How to Check if a Company Name Is Available at CIPC (Step-by-Step Guide)

Before registering a new company in South Africa, it’s important to check whether your business name is available on the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) database.

CIPC manages all registered business names in South Africa — so if your desired name already exists or is too similar to another, your application will be rejected.

In this Smartbook guide, we’ll show you exactly how to check if your company name is available, what makes a name acceptable, and how Smartbook can reserve your name fast and correctly.

Why You Need to Check Name Availability 

Every registered company must have a unique and distinguishable name.

CIPC won’t allow duplicate or confusingly similar names.

Checking availability helps you:

• Avoid rejection when submitting your company registration

• Save time by ensuring your name is unique

• Protect your brand identity

• Comply with the Companies Act, 2008

Smartbook Tip: You can also register a company using your registration number as the name (called a numbered company) if you haven’t chosen a trading name yet.

CIPC Rules for Acceptable Company Names 

Before checking or reserving your name, make sure it follows these CIPC rules:

🚫 No offensive or misleading words

🚫 No use of words implying government connection (e.g. “South African Reserve Bank”)

🚫 No duplicate or confusingly similar names

✅ Must use permitted suffixes like “(Pty) Ltd” or “NPC”

✅ Can include abbreviations or brand names if unique

Example:

✅ Acceptable: Smartbook Consulting (Pty) Ltd

🚫 Rejected: Smart Books (Pty) Ltd — too similar to an existing name

How to Check if a Company Name Is Available at CIPC (Step-by-Step):

You can check name availability online before you register or reserve it officially.

Step 1: Go to the CIPC Name Search Portal 

Visit the official search page:👉 https://eservices.cipc.co.za/Search.aspx

You can also access it by going to https://eservices.cipc.co.za → Search → Company/Director Search.

Step 2: Enter the Name You Want to Check

In the search box, type the name you’d like to register (without “(Pty) Ltd”).Click “Search.”

The system will display a list of all matching or similar company names currently registered.

Step 3: Review the Results 

Look carefully at the results to see if your name (or anything similar) already exists.

Result Example	What It Means
Smartbook Consulting (Pty) Ltd	❌ Name not available
Smartbook Accountants (Pty) Ltd	⚠️ Similar — may be rejected
Smartbook Solutions (Pty) Ltd	⚠️ Too close — consider changing
Smartboard (Pty) Ltd	✅ Likely available

If your name is unique or sufficiently different, you can move on to reserving it.

Step 4: Reserve Your Name with CIPC 

Once you’ve confirmed availability, go to:👉 https://eservices.cipc.co.za → Name Reservation

Submit up to four name options in order of preference.If approved, CIPC will issue a CoR9.4

Name Reservation Certificate, valid for 6 months.

Step 5: Use the Reserved Name to Register Your Company 

When registering your company, upload your CoR9.4 certificate to confirm your approved business name.

If your name expires before you register, you can renew the reservation through the same portal.

Smartbook Tip: Get It Right the First Time 

CIPC rejects thousands of name applications each month for duplication or formatting errors.

Smartbook makes it easy — we’ll:

• Check your name availability with CIPC

• Suggest compliant alternatives if needed

• Reserve your chosen name and handle the full company registration

Just send us your desired company name, and we’ll check and reserve it for you — usually within 24 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is it free to check if a name is available at CIPC?

Yes — searching for name availability on the CIPC database is completely free.

2. Can I reserve a name before registering my company?

Yes. You can reserve up to four names with CIPC before or during company registration.

3. How long does a name reservation last?

A CoR9.4 name reservation certificate is valid for six months.

4. Can I change my company name later?

Yes. You can apply for a name change using the CoR15.2 form at any time.

5. Can Smartbook check and reserve my company name?

Absolutely! Smartbook can verify your name availability, reserve it, and handle your registration — all in one process.

Final Thoughts 

Checking your company name availability is a crucial first step in starting a business in South Africa.

It ensures your brand is unique, compliant, and ready for registration — and Smartbook can handle it all for you.