South Africa company search by name
Free, official, source-cited — updated 2026-06.
Search Company Records in South Africa
3 free lookups per day. No sign-up required.
How do I search for a company by name in South Africa?
To search South Africa companies by name, enter the name (or the first part of it) into the search box. Matches are returned from CIPC with Registration number, Company name, Type, Status. Name search is free and needs no account.
Step-by-step
- 1
Enter the company name
Type the trading or legal name. You do not need the full name — the first distinctive word is usually enough.
- 2
Narrow ambiguous matches
Common names return several entities. Use the registered address, incorporation date, or entity type ((Pty) Ltd (Private Company), Ltd (Public Company), Personal Liability Company (Inc.)) to identify the right one.
- 3
Open the matching record
Each result links to a full record showing Registration number, Company name, Type, Status.
- 4
Cross-check against CIPC
For KYC or contract files, confirm the record against the primary source at https://www.cipc.co.za.
https://www.cipc.co.za
Frequently asked questions
Can I search South Africa companies by name for free?
Yes. Name search against CIPC is free and requires no account. Certified extracts and filed documents may carry a fee on the official register.
What if I only know part of the company name?
Partial name search works — enter the distinctive part and review the matches. Adding the city or entity type helps when the name is common.
What does a South Africa company search return?
Each record shows Registration number, Company name, Type, Status, sourced from CIPC.
What is a (Pty) Ltd?
Pty Ltd (Proprietary Limited) is South Africa's private company, equivalent to a Ltd. It restricts the transfer of shares and limits the number of shareholders to 50. There's no minimum capital requirement. It's the most common company type in South Africa.
People also ask about search for a company by name in South Africa
The exact questions searchers type into Google — answered from the primary source.
Is the South Africa company register free to search?
Yes. Basic company lookups on the CIPC are free — you can search by company name or registration number, view legal status, registered address and (usually) directors at no cost. Some jurisdictions charge a small fee only for downloading full filed documents.
What is the official South Africa business registry?
The CIPC is the official public register of companies incorporated in South Africa. It is operated by the government and is the primary source cited on this page — https://www.cipc.co.za.
Related guides and tools
More South Africa guides
- Search the company register
What the official register holds, and how to search it free.
- Search the business registry
Match a trading name to the registered legal entity behind it.
- Find the right entity
Tell apart several entities registered under near-identical names.
- Look up a company by number
Search by the official identifier — exactly one entity, every time.
South Africa data
- South Africa company search
Search every CIPC record.