How do I choose the proposed names for my Non-Profit Company? #
Give up to four distinct names in the order you prefer. Four suitable choices give the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) alternatives if the first name cannot be approved.
Only the first choice is required by the portal, but relying on one name creates a higher risk of another name-reservation application and another official charge.
What makes a useful proposed name? #
Choose a name that:
- is easy to distinguish from existing companies, organisations and trade marks;
- is not misleading about the organisation, its activities or its relationship with another person or authority;
- does not falsely suggest government, CIPC, SARS, Christian Leaders Alliance or another body’s endorsement;
- is entered with the exact intended spelling; and
- can lawfully end with the required “NPC” expression when registered.
Adding a distinctive word or phrase may help. Four minor variations of the same unavailable name may all fail, so give genuinely different alternatives where possible.
What checks should I do? #
Search the internet and use CIPC’s available trade-mark and company-name search tools. Also consider existing organisations known in your community.
These checks reduce obvious risk but do not guarantee reservation. CIPC makes the official decision, and legal rights in a name may involve more than the reservation search.
What characters can the portal accept? #
The current portal accepts letters, numbers and these special characters: parentheses, full stop and hyphen.
When is a name reserved? #
A name is reserved only when CIPC issues written confirmation on Form CoR 9.4. That is the official name-reservation notice. CIPC states that a reservation is normally valid for six months.
If none of the proposed names is approved, another application and official charge may be needed. Name-reservation filing charges are generally not refundable under CIPC rules.
Related articles #
Last checked against official information: 31 August 2026
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