Business Hub · South Africa
Business guides for South African entrepreneurs
Plain-language guides to starting, registering, running and growing a business in South Africa. Each guide answers the questions people actually ask, links to the official source and shows when it was last reviewed. Written by Uminathi Business Start-Up Services.
Start & register
- How to open a business bank account in South AfricaWhat documents South African banks need to open a business bank account for a company or sole proprietor, how to choose an account, and how to avoid delays.
- How to price your products and servicesA practical way for South African small businesses to set prices from real costs: labour, materials, overheads, VAT, margins and break-even, with a worked example.
- How to register a company in South AfricaA step-by-step guide to registering a private company (Pty) Ltd with CIPC in South Africa: documents, names, timelines, costs and what to do after registration.
- How to write a business plan in South AfricaWhat to include in a South African business plan, how funders read it, and how to build realistic financial projections for banks, development funders and investors.
Compliance
- How to file CIPC annual returnsWhen South African companies must file CIPC annual returns, the fees by turnover, how to file, and what happens if you miss them, including deregistration.
- How to get a tax clearance certificate (tax compliance status PIN) in South AfricaHow to get a SARS tax compliance status (TCS) PIN, the modern tax clearance certificate, for tenders, CSD and clients in South Africa, and how to fix a non-compliant status.
- How to register for COIDA and get a letter of good standingWhat COIDA is, who must register with the Compensation Fund, and how to file returns and get a letter of good standing for contracts and tenders.
Tenders
- How to get a B-BBEE certificate or sworn affidavit for a small businessHow small South African businesses prove their B-BBEE level with a sworn affidavit instead of a verification audit: EME and QSE thresholds, levels, and how to get one.
- How to get government tenders in South AfricaHow small South African businesses find and win government tenders: CSD, compliance documents, preference points and writing a strong bid.
- How to register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD)How to register your business on National Treasury's Central Supplier Database (CSD) to sell to government in South Africa: documents, steps, verification and common problems.
- How to register with the CIDB as a contractorHow South African construction contractors register on the cidb Register of Contractors, how grades and classes of work work, what you need for Grade 1, and how to upgrade.
- How to write a company profile for clients and tendersWhat a South African company profile should include for clients and tenders: services, experience, compliance documents and references.
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Looking for something else? Browse our articles on running a business or see all Uminathi services.