The verified online name-reservation fee is R50. Standard company registration costs R125 without a reserved name, or R175 with name reservation included. These are government fees, not an accountant's or service provider's fee. A failed reservation does not mean CIPC must refund the application fee.
Read the company-registration cost guide to separate the incorporation fee from later obligations. Bookkeeping, payroll, tax returns and annual company filings are not all included in the registration fee. Avoid treating the cheapest application as the complete cost of running a company.
How to check if a company name is available
Log in to CIPC eServices and use the name-search function to look for registered and reserved names. Search the distinctive part of your proposed name, then try spelling variations and similar wording. A name can create a problem even when it is not an exact character-for-character match.
Also look for existing businesses and trademarks using the name. Do not assume that an available website address gives you permission to use the name. CIPC's name-reservation guidance says preliminary searches do not guarantee approval. Only the formal confirmation reserves the proposed name.
If you want to check the status or directors of an existing business rather than reserve a new name, use the CIPC company-registration search guide. Searching for an existing company answers a different question from reserving your own name.
How to submit the reservation
Create or use your CIPC customer account and check that its contact details are current.
Prepare distinctive proposed names in your preferred order. Avoid wording that suggests an official connection or a connection with another business that you do not have.
Open the name-reservation service and complete the application. Check the spelling before paying.
Pay the online reservation fee using the method shown by CIPC. Save the transaction reference and proof of payment.
Monitor the application and read any request for additional information. If the name needs consent or supporting documents, follow the current platform instructions.
Download and retain the CoR9.4 confirmation when the reservation is approved.
Use the reservation details when you register the company. If your existing company already has another registered name, use the company-name change service instead of registering a second business by mistake.
What causes problems
Names that are too similar to another protected name, misleading or restricted can be rejected. Adding a common business word may not solve a similarity problem. Read the rejection reason before applying again, and change the part of the name that caused the issue rather than submitting the same wording repeatedly.
Keep copies of any consent you rely on. Where you claim an association with an existing business, CIPC may require supporting documentation. Do not invent an association because it makes the proposed name sound more credible. If there is a dispute over another business's rights, get advice before using the name commercially.
What to do after approval
Complete incorporation, keep the registration documents and use the correct registered name on business paperwork. Set up your securities records and beneficial-ownership information. A name reservation does not replace these steps, and it does not activate every SARS tax type your business might need.
Plan the bookkeeping and tax setup before the first transactions become difficult to trace. A clear business bank account, invoice numbering and document-storage system are useful from the start. Smartbook's main service is ongoing accounting and financial management, with CIPC administration available alongside it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a name search the same as a reservation? No. A search helps identify possible conflicts. Your name is reserved only when CIPC issues its written confirmation.
Can I register without reserving a name? Yes. The verified registration fee without a name is R125. If you want a reserved company name included, the government registration fee is R175.
Does a reservation protect my trademark? No. Company-name approval and trademark protection are separate. Check the rights attached to the brand you intend to use.
Can Smartbook help after registration? Yes. Smartbook handles monthly accounting, payroll and tax work, and can help with the company's CIPC administration.
Where should I check current application instructions? Use CIPC's official name-reservation guidance and the instructions in its eServices platform. Follow any document request attached to your own application.