Company registration and business start-up guidance

A private company is the most common form of profit-making company. It requires at least one director, shares cannot be publicly issued and transfer is restricted, and the name must end with "(Pty) Ltd". This type of company is particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, family businesses or start-ups because it is easy to set up, has high management flexibility and low maintenance costs.

A non-profit company aims to promote public welfare and is prohibited from distributing profits to members or directors. Its company name ends with "NPC". It is applicable to charities, non-governmental organizations, religious groups and educational institutions, and can apply for tax benefits.

A cooperative is a group of individuals who work together to meet their common economic, social or cultural needs. This structure is common in agriculture, community development and craft industries, and emphasizes democratic participation and profit sharing among members.

Public companies can issue shares to the public to raise capital, need at least three directors, and their names end with "Ltd". This type of company is suitable for large enterprises that plan to go public or need a lot of capital, but must comply with strict financial reporting and auditing requirements.

This type of company stipulates that directors must bear personal joint and several liability for the company's debts, and the name must end with "Incorporated" or "Inc." It is mainly applicable to professional service fields such as lawyers and accountants to ensure professional responsibility and transparency.

A foreign company is a business registered outside South Africa but with operations in South Africa. This type of company is suitable for multinational companies to set up branches to expand their international business.