Knowing how to register a business in Nigeria is an important first step for traders, freelancers, startups and expanding companies. Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) gives a business a recognised entry in Nigeria's official registry. But applicants still need to choose the right legal structure, submit accurate information and understand what must be done after receiving a certificate.
In 2026, applications can be made through the official CAC Company Registration Portal (iCRP) . The portal includes automated name reservations and a streamlined business-name process. This guide follows CAC's current instructions, explains the published fees and distinguishes business-name registration from incorporation of a limited liability company.
1. Choose the right business structure before applying
The word “business” is broad, but CAC registers several different legal forms. The choice affects liability, governance, future funding, fees and documentation.
| Structure | Who typically considers it | Important difference |
|---|---|---|
| Business name | Individual traders and ordinary partnerships | Generally does not create a separate limited-liability company; the proprietor's obligations remain important |
| Private company limited by shares (Ltd) | Businesses seeking a distinct corporate entity, investors or expansion | Creates a company with separate legal personality and statutory company duties |
| LLP or LP | Partnership ventures with particular legal and commercial needs | Different partnership structures and liability rules |
| Incorporated trustees | Associations, charities and similar organisations | Not a substitute for registering an ordinary profit-making trading business |
CAC's company registration guidance covers incorporation, while its business-name guidance explains the simpler proprietor route. Under CAC's published company checklist, a private company may be formed by one person, and a qualifying small company may have one director. Industry-regulated or foreign-participation cases can require additional conditions.
If personal-liability protection, shareholding or investors are central to your plan, seek professional advice before choosing a business name merely because its initial filing fee is lower.
2. Prepare the information and documents
Gather the essentials before opening the application. CAC's 2026 public-user sign-up page requests personal and account details, a means of identification, an identity number and an address. Keep a working email address and phone available for verification.
For a typical business-name application, prepare:
- One or more proposed names and a clear description of the business activity.
- Proprietor or partner's legal name, contact details and identification particulars.
- Principal business address, email and actual commencement date.
- A valid identity document, passport photograph and signature for each proprietor, in the image format requested by the portal.
- A means of making the approved portal payment.
For a limited company, expect additional information about directors, shareholders, issued shares, registered address, company activities and persons with significant control where applicable. Requirements can change with the entity type. Enter names exactly as they appear on identity documents; mismatches and incomplete particulars can lead to queries.
3. Create an account on the official CAC portal
Visit https://icrp.cac.gov.ng , choose account creation and complete the public-user registration. The form covers identity, nationality, email, phone and location details. The portal's current FAQ explains that users may sign in with their username, email or phone and may need email-based two-factor authentication.
Use only CAC's official domain and keep the login private. A public-user account is intended for pre-incorporation applications where the user participates in the registration. Anyone handling filings for unrelated clients should verify whether CAC accreditation is required.
4. Search for a name and pay for reservation
From the dashboard select Name Reservation, choose the business classification and type, enter the proposed name, select the business activity and click Check Availability. CAC's current CRP 3.0 user guide documents these steps.
If a name is available, proceed to the payment stage. The current iCRP FAQ says ordinary automated reservations can be approved instantly following successful payment, producing an AV Code (Availability Code). Save it: you will need it to register the business.
A name that resembles an existing name, suggests a regulated activity or includes restricted words may require a different name or consent. Applications requiring consent follow a separate, manually reviewed process. Name availability is not the same as final registration approval.
5. Register the business name using your AV Code
For the business-name route, the 2026 CAC FAQ gives this workflow:
- Open Registration on the iCRP dashboard and select Register New Business.
- Enter the AV Code from your approved name reservation.
- Provide the business email, address and commencement date, then save and continue.
- Enter the full proprietor or partner details.
- Upload each proprietor's valid identification, passport photograph and signature; save the document entries.
- Review the entire application, correct errors and proceed to the portal's Remita payment stage.
- Submit and monitor the dashboard until CAC approves or raises a query.
The dashboard can display Pending, Queried or Approved. If queried, use the provided history and modification options rather than submitting a second application blindly. Upon approval, download the electronic registration certificate and status report. CAC describes this as a digitally processed workflow, but do not mistake an automated approval feature for a guarantee of an error-free, immediate result.
6. Register a limited liability company instead, if appropriate
A private limited company has a related starting process—account creation, name availability and reservation—but the remaining form is different. Under the CAC company registration steps , applicants complete the company's incorporation particulars, upload required supporting material and pay filing fees and applicable statutory stamp duties.
Plan share ownership before submitting: identify the shareholders, directors, issued share capital and relevant beneficial owners. Certain activities require regulator approval or prescribed minimum capital, and some applications require further review. Company registrations, unlike ordinary business-name approvals, are described in the iCRP FAQ as following a manual approval process.
After approval, obtain the company's electronic certificate and certified registration information. A person wanting only a trading name should not assume a business-name certificate grants the protection or privileges of an incorporated limited company.
7. How much does CAC registration cost in 2026?
The federal gazette containing CAC's revised fee schedule , published in May 2025, lists the following applicable base fees. The amounts below were checked for this guide in October 2026; confirm the live portal assessment before paying.
| Service | Published CAC fee |
|---|---|
| Ordinary business-name reservation | ₦1,000 |
| Business-name registration and listed certified documents | ₦20,000 |
| Ordinary business-name base total | ₦21,000 |
| Ordinary private-company name reservation | ₦1,000 |
| Incorporation of a private company with share capital | ₦10,000 per ₦1 million of issued share capital, or part thereof, under the listed company categories |
| Business-name annual return filing | ₦5,000 |
For example, a private company registering ₦1 million in issued share capital has a listed incorporation filing fee of ₦10,000, plus the ordinary name reservation fee. This is not its complete all-in incorporation cost: stamp duties, payment-provider charges, professional fees and applicable special approvals may be additional.
Beware outdated online prices. An older section of CAC's own FAQ still mentions ₦500 for name reservation, but the newer gazetted schedule shows ₦1,000. Use the current fee schedule and final portal invoice, not a copied blog estimate. FlyingEze previously reported on CAC's revised service fees ; this guide provides the actionable 2026 figures.
8. How long will registration take?
CAC's published service timelines state targets of four working hours for ordinary name availability and 24 working hours for new business-name or company registrations after complete documents are received or outstanding queries are resolved. Meanwhile, the latest portal FAQ advertises instant automated processing for routine business names.
Those are service targets and platform capabilities, not guarantees. Name restrictions, identity mismatches, payment issues, system interruptions and manual review may lengthen a case. Use your dashboard for actual status and contact the official CAC help centre when necessary.
9. What to do after receiving your CAC certificate
Keep the certificate and status report. Download both from the dashboard and store secure copies. CAC's electronic-certificate guidance confirms that registration certificates are now delivered digitally.
Check your Tax ID. From January 2026, Nigeria's harmonised tax identity framework links businesses to CAC registration details. Use the official NRS/JRB Tax ID portal to retrieve or verify the relevant identification number. CAC registration does not remove tax registration, accounting, filing or payment obligations. Confirm the applicable federal and state requirements for your circumstances.
Prepare for ongoing filings. Under Section 822 of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, registered business names ordinarily submit annual returns by 30 June each year, excluding the year of registration. CAC's current portal notice says business-name annual-return processing is being upgraded and may differ for entities registered before and after July 2025. Follow the live instructions rather than assuming the filing is unavailable.
Check sector licences and bank requirements. CAC registration alone does not authorise banking, regulated financial services, healthcare, food handling or other licensed activities. When opening a business account, the bank may require identity, tax and company information beyond the certificate.
Compliance should not stop at registration. FlyingEze's report on why CAC removed companies from its register provides broader context on the consequences of unresolved filing and record issues.
10. Common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing the wrong entity: a business name and an Ltd company do not have identical legal effects.
- Submitting inconsistent identities: ensure proprietor, director and shareholder details match their documents.
- Ignoring CAC queries: review the dashboard and resolve the specific issue raised.
- Paying unofficial accounts: use authorised CAC channels and save receipts.
- Assuming registration covers every legal obligation: tax, permits, data protection and annual filings may still apply.
If another person handles the application, agree on fees in writing and retain control of the business email, registration documents and portal access.
Frequently asked questions
Can I register my business myself without a lawyer?
Yes. CAC explicitly says an individual proprietor can register a business name online without hiring a lawyer, accountant or chartered secretary. More complex structures may still benefit from qualified professional advice.
Is CAC business-name registration free in 2026?
Not as a general rule. The published base government fees are ₦1,000 for ordinary name reservation and ₦20,000 for registration. Special government-sponsored programmes may have their own eligibility rules; do not assume they apply to everyone.
Does CAC registration automatically give me a Tax ID?
The harmonised 2026 Tax ID system uses CAC details to identify registered entities. Check and retrieve your number through the official NRS/JRB portal, and address any record mismatch with the competent authority.
What if my proposed business name is rejected?
Try another distinguishable name or follow CAC's query and name-substitution instructions. Restricted names may need formal consent and separate review.
Internal Linking Recommendations
For readers following Nigerian business regulation, FlyingEze's coverage of CAC's fee review provides the historical background to the 2025 schedule used here. The report on CAC's registration enforcement warning explains why an informal business should check its legal status. Finally, CAC's company-register compliance action illustrates why post-registration obligations matter. These linked reports are context, not substitutes for the current official portal or legislation.
Conclusion
Learning how to register a business in Nigeria is now largely an online process: select a legal form, reserve a name, collect the correct documents, submit an accurate application, pay official charges and download your CAC certificate. The key decision comes before the first form—whether you need a business name, a limited company or another structure.
Use CAC's official iCRP portal , follow its current instructions and plan for tax and annual-return compliance after registration. That is how registration becomes a durable foundation for a credible business rather than just a document saved on a phone.
Research and fee schedule verified 29 October 2026. This guide is general information; regulatory, fee and portal details may change. Consult CAC and qualified advisers for unusual ownership or regulated business activities.
