Is the Soul Center Non-Profit Company registration service free, and what will I need to pay? #

Yes. For an eligible Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa Soul Center application, the Start My Company and Christian Leaders Alliance administrative service fee is R0.

You do not pay us a fee for the supported Non-Profit Company registration assistance.

You do, however, need to pay the official fees charged by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).

For the CoR 15.1C Non-Profit Company registration currently supported by this service, the official fees are currently:

R50 for the company-name reservation; and
R125 for the Non-Profit Company registration.

The current total official CIPC amount is therefore:

R175

This R175 is paid for the official CIPC registration process. It is not a Start My Company or Christian Leaders Alliance service fee.

What does “free registration service” mean? #

The word free refers to our administrative service.

Eligible Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa members and Soul Centers are not charged an additional fee by Start My Company or Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa for the supported registration assistance.

The current cost can therefore be understood like this:

Item	Current amount
Start My Company / Christian Leaders Alliance administrative service	R0
CIPC name reservation	R50
CIPC Non-Profit Company registration	R125
Current official fees payable	R175

The government charges remain payable because they are charged as part of the official company-registration process.

Who receives the R175? #

The official registration money is for the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).

Start My Company and Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa do not charge the R175 as a service fee.

When you reach the payment stage, follow the current CIPC payment instructions shown in the Soul Center Non-Profit Company application.

Do not rely on banking information copied from an old email, screenshot, WhatsApp message, printed document or previous application.

Government payment information and procedures can change.

The registration portal is the operational source for the current payment instructions used by this service.

When do I pay? #

Payment takes place near the end of the application.

The registration portal has seven guided steps:

Eligibility
Soul Center
Prepare
Directors
Names
Documents
Review

The official payment is dealt with in Step 7: Review, pay and submit.

This means you can first work through the application, prepare your information and documents, and review what is required before making the official payment.

Do not make an advance payment merely because you have started reading the Knowledgebase.

Follow the instructions in the registration application.

What does the R50 name-reservation fee cover? #

The current CIPC name-reservation fee is R50 per application.

One name-reservation application can contain up to four proposed company names.

This is why the registration portal strongly recommends that you provide four suitable names where possible.

For example, you might submit:

Grace Community Ministries
Grace Community Worship Centre
Grace Community Christian Ministry
Grace Community Outreach

CIPC considers the proposed names in the order submitted.

Providing four suitable alternatives gives CIPC more options if your preferred name cannot be approved.

Do I pay R50 for each of my four proposed names? #

No.

The R50 is for one name-reservation application, not R50 for each name listed in that application.

You can currently provide up to four proposed names in the same application.

You therefore do not pay:

R50 × four names = R200

for one normal name-reservation application.

You pay the current R50 name-reservation fee and can submit up to four proposed names within that application.

What happens if all my proposed names are rejected? #

A new name-reservation application may be required.

That means another R50 name-reservation fee will need to be paid before the new application can be made.

The first R50 is not refunded simply because none of the proposed names was approved.

For this reason, providing four carefully chosen and sufficiently distinctive names can reduce the risk of having to pay for another name-reservation application.

The Soul Center Non-Profit Company application provides guidance when you reach the company-name stage.

If you are unsure about your proposed names, contact the Start My Company Support Desk before proceeding.

Can I provide only one proposed company name? #

Yes. The current application allows you to continue with one proposed name.

However, this is not usually the best approach.

If the only name you provide cannot be approved, another name-reservation application will be required and another R50 will have to be paid.

Providing four suitable names gives CIPC alternatives and can reduce the risk of another name-reservation fee.

Is the R50 refunded if CIPC rejects the names? #

No.

The name-reservation fee pays for the name-reservation application to be processed.

It is not refunded merely because none of the proposed names can be approved.

A new name-reservation application requires a new payment.

This is another reason to take care when choosing your proposed company names.

What does the R125 registration fee cover? #

The current R125 amount is the balance of the official CIPC incorporation fee for the supported CoR 15.1C registration where the R50 name-reservation amount forms part of the overall current R175 official cost.

This is the official company-registration component of the transaction.

Together:

R50 name reservation + R125 company registration = R175 current official CIPC fees.

The free Soul Center benefit means that there is no additional Start My Company or Christian Leaders Alliance administrative fee added to this amount.

Why does CIPC sometimes describe the fee as R175 including name reservation? #

CIPC’s published fee information describes the standard CoR 15.1C incorporation fee as R175 including name reservation.

Our registration portal separates this into:

R50 for name reservation; and
R125 for the NPC registration.

The total is still R175.

Breaking the amount down makes it easier to understand what happens if another name-reservation application becomes necessary.

Could I ever have to pay more than R175 during the registration? #

Yes.

The most common reason within the current registration process would be the need for another company-name reservation.

For example:

first name-reservation application: R50;
all proposed names are rejected;
second name-reservation application: another R50.

The additional name-reservation fee is an official CIPC charge.

There may also be other costs outside the R0 registration service depending on your own circumstances.

These could include costs involved in obtaining or certifying documents, international document authentication, professional assistance you choose to obtain, banking charges or services required after the NPC has been registered.

These are not part of the Start My Company administrative service fee.

Are document-certification costs included? #

No.

Each proposed director must provide the required certified identification document.

Whether there is a cost for obtaining a certified copy depends on where and how the document is certified.

Start My Company and Christian Leaders Alliance South Africa do not charge a certification fee as part of the registration service.

If documents are being certified outside South Africa, additional authentication requirements or costs may apply depending on the circumstances.

Follow the current document instructions in the Soul Center NPC application.

If you are unsure whether a document is suitable, use the Start My Company Support Desk before paying for unnecessary certification or authentication.

Are bank charges included? #

No.

Any fee charged by your own bank or payment provider is separate from the CIPC registration amount.

For example, your bank might charge a transaction fee for making a payment.

That fee would be between you and your bank.

It is not part of the R0 Soul Center service and is not an additional fee charged by Start My Company or Christian Leaders Alliance.

How do I pay CIPC? #

When you reach the final stage of the registration application, the portal displays the current payment instructions.

Follow those instructions exactly.

The payment information includes the CIPC banking details and the payment reference that must be used for this registration service.

The payment reference is important because it helps identify the payment correctly.

Do not replace it with:

your personal name;
your church name;
your proposed NPC name;
your Christian Leaders Alliance number;
your application reference; or
another reference of your own choosing,

unless the current portal specifically instructs you to do so.

Use the payment reference displayed in the application exactly as instructed.

Why is the payment reference so important? #

A bank payment by itself does not automatically tell CIPC which transaction it belongs to.

The payment reference helps connect the money with the correct registration process.

Using an incorrect reference can therefore cause unnecessary payment problems or delays.

When making the payment:

copy the current payment information from the registration portal;
enter the required amount correctly;
enter the payment reference exactly as shown;
check everything before confirming the payment; and
keep the proof of payment.

If you make a mistake, contact the Start My Company Support Desk rather than making another payment immediately.

Should I use banking details from this Knowledgebase article? #

No.

This article explains what you need to pay and why.

The live registration portal is the correct place for the current operational banking instructions.

Use the banking details and payment reference shown in Step 7 of your application.

This reduces the risk of somebody using outdated payment information after a banking or administrative change.

What proof of payment do I need? #

After making the official payment, keep the proof supplied by your bank or payment provider.

The proof should clearly show the payment information needed to confirm that the transaction was made.

You will upload proof of payment during the final stage of the registration application.

Your application cannot be finally submitted without the required proof of payment.

Do not discard the proof once you have uploaded it.

Keep your own copy with the organisation’s registration records.

What if I paid the wrong amount? #

Do not immediately make another payment.

Contact the Start My Company Support Desk and explain:

how much you paid;
when you made the payment;
the reference you used; and
what you believe went wrong.

If possible, keep the proof of payment available.

We can then help identify the appropriate next step.

What if I used the wrong payment reference? #

Contact the Start My Company Support Desk as soon as possible.

Do not assume that the payment will automatically be matched correctly.

Provide enough information for the problem to be investigated, including the payment date and proof of payment where appropriate.

Do not make a duplicate payment unless you have been advised that another payment is necessary.

What if I accidentally pay Start My Company instead of CIPC? #

The official registration fee is intended for CIPC using the payment instructions provided in the registration process.

If you believe you have paid the wrong account, contact the Start My Company Support Desk immediately.

Do not make further payments until the situation has been clarified.

Will Start My Company or Christian Leaders Alliance ever invoice me R175 as its service fee? #

No.

For an eligible application under this R0 Soul Center benefit, the administrative service fee is R0.

The current R175 relates to the official CIPC registration charges.

If you receive a payment request that does not match the instructions in the registration portal, do not assume that it is genuine.

Check through the Start My Company Support Desk before paying.

Could there be a charge for additional help? #

Yes, depending on what you need.

The R0 benefit covers the supported NPC registration administration.

It does not automatically include every service that your organisation may need later.

For example, separate assistance may be required for matters after registration.

If you need additional help, contact the Start My Company Support Desk.

We can identify what help is needed and tell you whether:

it can be dealt with as part of the existing registration service;
separate assistance may be available;
there may be an additional charge; or
the matter requires an appropriately qualified professional.

You should know about any separate cost before agreeing to additional paid assistance.

What costs are not included in the free registration service? #

The R0 administrative service does not automatically cover later or separate costs such as:

additional CIPC transactions;
further company-name reservation applications;
annual returns;
beneficial ownership assistance;
bookkeeping;
accounting;
tax administration;
Public Benefit Organisation applications;
section 18A applications;
registered Nonprofit Organisation applications;
professional legal or tax advice;
document authentication or certification costs;
banking charges; or
other ongoing compliance work.

Some of these may involve official government fees, professional charges or separate assistance.

If you are unsure about a cost, use the Start My Company Support Desk before committing to it.

Are future annual returns included in the R175? #

No.

The R175 is the current official registration cost for the supported initial CoR 15.1C process.

It is not a lifetime company-compliance fee.

Once the NPC has been registered, the organisation will have ongoing responsibilities.

These can include annual returns and other CIPC requirements.

Those future costs and responsibilities are separate from the initial registration.

Is beneficial ownership filing included in the R175? #

No.

Beneficial ownership filing is a separate post-registration responsibility.

The initial R175 registration amount does not mean that all future CIPC responsibilities have been completed.

After your NPC is registered, follow the guidance in the After Your Non-Profit Company Is Registered section of this Knowledgebase.

If you need assistance after registration, contact the Start My Company Support Desk.

Are tax registration and tax-exempt status included? #

Registering the NPC does not automatically give the organisation tax-exempt status.

A Public Benefit Organisation (PBO) application with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) is a separate matter.

Likewise, section 18A approval is separate.

The R175 CIPC registration amount does not purchase PBO status, section 18A approval or every future tax service the NPC may require.

If you want help understanding these options after registration, use the Start My Company Support Desk.

Does the R175 include registered Nonprofit Organisation status? #

No.

A registered Nonprofit Organisation (NPO) through the South African Department of Social Development is separate from registering an NPC with CIPC.

The current R175 relates to the supported CIPC NPC registration process.

NPO registration is a different process.

What about CoR 15.1D and CoR 15.1E registrations? #

The Soul Center service currently supports CoR 15.1C only.

We plan to add support in future for:

CoR 15.1D — the Long Standard Form for Non-Profit Companies without members; and
CoR 15.1E — the Long Standard Form for Non-Profit Companies with members.

These options are not yet available through this service.

They have different structures and may involve different official costs.

Do not use the CoR 15.1C application if you know that your organisation needs one of these structures.

Contact the Start My Company Support Desk and explain what your organisation needs.

When additional registration options become available, the Knowledgebase and portal will be updated with the applicable process and current fees.

Could the R175 amount change? #

Yes.

CIPC fees are official government charges and can change.

For that reason, this article includes a Last checked against official information date.

Always compare the amount here with the current amount shown in the registration application.

If they differ, do not guess which amount to pay.

Use the amount and instructions in the current registration portal or contact the Start My Company Support Desk before making payment.

What should I budget before starting? #

For the current supported CoR 15.1C application, you should currently expect:

R175 in official CIPC registration fees

provided that one name-reservation application is sufficient.

It is sensible to remember that another R50 may become necessary if none of the proposed names in the first name-reservation application can be approved.

You may also have your own incidental costs, such as document certification, authentication or bank charges.

There is no Start My Company or Christian Leaders Alliance administrative registration fee for an eligible application.

How can I reduce the risk of paying another name-reservation fee? #

You can provide up to four proposed company names, listed in the order you prefer them.

Take care when choosing them.

CIPC can decline a proposed name if it does not meet the legal requirements for company names. For example, a name may cause problems if it is already in use, is confusingly similar to another protected name or mark, or incorrectly suggests a relationship or endorsement that does not exist.

Providing four genuinely different and carefully considered names gives CIPC alternatives if your first choice cannot be approved.

A search for an existing company name or trade mark can help you identify obvious problems before submitting your choices, but a search does not guarantee that CIPC will approve the name.

The detailed rules for choosing names are explained in the Directors and Company Names section of this Knowledgebase.

If you are uncertain about a proposed name before it is submitted, contact the Start My Company Support Desk.

What should I do if somebody asks me for an unexpected payment? #

Do not pay immediately.

Check the request against the Soul Center Non-Profit Company application.

If the amount, bank details, payment reference or reason for payment does not make sense, contact the Start My Company Support Desk.

This is particularly important if somebody contacts you unexpectedly and asks you to:

pay a different bank account;
pay a personal bank account;
pay an urgent “release” or “approval” fee;
pay a Start My Company registration fee that you were not expecting; or
ignore the payment instructions in the official registration portal.

It is better to check before paying than to try to recover an incorrect payment afterwards.

What should I remember? #

For the registration service currently available:

Start My Company / Christian Leaders Alliance service fee: R0
CIPC name reservation: R50
CIPC NPC registration: R125
Current total official fees: R175
one name-reservation application can contain up to four proposed names;
another R50 may be required if another name-reservation application becomes necessary;
payment is made according to the current instructions in the registration portal;
proof of payment must be uploaded before final submission;
the R175 does not cover every responsibility or cost after registration; and
official fees can change.

What happens next? #

Continue through the Start Here section.

The next article explains:

What do I need before I start my Non-Profit Company application?

That article will help you gather the people, information and documents you need before working through the full application.

When you are ready to proceed, you can start the Soul Center Non-Profit Company application.

If you are not yet an approved Soul Center, visit the Soul Centers Programme first.

You can also learn more about Christian Leaders Alliance.

If you have any uncertainty about a payment, cost or registration requirement, use the Start My Company Support Desk before paying.

Important note #

The amounts in this article are current at the date shown below.

CIPC fees, payment arrangements and registration procedures can change.

The live Soul Center Non-Profit Company application is the operational source for the payment amount, banking instructions and payment reference used for this service.

Do not use old banking details or payment instructions simply because you have used them before.

The registration service and this Knowledgebase provide administrative guidance and general information. They do not provide legal, tax, accounting, financial or other professional advice.

Last checked against official information: 21 August 2026