Registering your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is one of the most important steps you can take as a Nigerian business owner. It makes your business official, lets you open a business bank account, and makes customers and big clients take you seriously.

The good news: you can do it yourself, online, without paying an agent several times the official fee.

This guide walks you through registering a business name with CAC in 2026, step by step.

Business name or limited company?

Before you start, know which one you need.

A business name (sole proprietorship or partnership) is best if you:

  • Are starting small or working alone
  • Want the fastest and cheapest registration
  • Don't need to raise investment yet

A limited company (Ltd) is better if you:

  • Want your personal assets protected from business debts
  • Plan to bring in investors or partners with shares
  • Want to bid for large contracts that require a company

Many people start with a business name and upgrade to a limited company as they grow.

This guide covers business name registration.

How much does CAC business name registration cost in 2026?

If you register yourself on the CAC portal, expect to pay about ₦21,000 in total official fees, made up of:

  • Name reservation: ₦1,000, plus a small service charge
  • Business name registration (filing fee): around ₦20,000
  • Small payment gateway charges

Fees have changed more than once recently, and the CAC portal shows the exact amount before you pay. Names containing restricted words cost more to reserve.

From time to time, the government also runs free registration programmes for small businesses, so keep an eye on CAC announcements.

Agents often charge ₦30,000 to ₦50,000 or more for the same process. Some are genuinely helpful, but now you know what the official cost actually is.

What you need before you start

Get these ready:

  • Two or more business name options, in case your first choice is taken
  • A valid ID: NIN slip, international passport, driver's licence, or voter's card
  • Your NIN (National Identification Number)
  • A passport photograph (digital copy)
  • Your signature (scanned or photographed on white paper)
  • Your residential and business address
  • A working email address and phone number
  • A short description of what your business does
  • A debit card for online payment

Step 1: Create an account on the CAC portal

Go to the official CAC registration portal at icrp.cac.gov.ng and sign up with your email address. Verify your email and log in.

Only use the official CAC website. Be careful of fake sites and social media pages claiming to register businesses.

Step 2: Search and reserve your business name

  • Choose Business Name as the registration type
  • Enter your proposed name and check availability
  • Pay the reservation fee

Your name may be rejected if it:

  • Is identical or very similar to an existing business
  • Contains restricted words like "Bank," "Federal," "Nigeria," "Insurance," or "Government" without approval
  • Is offensive or misleading

Tip: Choose a distinctive name. "Ada's Kitchen" is likely taken. "Adaeze Spice Kitchen Enugu" has a better chance.

Step 3: Fill in the registration form

Once your name is approved, complete the business name registration form with:

  • Business details: name, address, commencement date, and nature of business
  • Proprietor details: your full name, date of birth, NIN, address, phone, and email
  • Uploads: your ID, passport photograph, and signature

Double-check every detail. Mistakes can delay approval or cost money to correct later.

Step 4: Pay the registration fee

Pay the filing fee online through the portal. Save your payment receipt and reference number.

Step 5: Wait for approval and download your certificate

CAC reviews your application, which often takes a few days when everything is correct. You'll get an email once it's approved.

Log in to download:

  • Your Business Name Certificate
  • Your status report, showing your business details

You don't need to pay anyone to "send" your certificate. You download it yourself.

Common reasons applications get delayed

  • Blurry passport photo or ID
  • Name too similar to an existing business
  • Wrong or incomplete address
  • Details that don't match your NIN records
  • Vague description of what the business does

What to do right after registration

Your certificate is just the beginning. Next:

  • Get your Tax Identification Number (TIN) if it wasn't issued with your registration
  • Open a business bank account in your business name
  • File your annual returns with CAC every year
  • Get a professional email and website using your business name
  • List your business on Google Maps so customers can find you

Don't forget annual returns

Every registered business must file annual returns with CAC each year, even if business was slow.

This matters: CAC deregistered over 400,000 inactive and non-compliant companies in 2025. Businesses that don't file risk penalties or being struck off the register.

Set a yearly reminder. Filing on time costs far less than fixing it later.

Now make your business visible online

A CAC certificate makes you official. A professional website makes you visible and trusted.

At Navoteq Technologies, we help newly registered businesses get online properly: a professional website with your business name, a matching business email, Google visibility, and online payments.

Talk to us:

Fees and steps in this guide reflect the CAC process as of October 2026. Always confirm current fees on the official CAC portal before paying.