In South Africa, you will need a BRNC to legally run your start-up and register your car under your business name. A BRNC is your business ID file or a national permission to enter local market. There are other occasions on which you will need a BRNC. Keep reading and this article will tell you more about how to get and use this certificate.
What is a BRNC certificate
To be specific, BRNC is short for Business Register Number Certificate, bearing an ID number for your business. Of course, you can start your business without one, but owning one will make it much easier to conduct business cooperation, including registering your vehicles under your company name. This is a permit granted by government for the sake of balanced market regulation. A BRNC certificate on hand will bring about coordination freedom with other companies and pave the way for your business success in South Africa.
When do I need to get BRNC certificate?
When you start your business, you will need to apply for a BRNC certificate in the first place. In addition, you will also need one when the first time a car is registered in your company name. However, this certificate only works for holders of CK1 or CK2 CIPRO documents. For your reference, CK1 is for business with the “Pty (Ltd)” in the company name while CK2 for a “CC” in the name.
Required documents for BRNC certificate
To secure a BRNC certificate from registration authority, below are documents that you need to present for application. Below files provide key information of your business identity. These documentations are needed to prevent identity fraud during BRNC application. So, you should not miss any of them before heading to the registration department.
- Bank Statement or utility bill that provides address of your company (If you are not the owner of utility bill account, a statement from the actual owner to prove your address should be attached with the utility bill.)
- SARS Document indicating the value-added tax number of your business.
- Clear copy of company proxy identity document in original size
- CK1 or CK2 or COR39 documents showing incorporation information.
- A company letterhead with signatures and agreements of a nominated proxy and representative.
- A statement with company letterhead for BRNC application for the company.
- A completed ABR – application and notice of Business Register Number
Where to get BRNC certificate
The system of Companies and Intellectual Property Commission, or CIPC, is an entry that offers BRNC application service online. Once required documentation are ready, you can visit CIPC for the e-service of company registration. Alternatively, you can also visit the official website of SA government for more specific options as indicated in the picture below.
How to get a copy of BRNC certificate
It is recommended to save copies of your BRNC certificate in case you need one for an unexpected situation. Following steps provide a guide to get a duplicate BRNC from official source.
1. Take your identity document and proof of residential address to your BRNC registering department. A utility bill under your name can be your residential address proof. However, please note that if you are not the owner of said business utility, you should take an affidavit from the actual owner. This file is to state that you stay at the company address currently as proved by the owner. Both the utility bill and such a statement should be submitted in this case for identity verification.
2. Fill an application form to apply for copies of your BRNC certificate on the spot.
3. Pay the service fee which may vary according to the amount of copies that you ask for and service that you need.
4. Once your application is verified and approved, the registration department will issue and send you duplicate BRNC certificate to the address provided by you on the application form.
How to change errors on BRNC certificate
As your business grows and merges, information that you have provided to apply for a BRNC certificate may change due to different marketing demands. If you need to correct or renew information on your BRNC certificate, you will need to visit CIPC for detailed services. Steps to change information on your BRNC certificate are as follows.
1. Register a CIPC account with your personal information. If you have already had one, you don’t have to do it again. You can log in your previous account for more services by clicking on “CUSTOMER LOGIN” on the left. Otherwise, follow the steps below to register your account for the first time.
1) Click on “CUSTOMER REGISTRATION” on the left of this page.
2) Indicate whether you are South African or not. If you are South African, type in your 13-digit ID number and your surname. If you are not, you should provide your passport number and click “CONTINUE” to the next step.
3) Fill in all required fields on the registration form with your factual information.
4) Set new password and save it to a secured and safe place.
5) Login using customer code and password that you just set.
2. After logging in with your CIPC account, you will find services provided as shown below. Choose the information that you would like to change and follow instructions on service pages to renew BRNC information.
Can I transfer BRNC certificate?
Sadly, your BRNC cannot be transferred from one entity to another if you want to transfer assets such as vehicles under your company’s name to another company. Instead, you should have your old business deregistered with the CIPC first. Then you will need to proceed a Change of Ownership of your assets from your old business.
Conclusion
On your journey of sunning a business, a BRNC certificate plays an important role in proving the market status and identity of your business. It is a key document that you will need on lots of official occasions. It is a wise choice to apply for one and save copies of the certificate for future use before stepping into market in South Africa.