Why Registering Your Business Matters
If you're running a business in Nigeria without CAC registration, you're operating in the shadows. No corporate bank account. No legal standing to sue or be sued. No ability to bid for government contracts. And if someone reports you, CAC can shut you down and fine you.
Registration is not optional if you want to be taken seriously. Here's exactly how to do it in 2025.
Step 1: Decide Your Business Structure
Before anything else, you need to know what you're registering. The CAC recognises several structures:
**Business Name (BN)** — This is for sole proprietorships and partnerships. It's the simplest, fastest, and cheapest option. Registration is approved in 24-48 hours guaranteed when filed through an accredited agent. This is what most small businesses, market traders, and freelancers need.
**Private Limited Company (LTD)** — This creates a separate legal entity from you as the owner. It can have multiple shareholders, attract investment, and offers personal liability protection. This is for businesses that plan to grow, hire staff, and potentially seek funding. Processing takes 4-15 working days, subject to CAC.
**Public Limited Company (PLC)** — For large businesses that want to offer shares to the public. This requires a minimum share capital of ₦2 million and is rarely needed by small or medium businesses.
**Incorporated Trustees (NGO/Foundation)** — For churches, charities, clubs, and non-profit organisations. This is the structure you need if you're setting up an organisation that isn't primarily profit-driven. Processing takes 10-20 working days.
Step 2: Conduct a Name Availability Search
This is the first actual step with CAC. You need to propose at least two names for your business in order of preference. CAC will check if either name is available and not too similar to an existing registered business.
You can do this yourself on the CAC portal (cac.gov.ng), or you can engage an accredited agent to do it for you. We offer free name availability searches — no commitment required.
A few tips for choosing a good name:
Step 3: Prepare Your Documents
For a **Business Name** registration, you'll need:
For a **Limited Company**, you'll need all of the above plus:
Step 4: File Your Application
If you're using the CAC portal yourself, you'll create an account on cac.gov.ng, complete the pre-registration form, upload your documents, and pay the filing fees.
If you're working with an accredited agent (like JurisTech), you simply send us your details and we handle everything — name search, form completion, document preparation, filing, and follow-up.
Step 5: Pay the Filing Fees
CAC filing fees depend on your share capital (for companies) and the type of registration. For a standard business name, the government fee is relatively low. For a limited company, the fee scales with your share capital.
When you work with JurisTech, all government fees are included in our pricing — no surprise charges.
Step 6: Wait for Approval and Collect Your Certificate
For Business Name registrations filed through an accredited agent, approval typically comes within 24-48 hours. You'll receive your Certificate of Registration and Status Report digitally — these are fully valid for opening a corporate bank account, signing contracts, and all legal purposes.
For Limited Companies, the process takes longer (4-15 working days) because CAC conducts more thorough reviews. You'll receive your Certificate of Incorporation and MEMART (Memorandum and Articles of Association).
What Happens After Registration?
Registration is just the beginning. Here's what you need to know:
1. **Open a corporate bank account** — Take your CAC certificate to any bank to open a business account
2. **Register for TIN** — Get your Tax Identification Number from FIRS
3. **File annual returns** — Every registered business must file annual returns with CAC. Failure to do so attracts penalties
4. **Get necessary licenses** — Depending on your industry, you may need additional permits (e.g. NAFDAC for food/drugs, SON for manufactured goods)
Common Mistakes to Avoid
How JurisTech Can Help
At JurisTech, we handle the entire registration process for you. Our packages start at ₦35,000 for a standalone Business Name registration, or ₦80,000 for a package that includes a professional website alongside your registration.
We're CAC-accredited agents, which means we file directly on the official CAC portal. Every document we produce is reviewed by a qualified Nigerian lawyer — because that's who we are.