Key takeaways
- Supplier databases verify identity, tax and banking; the company profile explains capability and experience.
- South African government suppliers register on the Central Supplier Database (CSD), which checks tax status with SARS and company details with CIPC.
- Nigerian federal procurement uses the Bureau of Public Procurement's contractor registration; Ghana's public entities procure through GHANEPS.
- Use the same legal name, registration number and address in the profile as in every registration.
Supplier registration and the company profile are different documents
A supplier database is a register of approved or verified suppliers. Registration usually asks for company registration details, tax numbers, ownership, bank details and the goods or services you supply. A company profile is your own document: it introduces the business, shows what you have delivered and names the people responsible. Buyers use the profile to shortlist; they use the database to check you are eligible to be paid.
| Country | Government supplier route | What it checks or requires |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa | Central Supplier Database (CSD) | Tax status with SARS, company details with CIPC, identity, bank account, B-BBEE certificate or affidavit, commodities supplied |
| Nigeria | Bureau of Public Procurement contractor registration | Categorisation and classification of federal contractors and service providers; follow BPP's current document list |
| Ghana | GHANEPS e-procurement and the PPA suppliers' portal | Public entities must procure through GHANEPS; register and train as the PPA directs |
Requirements change and differ by buyer. This table summarises official descriptions; follow the portal's current instructions.
South Africa: CSD registration and supplier onboarding
National Treasury's Central Supplier Database is a free registration and verification system for suppliers that want to do business with government. Organs of state use suppliers registered on the CSD, so a supplier registers once rather than with each department. The CSD verifies tax compliance with SARS and company registration with CIPC, and asks for bank details, B-BBEE information and the commodities you supply.
- Make sure the business name and registration number in your profile match CIPC exactly.
- List the same commodities and service areas you selected on the CSD.
- Include your B-BBEE level only as shown on your certificate or affidavit.
- Keep the CSD supplier number handy; tenders and purchase orders often ask for it.
Nigeria and Ghana: what to prepare
In Nigeria, the Bureau of Public Procurement maintains a contractor registration system that categorises and classifies federal contractors and service providers. Federal agencies and many state bodies also publish their own prequalification requirements, which commonly include Corporate Affairs Commission registration and tax evidence. Check the current list on the BPP site and in each invitation to tender.
In Ghana, the Public Procurement Authority has made the Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) mandatory for public entities' procurement, and runs a separate suppliers' registration portal. Private buyers in all three countries, such as banks, telecoms and mining companies, usually run their own vendor onboarding with similar evidence.
What to include in the company profile
- Company overview: registered name, registration number, year founded and head office.
- Services or products, written in the buyer's language: what you supply, where, and at what capacity.
- Projects and clients: real work you can name, with location, scope and year.
- Equipment, team and certifications you actually hold, such as CIDB grading, ISO certificates or professional memberships.
- Compliance summary: tax and supplier-database numbers where the buyer asks for them, never sample numbers.
- Health, safety and quality approach, briefly, if you work on sites.
- Contact person with direct phone and business email.
Keep it short and specific. A six-page profile that matches the buyer's category beats a long brochure with every service your business has ever offered.
Prepare the profile, then check before you submit
- Use your exact legal name and registration numbers as they appear on your certificates; never copy sample numbers.
- Describe only services you actually deliver, with real projects and client names you have permission to show.
- Add a named contact person, a working phone number and a business email, not a personal address.
- Match every detail to the registration form: a different address or business name on the profile slows verification.
- Export a PDF, keep the file size small enough for upload portals, and save the editable version for the next tender.
DocMak helps you prepare professional business documents. It does not register your business with any government portal, verify your registration numbers or decide your tax treatment. Registration rules, portals and fees change: always follow the official portal and the buyer's own instructions. Free creation and downloads remain subject to the existing account and usage limits.
Frequently asked questions
Is CSD registration free in South Africa?
National Treasury describes the Central Supplier Database as a free electronic registration and verification system for suppliers doing business with government.
Does a company profile replace supplier registration?
No. Supplier databases verify registration, tax and banking details; the company profile explains your capability. Most buyers ask for both.
Which documents do Nigerian federal agencies ask for?
Requirements vary by agency and are listed in each invitation to tender and on the Bureau of Public Procurement's site. Commonly requested items include company registration and tax evidence; always use the current official list.
Can DocMak register my business on CSD or GHANEPS?
No. DocMak helps you prepare the company profile, quotations and invoices. Registration is done on the official portals.
Official sources
Check these official pages for the latest requirements before filing or making a compliance decision.