Yes, you can register your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission yourself, entirely online, without hiring a lawyer or an agent. Many Nigerians still pay agencies ₦30,000 to ₦100,000 for something they could do themselves for the official government fee.
This article walks through the actual process, what documents you need, how long it takes, and when it might still make sense to pay someone else to do it for you.
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Let our team handle your CAC registration and help you obtain your certificate without stress. From business name registration to company incorporation.
What CAC Registration Actually Means
The Corporate Affairs Commission is Nigeria‘s corporate registry. It was established under the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990 and re-enacted in 2020 to handle the incorporation and regulation of companies, business names, and incorporated trustees.
Registering gives your business legal recognition. Without it, you cannot open a corporate bank account, sign formal contracts as a registered entity, or apply for most grants and government contracts that require proof of registration.
There are three main categories: Business Name registration for sole proprietors and partnerships, Limited Liability Company registration for incorporated companies, and Incorporated Trustees for NGOs, churches, and associations. The process and cost differ for each.
Can You Really Do It Yourself?
If you are registering as an individual proprietor, you do not need a lawyer or an accredited agent. You can act as your own “Presenter” on the portal. This applies to Business Name registration, which is the most common starting point for small businesses, freelancers, and consultants.
Individuals and proprietors can register business names without the services of a legal practitioner, chartered accountant, or chartered secretary. The entire process now runs through the Company Registration Portal.
For Limited Liability Companies, the rules are slightly different. While you can technically initiate the process yourself, certain filings traditionally required involvement from an accredited professional. In practice, many founders still complete most of the steps themselves and only bring in help for specific document preparation.
Step-by-Step: How to Register Your Business Name on CAC Yourself
Step 1: Create an Account on the CAC Portal
Go to the official CAC Portal and create an account using your personal or business email address. Choose a strong password and store your login details securely. This account becomes your dashboard for the entire registration, from name search to certificate download.
Step 2: Search for Your Business Name
Before anything else, check whether your preferred business name is available. The system tells you instantly whether the name is available, already taken, or too similar to an existing registered name.
It helps to prepare two or three name options in advance. Your first choice may already be in use, and going back to think of alternatives mid-process slows you down.
Step 3: Reserve Your Name
Once your chosen name is approved, you pay a small fee to reserve it for 60 days, which prevents anyone else from registering it while you complete your application. The fee is ₦1,000 for standard business names and ₦5,000 for Incorporated Trustees.
This 60-day window gives you breathing room. You do not need to complete everything in one sitting.
Step 4: Complete the Registration Form
Fill out the pre-registration form, known as CAC-BNo1, directly on the portal. This covers your business name, nature of business, registered address, and details of the proprietor or partners.
Take your time on this step. A single spelling error in any field can cause delays of weeks while it gets corrected. Triple-check names, addresses, and identification numbers before moving forward.
Step 5: Upload Your Documents
You will need to upload identification documents for yourself and any partners, a passport photograph, and proof of your registered address. Documents required typically include identification, passport photographs, and contact information for everyone involved.
Accepted formats are PDF, which is preferred, JPEG, and PNG. Files should be clear scans under 2MB with the correct orientation. One source notes that the portal frequently rejects black and white scans, so colour scans of your ID are recommended to avoid delays.
Step 6: Pay the Registration Fee
After your documents are uploaded and the system has reviewed your submission, the fees owed will appear on your dashboard. You follow the prompts to pay directly through the portal. If you do not have a debit or credit card, you can also pay using internet banking through the portal.
Step 7: Wait for Review
A CAC registrar reviews your application after payment. This usually takes between one and seven working days. Business Name registrations are often completed the same day, while Limited Companies typically take five to twenty working days, and Incorporated Trustees can take twenty-five to forty-five days.
Check your dashboard regularly. If the registrar has questions or finds an issue, they will raise a “Query” on your application that you need to respond to before it can proceed.
Step 8: Download Your Certificate
Once approved, you can download your Certificate of Incorporation and a Certified True Copy of your business details directly from the portal. Your Tax Identification Number is now generated automatically and included on the certificate, removing a step that previously required a separate visit to FIRS.
Keep a digital and printed copy of everything. Banks, government agencies, and clients will frequently ask for this documentation.
Total Cost Breakdown for DIY Registration
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Name search and reservation | ₦1,000 (₦5,000 for Incorporated Trustees) |
| Business Name registration filing fee | ₦10,000 |
| Limited Liability Company (typical small share capital) | ₦10,000 to ₦20,000 |
| Limited Liability Company (higher share capital) | Up to ₦150,000 depending on share capital |
| Total DIY cost (Business Name) | ₦11,000 |
| Professional service fee if outsourced | ₦30,000 to ₦400,000 |
The total cost for a DIY Business Name registration typically falls between ₦11,000 and ₦40,000, while professional services for the same registration can cost ₦50,000 to ₦400,000 or more. The gap is mostly the agent’s service fee, not anything CAC charges differently.
Obtain Your CAC Certificate
Let our team handle your CAC registration and help you obtain your certificate without stress. From business name registration to company incorporation.
When It Still Makes Sense to Hire Help
DIY registration works well for straightforward Business Name registrations where you are the sole proprietor and your documents are in order. The portal is designed for exactly this case.
Where it gets more complicated is Limited Liability Company registration with multiple shareholders, complex share structures, or where your Memorandum and Articles of Association need careful drafting. These documents outline the company’s purpose, structure, and internal governance rules, and getting them wrong can create problems years later when you try to bring in investors or restructure ownership.
If your business involves foreign shareholders, NGO status, or sectors with additional regulatory requirements, professional input is worth the cost. For a simple business name, it usually isn’t.
Common Mistakes That Slow Down DIY Registration
People rush the name search step and pick something that turns out to be too close to an existing registered name, triggering a rejection that costs time. Others scan documents poorly. Black and white or low-quality scans of identification are a frequent cause of rejected uploads.
Address mismatches are another common issue. The address on your registration should match your proof of address document exactly, including spelling and abbreviations. Small inconsistencies between forms and uploaded documents are the most common reason applications get queried.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CAC registration fully online in Nigeria now?
Yes. CAC registration is fully online through the official CAC portal. You can complete name search, application, document upload, payment, and certificate download from your phone or computer. Physical CAC office visits are rarely needed unless you run into a technical issue that support cannot resolve remotely.
How long does it take to register a business name with CAC?
Business Names typically take one to seven working days, often approved the same day. Limited Companies take five to twenty working days, and Incorporated Trustees take twenty-five to forty-five days. Processing speed depends heavily on how accurate and complete your application is the first time.
Do I need a lawyer to register my business name?
No, not for a Business Name registration as a sole proprietor. You can act as your own Presenter on the portal without a lawyer or accredited agent. A lawyer becomes more useful for Limited Liability Companies with complex shareholder arrangements or for Incorporated Trustees.
What documents do I need for CAC registration?
You will need a valid means of identification such as a National ID, international passport, or driver’s licence, a passport photograph, and proof of your business address. For Limited Companies, you will also need details of all directors and shareholders, and a Memorandum and Articles of Association.
How much does it cost to register a business name on CAC?
Business Name registration costs ₦10,000, with an additional ₦1,000 for the name search and reservation, bringing the total to roughly ₦11,000 if you do it yourself. Limited Companies cost more depending on share capital, generally starting from ₦10,000 to ₦20,000 for typical small businesses.
Can I check if my business is properly registered on CAC?
Yes. Anyone can verify a registration on the CAC portal by searching the business name or registration number. This is also a useful way to confirm that an agency you may have paid actually completed your registration correctly.
Conclusion: DIY Is Realistic, But Accuracy Matters
Registering your business with CAC yourself is genuinely achievable for most small business owners and freelancers in Nigeria. The portal handles the entire journey from name search to certificate download, and the official cost for a basic business name is around ₦11,000.
The main risk is not the process itself but getting the details wrong. A misspelled name, a mismatched address, or a rejected document scan can turn a same-day approval into a multi-week delay. Go slowly through each field, prepare clean document scans in advance, and have your name alternatives ready before you start.
If your business structure is more complex, involves multiple shareholders, or needs governing documents drafted properly, that is where bringing in professional help earns its cost.
Obtain Your CAC Certificate
Let our team handle your CAC registration and help you obtain your certificate without stress. From business name registration to company incorporation.
