Plain-language answers to the questions we get asked most. If you can't find what you're looking for, call or WhatsApp us directly.
A shelf company is a private company that was incorporated some time ago and has since been kept dormant — no trading, no liabilities, no employees. It has simply been maintained in good standing with CIPC and SARS.
When you purchase a shelf company, you acquire a ready-made entity complete with a registration number, a tax number, and — in our case — an active VAT registration. You become the new director and can begin trading immediately.
Two main reasons: speed and VAT registration.
Registering a new company takes a few days through CIPC, but obtaining VAT registration with SARS can take anywhere from three to six months — and there is no guaranteed timeline. If you need to invoice, bid on a tender, or satisfy a client requirement for a VAT number today, waiting is not an option.
Additionally, a company with a registration date of 2008 or 2012 signals longevity to banks, suppliers, and clients in a way that a company registered last month simply does not.
Yes, completely. The purchase and transfer of a shelf company is a standard commercial transaction governed by the Companies Act, 71 of 2008. The process involves a formal change of directorship and, where required, a change of registered office with CIPC — all done through the proper regulatory channels.
We do not engage in any transaction that is not fully compliant with South African company law and SARS regulations.
Our clients include:
Yes. Every company we sell has an active, verified VAT registration with SARS at the time of transfer. We do not list or sell companies with pending, suspended, or deregistered VAT status.
You will receive the VAT registration certificate as part of the transfer documentation pack.
No. This is a non-negotiable requirement of our inventory. Every company is verified clean before we offer it for sale — no outstanding VAT returns, no income tax liabilities, no PAYE arrears, no penalty notices.
The company's SARS tax compliance status is provided to you before you commit to the purchase, and confirmed in writing at the point of transfer.
Yes. Once the transfer is complete and you are the registered director, the company's VAT number is operational and you may immediately raise tax invoices showing that VAT number. There is no waiting period.
Once you own the company, you are responsible for all SARS obligations going forward, including bi-monthly VAT returns (VAT201) and annual income tax returns. We strongly recommend engaging a registered tax practitioner or accountant to manage your ongoing SARS compliance.
For the period prior to your acquisition, all returns have been submitted and the company's compliance status is clean.
SARS is notified of directorship changes through the CIPC process. It is also advisable to update the registered representative on the company's SARS eFiling profile to reflect you as the new director. We guide you through this step as part of our post-transfer support.
We require five pieces of information to complete the transfer:
These are the legal requirements under the Companies Act and SARS regulations for a valid change of directorship.
For clients who submit their details before midday, we initiate the transfer the same business day. The CIPC processing itself typically reflects within one to three business days, though the company's VAT registration remains valid and operational throughout.
We will keep you updated throughout the process and confirm completion in writing.
You will receive a complete documentation pack, which includes:
Yes. You can apply to CIPC to change the company's name after transfer. The company registration number and VAT number do not change when a name change is made. We can advise on the process, though the name-change application is your responsibility post-transfer.
Before any company is offered for sale, we conduct a verification process that covers CIPC filing status, SARS tax compliance across all tax types (VAT, income tax, PAYE), and outstanding director obligations. This verification is provided to you before you commit.
Because our shelf companies have been dormant — no trading activity — there are no creditors, employees, leases, or commercial contracts attached to them. The liability exposure is structurally minimal by design.
Yes. South African banks accept shelf company transfers routinely. They will require the standard company opening documents — the CoR14.3, MOI, resolution, and proof of directorship — all of which are included in the documentation pack we provide.
An older registration date can in fact be advantageous during the banking application process, as some banks apply additional scrutiny to very recently registered entities.
Yes. The Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) requires that beneficial ownership information be accurate and up to date. The transfer process we follow updates all relevant CIPC records to reflect you as the new director and beneficial owner, ensuring full FICA compliance.
Your personal information is collected and processed exclusively for the purpose of completing the company ownership transfer. We operate in compliance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). Your details are not shared with third parties, sold, or used for any marketing purposes. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for full details.
Pricing depends on the age bracket of the company. Older, more established companies carry a higher price than recent ones — reflecting both their scarcity and the practical value their registration date provides.
Contact us directly for current pricing on specific age brackets. We do not publish a fixed price list because availability changes regularly, but we are transparent about costs and there are no hidden charges or post-sale fees.
No ongoing fees are payable to us after the transfer. The company is yours outright.
You will, however, be responsible for standard statutory obligations going forward: the CIPC annual return fee (a small annual amount), and your SARS compliance obligations. We recommend engaging an accountant or tax practitioner to manage these.
Yes — for clients who submit their five required details and settle payment before midday on a business day, we initiate the transfer that same day. The CIPC documentation is issued within one to three business days thereafter.
If you have a tender deadline or urgent need, please call or WhatsApp us directly so we can prioritise your transfer.
Our team is available by phone, email, and WhatsApp during business hours.