CAC Registration Now Easy: How to Register in 2025

Learn all about CAC registration process and how to register your business name and get your number on the portal.

In this article, I discuss why the CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) registration in Nigeria is important for your business.

Without your official papers, it’s like building a house on sand. CAC registration is your foundation.

Before anything else, it makes your business “official” in the eyes of the law because the government now knows you.

In this manner, you go beyond just someone selling. You become official.

Also, without a CAC registration, you can’t get a business loan, open a corporate account, or sue anybody.

Recently, when I needed to apply for the Tony Elemulu yearly grants, they requested my CAC registration number.

And most times, I have realised people trust us because we are a registered business and own an office location.

Then, there are some contracts you will want to do with big agencies or the government. You can’t do that without presenting your CAC certificate.

One case study was when I wanted a joint venture contract with one of the best property management company in Nigeria. The law firm in charge requested I submit a copy of my agency’s CAC certificate.

So, be it you are freelancing, own a small business, or in partnership, you will still need it. Even NGOs and cooperatives are no exception.

I want you to look at the CAC certificate as the birth certificate for your business. It is just a matter of time before you need it.

By the end of this article, you will know how to register a business in Nigeria.

What is CAC Registration?

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria registers, regulates and looks after companies and other businesses operating in the country.

They assign your business a unique identity, keep company data, and make sure everyone follows Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) rules.

When you are ready to start a business in Nigeria, these are options to choose from when registering.

Business Name: 

This is the best name type for a one-person or two-person business. It’s inexpensive and simple, but you are personally responsible for all business debts and legal problems.

It is the easiest to register among all other business registration.

Limited Liability Company (Ltd):

This business registration type protects you and your personal properties from trouble if the business ever runs down or gets into trouble.

I recommend this for people who want to expand their business and attract investors since it has no limitations. However, you will spend more compared to registering as a business name.

Example: ABC Company Limited, MyAgro Company Ltd and more.

Incorporated Trustees:

This is a special type of business registration type for non-profit organizations, such as charities, religious bodies, or associations.

With the Incorporated Trustees, you don’t pay income tax.

Though they file returns at the Federal Internal Revenue Service, at the end of every year, it is to meet the regulatory stipulations.

It all comes down to your goals, how much legal protection you want, and what kind of business you’re running.

Get your business legit with the CAC registration today; it’ll help you get a corporate bank account and impress clients. 

Let’s get you registered.

Benefits of CAC Registration for your Business

These are several benefits that comes with registering your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Nigeria:

Get Recognised and Protected

When you register your business as limited, it gives it legal standing, and separates it from you totally. This protects you from company debts and legal issues.

Gain Access to Finances:

You can open a corporate business account in any bank in Nigeria. Though, it takes more than just your CAC certificate to open as the bank will also request the EFCC Scuml among many others.

Also, you have a better chance of getting loans or grants when you register your business. This money might be all you need to scale to the next level of business. So, the CAC registration is worth it.

Improves Legitimacy:

Like I mentioned earlier, my business has enjoyed some level of credibility just because we boldly display the CAC certifications in the office. When clients walk into the office, and see the framed certificate, their defences go down. Then, we can do business on trust.

Obeying Nigerian Laws:

There are so many business laws and regulations I wouldn’t have known if not by registering my business. A very good example was knowing that as a business, we are not to collect more than 5 million naira in cash from an individual and 10 million from businesses.

This is against the Money Laundering Act. And I learnt this during a lecture for my EFCC SCUML certificate; a document that completes your registration.

CAC registration legitimizes your business in Nigeria, improves your reputation, and opens financial doors.

Requirements for CAC Business Name Registration

Now that you know the benefits of registering your business in CAC, let’s talk about the documents you will be needing.

One thing I have known is that when you have your paper completed, the registration process becomes easy.

Here’s what you will need, depending on your business type:

1. Business Name (for one man business or small partnerships)

• Present one or two recent passports with a red background.

• You need any of these ID: NIN, driver’s license, voters card, or international passport.

• You will need a working email to verify links and messages sent from the registration portal.

• Lastly, you will need a unique business name. You can use the CAC search page to check if your desired name is available.

2. Limited Liability Company (LLC)

Everything in the business name plus;

• You will need Memorandum and Articles of Association (MEMART). While the memorandum of association defines the company’s external objectives, the article of association regulates internal management and administration.

• The next details you will submit are the names, address, passport and IDs of your directors and shareholders.

• Lastly, you will submit an utility bill (light or water) of your business address.

3. Incorporated Trustees (for NGOs, churches, etc.)

Everything in business name plus;

• The names, address, passport and IDs of your trustees.

• Then, you will submit the governing document showing your organization mission and rules.

Why does this matter?

Please be warned that submitting incomplete or incorrect information on the CAC registration portal is a great offence. Kindly cross check all details before you submit.

If you feel this is too technical, you can hire us here to do it for you.

Step-by-Step Guide to CAC Registration for Your Business

It’s easy to register your business with the CAC if you follow the steps I have outlined below.

Step 1: Choose a Business Name

The first step is to pick a name that reflects your business and isn’t already in use. You can check the name availability on the CAC portal.

I want to plead with you to ignore intellectual property. That is a name either currently or previously assigned to an entity. You don’t want to build an empire in another man’s land.

Before you choose a business name, check the search portal, trademark and domain name availability.

Step 2: Create an Account on CAC Registration Portal

The next is to sign up on the CAC registration portal using either your phone number or email address and your National Identification Number (NIN). Then fill out the pre-registration form with accurate details about your business.

Step 3: Upload Documents and Details

The next step is to scan your documents (government ID, passport, and signature) and upload them to the registration portal. You can read the document section here for other important documents you will need.

Please have a second look at your details before you submit.

Step 4: Make Payment for Registration Fees

The name reservation fee on CAC is ₦700, while the registration fee is ₦11,000, plus bank charges, totaling ₦11,700 or more. You can pay online on the CAC portal using either bank transfer, ATm or USSD.

Speaking from experience, I advise you to avoid bank app transfers and USSD. Instead, use your ATM card on the portal – has a higher success.

Note: The fees mentioned above are subject to change without prior notice.

Step 5: Follow Up on Feedback

You may easily think the payment ends it all. Actually, this is the time to pay more attention to your email.

The staff from CAC will reach out to you from time to time on changes they want you to effect at your end. All you need to do is login to the portal and make those changes.

Most likely, the errors will come from your business description.

Step 6: Download your Certificate

CAC will send you an approval email of your business name. I need you to download the certificate and the application form immediately from the portal.

If you don’t after 7 days, they will ask you to pay another money.

After downloading, you can print out, frame and also save the soft copy on your Google drive for future use. You will need both documents to open a corporate bank account.

By following these steps, you have completed the CAC registration for your business in Nigeria.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions on registering a business name in Nigeria:

1. How long does CAC registration take?

From my own calculations, name reservation takes 3-5 days while the wait period after submission takes 7-10 days. That’s a total of two weeks. The days can be lower or higher for many reasons.

2. Can I register my business without a lawyer?

Yes, you can register your business without a lawyer. The CAC registration portal is easy to use. But you may need a lawyer or external agents to avoid mistakes and help with documents. Remember, this comes with a cost.

3. How much is CAC business registration?

CAC registration is not free but affordable. The name reservation fee is ₦700, while the business registration is ₦11,000 which totals ₦11,000 (plus bank charges).

For a limited liability company, the fee is different because of the share capital starting at ₦10,000 per 1 million capital share. These fees are subject to change.

4. Can I change my business name after registration?

Yes, please. There are two ways to go about this. If the business name is totally different from the registered name, you can register it as a new company.

The second option is to visit the CAC office and file a notice for change of business name. The staff available will guide on the next process.

Conclusion on CAC Business Name Registration

I hope I have been able to convince you that CAC registration is important for any business that must be term credible in Nigeria.

It protects you and gives you access to loan and grant opportunities.

When you register your business, you position it for growth and success. You can now open a bank account, and do bigger contracts even with government

There is no time to waste. You can contact us now for your business registration.

Best Regards,

Oluboba