A business name reservation is when you ask CIPC to approve and hold a name for you so that no one else can use it.
Once approved, CIPC reserves the name for 6 months, giving you time to complete your company registration.

---

🔍 Why Would You Reserve a Name?

✔ 1. To protect your brand

No one else can register a company with that name while it is reserved.

✔ 2. To avoid last-minute rejection

Before registering a company, you want to confirm your name is available.

✔ 3. To take time to prepare documents

You might not be ready to register immediately, but you want to secure the name early.

---

📝 How Long Does It Last?

A name reservation is valid for 6 months.
If it expires, you can reapply.

---

💰 Does It Cost Money?

Yes, CIPC charges R50 for a name reservation.

---

🏗 Do You Need It to Register a Company?

Not always.
You have two options:

Option A: Register a company without a name

– Your company will be registered under a number (e.g., 2024/123456/07).
– You can add a name later by doing a name change.

Option B: Reserve a name first

– Recommended for branding or tendering businesses.
– You register the company using your approved name.

---

⭐ Quick Example

You want to register “Creative Bookkeepers (Pty) Ltd.”

You check if the name is available → Reserve the name → Get approval → Use it when registering the company.