How to Register a Business Name in Nigeria

How to register a business name in Nigeria- choose a business name and register your enterprise with the most reliable CAC in Nigeria. This article will show you how to register your business name.

In the past, business name registration in Nigeria was quite cumbersome. It would take several days and a lot of paperwork to get it sorted. It’s no longer that hard to register a business name in Nigeria.

 Steps to register a business name with CAC:

  • Choose a business name and check for the availability
  • Complete your pre-registration form to register a business name
  • Pay for a filing fee
  • Prepare your documents for upload
  • Submit the original copies of your documents

As an investor or entrepreneur, business name registration is one of the essential requirements for starting a business. Would you like to start a business and in need of business ideas, check this article to find out some business ideas in Nigeria.

An investor will only be interested in a company that is duly registered. On the other hand, for an entrepreneur to make the business eligible for specific benefits either from an investor or government, it has to be registered as a company. You can refer to this post for insights on how to find the best investments in Nigeria.

How to Register a Business Name in Nigeria 

Choose a Business Name and Check For Availability

Choosing a business name can be quite tasking sometimes. Your business name needs to be identified with a brand name. It is important that you pick a name that is relevant to your business.

You should do a quick search on the internet on the names you choose and have up to three backup plans. This is to ensure you have at least chosen the names that are not in use to the best of your knowledge.

You can also use a platform like Namelix, a digital tool to help with finding a name that fits your business.

Complete Your Pre-registration Form to Register a Business Name

In the past, business name reservation at the CAC took days before it came back with a result. Today, it only takes the same day if you submit your request before 5 pm and it costs just NGN500.

Once you wrap up with the name reservation, you can then proceed to the registration of your business name proper. Using the online registration portal, you will have to complete a pre-registration form (CAC-BNo1).

Pay For a Filing Fee

Upon payment of the filing fee, you will receive a receipt of payment. Note, you can make Payment directly from the website portal or straight to the bank. The cost of business name registration depends on the type of company you are trying to register.

Prepare Your Documents For Upload

You will need to prepare a signed copy of the pre-registration documents and upload a scanned copy to the website for processing. The following are the requirements for registering a business name.

  • Application form
  • Filing fee receipt
  • Means of Identification for the proprietors of the business.

Submit the Original Copies of Your Documents

You will have to submit the original signed copies of documents uploaded in step 4 to the CAC office. You will do this in exchange for your certificate and the Certified True Copies of the documents.

How Much Does it Cost to Register a Business Name in Nigeria?

  • Registration of a private company with an authorized share capital of N1m or less, costs N10,000
  • Registration of a private company with a share capital of more than N1m and up to N500m costs N5,000 for every 1m shares of the company.
  • Private company registration above N500m authorized share capital costs N7,500 for every 1m shares of the company.
  • Public company registration for the first 1m share capital or fewer costs N20,000
  • Registration of company not having a share capital

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