South Africa company registration

DOING BUSINESS IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 2020

For over a decade, Healy Consultants Group PLC has been efficiently and effectively assisting our Clients with starting a business in South Africa. Our experts provide our Clients with i) company registration services in South Africa; ii) Government compliance; iii) license registrations; iv) visa applications; v) work space rental solutions; and vi) employee recruitment solutions.

Summary table of South Africa company registration

Summary	LLC	Free zone LLC	Public limited company	Joint Venture	Branch office	Trust	Foundation
Also known as	Pty. Ltd.	IDZ Pty. Ltd.	Ltd.	Pty. Lrd.	Branch Office	Trust	Foundation
Best use of company?	All products and services	Manufacturing and export trading	To secure public funding	Trading	Specific projects	Tax planning	Tax Planning
How soon can you invoice Clients/sign sales contracts?	2 weeks	2 months	1 month	1 month	2 months	No	No
How soon can you hire staff?	2 weeks	2 months	1 month	1 month	2 months	No	2 months
How soon can you sign a lease agreement?	2 weeks	2 months	1 month	1 month	2 months	1 month	2 months
How long to supply corporate bank account numbers?	1 month	3 months	2 months	2 months	3 months	2 months	3 months
How long to supply company registration/tax numbers?	2 weeks	2 months	1 month	1 month	2 months	1 month	2 months
Corporate tax rate on annual net profits?	28%	15%	28%	28%	28%	18%-45%	28%
Limited liability entity?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Government grants available?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Resident director/partner/manager/ legal representative required?	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Must appoint a South African resident Public Officer?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Minimum paid up share capital?	US$1	US$1	US$3,800	none	none	none	none
Can bid for Government contracts?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Corporate bank account location?	HSBC SA	SCB SA	Deutsche Bank SA	Standard Bank	Nedbank	Absa Bank	Citibank SA
Can secure trade finance?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
VAT payable on sales to local customers?	15%	15%	15%	15%	15%	N/A	N/A
Average total business set up engagement costs?	US$12,530	US$9,630	US$15,830	US$9,630	US$10,780	US$17,930	US$9,530
Average total engagement period?	2 months	4 months	3 months	3 months	4 months	3 months	4 months

See full table

Accounting and tax considerations	LLC	Free zone LLC	Public limited company	Joint Venture	Branch office	Trust	Foundation
Statutory corporate tax payable?	28%	15%	28%	0%	28%	18%-45%	28%
Legally tax exempt if properly structured?	No	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Group HQ tax incentives?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Must appoint an auditor?	No	No	Yes	No	No	No	No
Withholding tax on payments to foreign shareholders?	15%	15%	15%	15%	15%	15%	N/A
Company Registration	LLC	Free zone LLC	Public limited company	Joint Venture	Branch office	Trust	Foundation
Resident director/partner/manager/ legal representative required?	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No
Must appoint a South African resident public officer?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Minimum number of shareholders/partners?	1	1	1	2	Parent company	None	None
Maximum shareholding for foreigners?	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%	100%
Minimum statutory paid up share capital?	US$1	US$1	US$3,800	US$1	none	none	none
Shelf companies available?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Time to incorporate a new entity?	2 weeks	2 months	5 weeks	1 month	2 months	1 month	2 months
Can easily convert to a PLC?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No
Can have preference shareholders?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No
Business Considerations	LLC	Free zone LLC	Public limited company	Joint Venture	Branch office	Trust	Foundation
Good entity for trademark registration?	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Can secure an import and export license?	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Government approval required for foreign owners?	No
Must file an annual tax return?	Yes
Must file annual financial statements?	Yes
Access to double taxation treaties?	Yes
Security deposit to be kept with Government?	No
Public register of shareholders and directors?	Yes
Sponsorship by a local citizen required?	No
Our Client needs to travel to South Africa for business set up?	No
Temporary physical office solutions available?	Yes
You need a local resident as bank signatory?	No
Can be wholly foreign owned?	Yes
The entity will likely be regulated by?	CIPC
Minimum number of directors/managers?	1
Bi-monthly VAT reporting to the Government?	Yes
Must sign an office lease agreement during incorporation?	No
Shareholders & directors documents to be attested/translated?	No
Each foreign director needs a personal income tax number?	No
Foreign director needs a residence visa?	No
Maximum number of staff allowed?	No maximum number for any entity
Expatriate to local staff ratio?	37 local to 1 expat
Can secure residence visa for business owner?	Yes
Other useful information
What will be included in my customer sales invoice?	Click link
This country has signed free trade agreements?	Yes
This country is a member of WIPO/TRIPS?	Yes
This country is a member of the ICSID?	No
Average custom duties suffered?	18.74%
Government foreign investment approval required?	No
Average monthly office rental? (US$ per sq m)	US$30
Minimum statutory monthly salary?	US$270
Average monthly US$ salary for local skilled employees?	US$700
US$ deposit interest rate? (1 year average)	8%
Overseas remittance currency controls?	Yes
Banking considerations
Multi-currency bank accounts available?	Yes
Corporate visa debit cards available?	Yes
Quality of e-banking platform?	Very good
Crowd funding available in this country?	Yes

South Africa business setup summary

Press the link headings below to read detailed, relevant, up to date information.

Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages of South African company registration
1. Company registration in South Africa for foreigners is easy because:
  - LLC company registration in South Africa requires a minimum paid-up share capital of US$1. Furthermore, the company setup process can be completed within 4 weeks;
  - Only one director and one shareholder must be appointed, who can be of any nationality. Consequently, a South African LLC can be 100% foreign owned.
2. Entrepreneurs in the crypto-trading businesses can find South Africa an optimum jurisdiction because:
  - The Companies Registry, CPIC, does not restrict the registration of crypto-trading business and thus foreign nationals are permitted to remotely register their business and trade globally;
  - South Africa does not impose specific licensing requirements for crypto-trading companies. A crypto company can operate without restrictions upon receipt of the standard Certificate of Incorporation;
  - Banks in South Africa are friendly to crypto-trading companies. Banks can receive funds from global clients provided the required supporting documents are issued to the bank;
3. South African resident companies enjoy several non-R&D incentives including:
  - R&D projects with initial investment less than US$400,000 are eligible for grants worth US$200,000. Similarly, projects with initial investment between US$400,000 and US$2,000,000 are eligible for grants worth US$500,000. Finally, projects with investment higher than US$2,000,000 are eligible for grants worth at least US$1,000,000;
  - Foreign registered companies in South Africa investing in R&D projects relating to science and technology, can receive refunds from the government worth 150% of the operating expenditure incurred;
  - South African businesses investing in projects to determine the feasibility of foreign projects which assist the country improve trade, are eligible for grants worth up to US$500,000;
  - Certain small businesses can apply for grants worth i) US$80,000 to cover the costs of approved tools and machinery and ii) US$20,000 to cover the employee training and business development costs;
  - Investments in the automotive industry, aimed towards improving the productivity of light motor vehicles, are eligible for grants ranging between 20% to 30% of the value of the qualifying investment.
4. South African registered businesses enjoy several non-R&D incentives including:
  - Dividends from foreign companies and capital gains from sale of holdings in a foreign company can be corporate tax exempt if the receiving entity holds 10% stake in the foreign entity;
  - There are no withholding taxes levied on interest payments made to resident and non-resident companies;
  - Companies investing in the tourism and manufacturing sectors can receive monetary grants of up to US$800,000 on investments higher than US$5 million;
  - Monetary incentives up to US$33,000 per job created will be granted to companies who set up business process outsourcing (BPO) operations in South Africa;
  - Businesses investing in certain sectors of the South African economy are eligible for benefits including i) monetary grants worth US$300,000 to cover marketing, advertising and publicity costs; ii) 80:20 cost sharing grants to finance the project and iii) monetary grants worth US$400,000 to cover travel, accommodation and exhibition costs for new trading businesses;
  - South Africa has signed 73 Double Taxation Agreements and 39 Bilateral Investment Agreements to reduce withholding taxes on foreign payments and customs duties on imports/exports.
5. The Government of South Africa’s National Development Plan aims to alleviate poverty and inequality by the year 2030 whilst having an inclusive growth of the economy.
  - This would be realized by expanding the exports, tightening the nation’s link to faster-growing economies, implementing policies that would reduce the cost of incorporating business in South Africa, and encouraging entrepreneurship and novelty;
  - The Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Commission (PICC) has been setup under the NDP to enhance the infrastructure development of South Africa;
  - The NDP promises a bright future for all the entrepreneurs who wish to setup their business in South Africa.
Disadvantages of South African company registration
1. Although a South African resident director is no longer required by law, Healy Consultants Group PLC recommends that our Clients appoint a local director who will also be the bank signatory. To register a company in South Africa and to open a corporate bank account in a timely manner, most of our Clients request Healy Consultants Group PLC to appoint a nominee resident director. If required, Healy Consultants’ resident director service fee amounts to US$9,950 per annum;
2. South Africa is a high tax country because i) corporate tax is 28%; ii) VAT is 15%; iii) capital gains for companies is 18%; iv) asset tax is 1%; v) withholding tax is up to 15%; vi) average import duty is 19% and vii) transfer duty on immovable property is 8%;
3. It is difficult to find qualified labor in South Africa because:
  - Only 7% of the population holds a university degree;
  - Only 9.6% of the population speaks fluent English, making language a barrier for foreign entrepreneurs.
4. A South African resident business will face certain bureaucratic hurdles including:
  - Repatriation of profits to a foreign country will require prior approval from the Central Bank (SARB);
  - A South African resident business will be required to be the signatory when opening a corporate bank account;
  - Labor unions interfere with the simple employer-employee relationship, making it harder to hire or fire employees;
  - South Africa’s Corruption Perception Index 71^st out of a total of 180 countries.
5. The South African Rand is one of the most volatile currencies in emerging markets, giving uncertainty to the value of foreign investment;
6. South Africa is one of the world’s most dangerous countries to live in. It ranks as the 14^th most homicidal country in the world;
7. There is a developing risky landscape in South Africa.
  - The macroeconomic weakness of the economy has exacerbated due to the commodity-crash at the end of the commodity super-cycle;
  - The South African GDP growth bottomed down to 1.4% in 2017, compared to a whopping 5.3% a decade before;
  - The economy has gone through years of fiscal and current account deficits. Thereby, relying on external debts for years. The economy’s total external debt augmented from US$282.9 billion in 2010 to almost US$454 billion by the end of 2016, according to World Bank reports;
  - These debts put the country’s currency as well as its financial sector to great risk and constant fluctuation.
8. Foreign entrepreneurs in the cryptocurrency scene may find South Africa quite challenging because:
  - Although the South African government does not restrict trading in cryptocurrency, direct proceeds from sale of cryptocurrencies in South Africa cannot be repatriated outside of South Africa in FIAT currency;
  - Because there is no license for crypto-business in South Africa, it may be challenging to secure a corporate bank account outside of South Africa, especially for crypto-exchanges;
  - Due to lack of regulations and government agencies responsible for the crypto industry, getting formal information re this type of business in South Africa can be challenging.
Best uses for a South Africa company
1. South Africa is an excellent place to setup a manufacturing and distribution company because:
  - Incorporating in South Africa’s 5 Industrial Development Zones offers companies i) 100% exemption on custom duties; ii) 100% exemption on VAT and iii) up to 30% grants on cost of plants, machinery, equipment, commercial buildings and vehicles;
  - Investments in construction of infrastructure for industrial projects are eligible for grants covering between 10% and 30% of the total development costs;
  - Companies moving machinery into South Africa can apply for a cash grant worth either i) 15% of the value of the equipment or ii) US$2.7 million, whichever is lesser;
  - South Africa boasts Africa’s best infrastructure comprising of 31,000 km of train network, 8 international airports and 21 seaports facilitating easy mobilization of goods.

Company registration

Time to incorporate: Four weeks
Cost to set up: US$12,530
Minimum capital: US$1
Physical office required: No

Required appointments

Shareholders: 1
Directors: 1
Company secretary: No
Resident director: No

Key facts

Corporate tax rate: 28%
Corporate tax base: Worldwide
Shelf companies: Available
Main company type: Private limited company

Tell us what you need - we’ll send you a customised proposal in 5 hours!

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Within 5 hours, one of our senior staff will ring or email you:

Company purpose?
Will the LLC be a trading company or a holding company?
Will the entity be a subsidiary of a foreign company?
The LLC will be tax resident? Having local customers and local staff and local suppliers?
The entity will receive investment income or professional services fees or sales from trading with multi-national customers?
Is double taxation treaty access important?
Do you need our help to legally minimize your international tax obligations?
Do you need our help to increase e-commerce sales (click link)?
Company structure?
Will the shareholders be individuals or corporate?

In what country do you require a corporate bank account? Refer to this web page (click link) for ideas

Do you need multi-currency corporate visa debit cards?

Do you need a resident director?

Nationality of shareholders and directors?
Expected annual sales and net profits?
Does the entity need a special regulatory license or import or export license?
Additional comments?
Tell us about your existing business?
Name of your existing company?
Your business web site address?
What products and services does your company supply?
How many years are you operating this business?
Is your Firm regulated by a Government agency?
In what country are the majority of your customers?

In what country are the majority of your suppliers?
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Your name?
Your email address?
What country are you based in?

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DOING BUSINESS IN SOUTH AFRICA IN 2020

Summary table of South Africa company registration

South Africa business setup summary

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages of South African company registration

Disadvantages of South African company registration

Best uses for a South Africa company

Company registration

Required appointments

Key facts

Tell us what you need - we’ll send you a customised proposal in 5 hours!

Company purpose?

Company structure?

Tell us about your existing business?

Tell us about you?

How do we contact you?

Useful links for South Africa

How can you help us?

Tell us about you?

Web development and search engine optimization (SEO)

Social media management

Mobile application development

Website features and applications

Conclusion (must be completed)

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