South Africa flag South Africa: Operating a Business in South Africa

Starting a business in South Africa

Legal Forms of Companies

Private Limited Liability Company: Number of partners: Minimum: 1, no upper limit.
Capital (max/min): No legal limit.
Shareholders and liability: Liability limited to amount of capital contributed.
Public Limited Liability Company: Number of partners: Directors: minimum of 3, no upper limit.
Shareholders: minimum of 1, no upper limit.
Capital (max/min): No legal limit.
Shareholders and liability: A member's liability is limited to the par value of the shares he/she owns.
Private Company: Number of partners: 1 partner.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: The active partner's liability is unlimited.
Partnership: Number of partners: Minimum 2, Maximum 20 partners.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital.
Shareholders and liability: The active partner's liability is unlimited. Associates' liability is limited to the amount of capital they contributed.

Source: Doing Business - Latest available data.

The Competent Organisation: Companies and Intellectual Property Registration Office
For Further Information: Doing Business, to learn more about how to start a business in South Africa.
Companies and International Property Commission (CIPC)

Dun & Bradstreet - Worldwide directory with financial information on businesses

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