Business, CIPC & SARS
How to Reserve a Company Name with CIPC on BizPortal
Before you register a company, you can reserve the name you want with CIPC so no one else takes it. Here is how name reservation works on BizPortal and CIPC eServices, and how it fits into registering the company itself.
Quick answer
You reserve a company name with CIPC by lodging a name application (Form CoR 9.1) on BizPortal or CIPC eServices, listing up to four names in order of preference. CIPC confirms an approved name on a CoR 9.4. A reservation is generally held for a limited period and can be extended. You can also register the company and name together. Confirm current fees on cipc.co.za and bizportal.gov.za.
Key points
- Name reservation is optional; you can also register the company and its name in one step.
- You apply on Form CoR 9.1 and may submit up to four proposed names in order of preference.
- An approved name is confirmed on a CoR 9.4 and is held for a limited period (confirm current validity on cipc.co.za).
- A name search is not a guarantee, CIPC can still decline a name, and reservation fees are typically non-refundable.
- An approved CIPC name can still clash with an existing trade mark, so check trade marks too.
- Apply directly on BizPortal or eServices and avoid intermediaries who charge large mark-ups on a low-cost service.
Step by step
Why reserve a name at all
Reserving a company name with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) lets you lock in the name you want before someone else registers it, and before you commit to the rest of the company registration. It is entirely optional: on BizPortal you can register a company and its name together in one process. But if you are still finalising your plans, a reservation holds your preferred name in the meantime. This is an independent explainer, not CIPC, and it is not legal advice, confirm the current process and fees on cipc.co.za and bizportal.gov.za.
Start with a search
Before applying, run a name search on CIPC or BizPortal to weed out names that are obviously taken. Treat it as a filter, not a promise: CIPC is clear that no search guarantees a name will be approved. A search reduces wasted fees, but the formal decision only comes after you lodge the application.
The CoR 9.1 application
Name reservation is made on Form CoR 9.1, which you complete inside BizPortal or CIPC eServices after logging in with your own customer code. You may submit up to four proposed names in order of preference. CIPC works through them in that order and approves the first acceptable one, so put your genuine first choice at the top and use the remaining slots for realistic alternatives. The reservation fee is paid from your customer-code balance and is typically non-refundable, even if every proposed name is declined.
Getting the CoR 9.4 confirmation
If CIPC approves a name, it issues a confirmation known as a CoR 9.4. Only at that point is the name formally held for you. Processing times vary from roughly a day to several working days. An approved name is reserved for a limited period, and you can generally extend it for a further period if you lodge the extension before it lapses. Because the exact validity and extension rules change over time, confirm the current position on cipc.co.za.
| Form | What it does |
|---|---|
| CoR 9.1 | Your application to reserve a name (up to four choices) |
| CoR 9.4 | CIPC’s confirmation that a name is approved and reserved |
From reserved name to registered company
A reservation is not the company itself. Once you hold an approved name, register the company against it on BizPortal before the reservation expires. If you chose not to reserve a name first, you can supply the name during the company registration process instead, and BizPortal offers registration both with and without a pre-reserved name. Registration fees differ depending on whether a name is included, so confirm the current amounts on bizportal.gov.za.
One thing approval does not cover
CIPC approving your name is not the same as owning it as a brand. A name can clear CIPC yet still conflict with a registered trade mark held by another business, which can force a costly rebrand later. Before you spend on signage, packaging or a website, do a separate trade mark search. Keeping the CIPC and trade mark checks separate in your mind is the simplest way to avoid an expensive surprise down the line.
⚠ Stay safe
Many websites rank for "register your company" and quietly charge several times the real CIPC cost, or pose as CIPC itself. Name reservation and company registration are low-cost services on the official BizPortal and eServices portals. Before paying, check you are on a cipc.co.za or bizportal.gov.za address, and never hand your CIPC customer-code login or OTP to a third party promising a "faster" result. If a site hides the official fee or pressures you to pay into a personal account, walk away.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to reserve a name before registering?
How many names can I submit?
How long does a reserved name last?
Is the fee refundable if my name is rejected?
Does CIPC approval mean the name is legally mine?
Where do I actually apply?
CluedUp is an independent guide and is not affiliated with any government agency. Fees, links and steps can change — always confirm on the official portal before you act. This is general information, not legal or financial advice.