Verify a South African company

Govchain gives every company it registers a verification page showing the registered name, CIPC registration number, incorporation date, and registered address. When a business displays the Govchain badge, clicking it opens that page.

The enterprise number appears on a company's CIPC registration documents and in its Govchain badge link. To search by company name instead, use the company name search.

What a CIPC registration number tells you

A registered company has a number in the format 2021/123456/07. The first block is the year the company was registered, the middle block is its unique sequence on the register, and the last block is the company type. Most South African businesses end in 07, the code for a private company, the (Pty) Ltd that follows the company name.

How to check that a company is registered

  1. Look for the Govchain badge on the business's website and click it. The badge links to the company's verification page with its CIPC name, registration number, and registered address.
  2. If there is no badge, search the company name with the company name search to see whether it is on the CIPC register.
  3. Ask the business for its registration number and confirm it matches the details on the verification page.

Registering your own company

Govchain registers private companies with the CIPC. Start online and get your company's registration number and official documents once it is registered.

Register a company