Use the CIPA setup cost calculator to estimate the published filing charges for a private company or a business name in Botswana. Choose an online or CIPA-assisted route, include name reservation if it applies and add any other costs you already know. The result separates the filing subtotal from the amount you entered for other expenses.
The published OBRS schedule distinguishes online and CIPA charges. Before you pay, check what the portal actually shows for your filing. The calculator is a planning tool for the two routes listed here. Other company types and changes to an existing registration have their own charges. CIPA published OBRS fees.
CIPA business setup cost calculator
Estimate the published filing charges for one entity and add your own other costs. The registration amount excludes professional fees, licences and ongoing filings. Confirm the amount shown in OBRS before paying.
Enable JavaScript to calculate. Use the linked source if you prefer to check manually.
CIPA published OBRS filing fees · Download the SME checklist
Compare online and CIPA-assisted charges
| Filing | Online charge | CIPA charge |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve a company or business name | P20 | P60 |
| Register a private company | P360 | P900 |
| Register a business name | P150 | P450 |
The table uses the amounts listed in CIPA’s published schedule. It shows one filing and one possible reservation. If you already reserved a name, switch off the reservation to calculate what remains. If you are calculating the full amount already spent and still due, include that reservation once. Save the reference and receipt separately from the registration documents.
Worked setup cost examples
An online private company filing with one online name reservation is P360 plus P20, or P380 in listed CIPA charges. With an illustrative P300 for other setup costs, the planning total is P680. That extra P300 is a placeholder for costs you enter yourself.
For an online business name, the same reservation assumption gives P150 plus P20, or P170. For CIPA-assisted business name registration with one assisted reservation, the calculation is P450 plus P60, or P510. These examples assume a single application in the selected route. If your reservation and registration used different routes, use your actual reservation receipt and the actual filing charge.
Decide which filing fits your business
Check whether your activity calls for a company or whether you are registering a name for an existing owner or business arrangement. The two applications serve different purposes, and the fee comparison alone cannot decide the right structure. Look at who will own the business, sign agreements and keep records. If those responsibilities are unclear, check CIPA’s entity guidance before choosing a route.
For an online filing, prepare the details you will enter before opening the application. Check the spelling of names and the information on supporting documents. If the portal requests additional details or shows a fee different from your estimate, pause to confirm the application type and charge. Use the Botswana business registration guide to organise the broader process.
Budget for obligations outside CIPA
Set aside amounts for applicable licences, professional assistance and other setup costs separately. An activity may need a licence or registration with another body. A certificate from CIPA does not settle the tax or licence requirements for the activity. Check with the relevant official authority for the actual requirement and fee before adding it to your budget.
If you receive a quote from an adviser, ask for a breakdown of government filing charges and the adviser’s service fee. Ask what the quote includes and which documents you will receive. Add the service charge to other costs only if the quote excludes the filing charge from that amount. That avoids counting the same CIPA amount twice.
Separate setup costs from recurring expenses. You might pay for a first filing once, then need to budget for renewals, bookkeeping or other annual obligations. Start a calendar of due dates and assign responsibility for each record. Keep a private folder for receipts, application references and signed documents.
Prepare documents for tenders and funding
If you plan to bid, read the actual tender notice before ordering supporting documents. Check that the category, business name and licence match the bid requirements. If you plan to apply for funding, check the current checklist for the product and prepare the requested evidence. The Botswana business portal walkthroughs give starting points for CIPA, PPRA and CEDA.
Set a reminder before the first deadline to find missing documents and check whether any evidence has expired. Save a copy of the documents you actually submitted and the receipt for each application. Use the free SME compliance and tender checklist to organise those steps.
Frequently asked questions
Does the calculator include the name reservation fee?
It includes one reservation when the checkbox is selected. Switch it off if you are estimating only the remaining registration cost.
What if I paid for the reservation through a different route?
Add the reservation amount from your receipt to the registration charge shown for your chosen route. The calculator uses one route for both amounts.
Can I register a business by using this tool?
Use CIPA’s official route to apply and pay. This tool calculates an estimate without sending your details to CIPA.
Does the filing amount cover licences and taxes?
Check the rules for your activity separately. Enter other costs only after checking what applies and what each provider or authority charges.
Is the displayed estimate a guaranteed fee?
Confirm the current total in OBRS or with CIPA. If an official fee differs from your estimate, use the amount and instructions for your actual filing.
Build your registration budget
Save the current fee shown by CIPA, list the remaining documents and request a breakdown for any professional fees. For related tools, visit the Botswana calculators index.