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How to Register a Business Name with CAC in 2026: Cost and Steps

Registering a business name with CAC costs ₦21,000 in official fees in 2026. See the documents you need, each step on the CAC portal and annual return rules.

By the KudiAI Track team · 2026-10-07 · 7 min read

A Nigerian businesswoman working on a laptop in her stock room

Registering a business name with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) costs ₦21,000 in official fees in 2026. That is ₦1,000 to reserve the name and ₦20,000 to register it. You apply online with your NIN, a valid ID, a passport photograph and your signature.

What is a business name registration?

A business name registration lets you trade under a name that is not your own full name. Think "Mama Tolu Provisions" instead of "Tolulope Adeyemi". It is for one owner (a sole proprietor) or for partners.

The Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020 makes registration compulsory if you trade under any name other than your true names. You have 28 days from the day you start. If you trade without registering, you may be unable to enforce your business contracts in court.

Is a business name the same as a limited company?

No. A business name is not a separate legal person, so you and the business are the same in law. If the business owes money, your personal property is exposed. A private limited company (Ltd) is a separate legal person, and its owners risk only what is unpaid on their shares.

Point	Business name	Private limited company
Legal status	Same person as the owner	Separate legal person
Owner's risk	Personal property exposed	Limited to unpaid shares
CAC filing fee	₦20,000 plus ₦1,000 for the name	₦10,000 per ₦1 million share capital (small company) plus ₦1,000
Yearly return to CAC	Yes, by 30 June	Yes

For most traders, artisans and POS operators starting out, a business name is enough. Think about a limited company if you plan to bring in co-owners or investors. It also makes sense if you want your home and savings kept apart from business debts.

How much does CAC business name registration cost in 2026?

CAC's new schedule of fees was gazetted on 29 May 2025. After postponements, CAC set 1 October 2025 as the start date. Registration rose from ₦10,000 to ₦20,000, and name reservation from ₦500 to ₦1,000.

Service	Official CAC fee
Name reservation	₦1,000
Name with a restricted word	₦5,000
Registration and certified true copy	₦20,000
Annual return (each year)	₦5,000
Penalty for a late annual return	₦5,000
Change of business name	₦10,000

Doing it yourself therefore costs ₦21,000 in official fees. The portal adds small service and payment gateway charges. The exact total shows on the payment page before you pay.

Before you pay, check portal.smedan.gov.ng. CAC and SMEDAN have run free registration drives, including 250,000 free slots announced in September 2025.

What documents do you need for CAC registration?

Have these ready before you log in:

Your NIN. The portal checks it automatically.
A valid photo ID: national ID card, international passport data page, driver's licence or voter's card.
A clear passport photograph, saved as an image.
A photo or scan of your signature.
Your full names exactly as they appear on your ID. No initials.
Your date of birth, nationality, home address, phone number and email.
The business address and the date you started trading.
Your nature of business, for example retail of provisions or tailoring.
A second name idea, in case your first choice is taken.

Each partner in a partnership provides the same details. A person under 18 can join a partnership only if there are at least two adult partners. Foreigners cannot register a business name.

How do you register a business name on the CAC portal?

CAC's current portal is icrp.cac.gov.ng. These steps follow CAC's own user guide for the new portal.

Create an account and log in. Each login is confirmed with a one-time code sent to your email.
Reserve the name. Click Name Reservation, then New Reservation. Choose Business Name and your business type, type the name, pick the nature of business and click Check Availability.
Pay for the reservation. If the name is free, pay through Remita. Approval is instant and you receive an AV code. If the name is taken, change it or try the suggested names.
Start the registration. Click Registration, then Register New Business, and enter your AV code.
Fill in the details. Enter the business email, address and start date, then each owner's details.
Upload documents. For each owner, upload the ID, passport photograph and signature as images.
Preview and pay. Check every letter and number, then pay the registration fee to submit.
Track and download. "Pending" means the system is still reviewing, so refresh after a minute. "Approved" means you can download your certificate and status report.

Names that need consent, such as those with restricted words, follow a separate "Name Requiring Consent" route. A CAC officer reviews those.

How long does CAC registration take?

CAC unveiled its AI-powered portal in July 2025. It said certificates should arrive by email in under 30 minutes once NIN checks pass. Names that need consent take longer, because an officer reviews them. A query adds time until you fix it and resubmit.

Why do CAC applications get queried?

If your status shows "Queried", open the query history, correct the problem and resubmit. CAC's operations checklist points to the usual causes:

Details typed on the portal do not match the ID you uploaded.
Initials used instead of full names.
A restricted word used without the needed consent.
A name that suggests a profession, such as "Pharmacy", without that profession as the first nature of business.
A nature of business that does not meet the rules of another law or regulator.

Do business names file annual returns?

Yes. CAMA section 822 says every registered business name must file an annual return with CAC by 30 June each year. The year you register is skipped. The return comes with a financial statement for January to December of the previous year.

The fee is ₦5,000 per return, and a late return attracts a ₦5,000 penalty under the 2025 schedule. You file on the same portal. The portal says filing is open for business names registered before July 2025. It also says a new AI-powered process for older and newer business names is coming soon.

Example: a tailor in Aba registers in March 2026. Nothing is due in 2026. Her first return is due by 30 June 2027 and covers January to December 2026.

Should you use an accredited agent?

Doing it yourself is cheapest, and the portal is built for it. CAC accredits lawyers, chartered accountants and chartered secretaries as agents. They charge their own fee on top of CAC's, and Legit.ng's May 2026 guide put typical agent fees at ₦20,000 to ₦40,000.

An agent can help if you are not comfortable online or your name needs consent. Make sure your own phone number and email are on the application, and ask for the Remita receipt.

What should you do after registration?

Show your registration number. CAMA section 820 requires it on your invoices, receipts and business letters.
Know your Tax ID. The tax authority, then FIRS, said in December 2025 that an individual's NIN serves as their Tax ID from 2026. Banks must collect a Tax ID from taxable customers.
Open a business account. Ask your bank for its exact list. It will usually include your CAC documents, your ID and your Tax ID.
Know who taxes you. A business name's profit is your personal income, so your state internal revenue service handles it.
Keep records from day one. Your annual return needs a financial statement, and tax law requires records to be kept for six years.

How KudiAI Track helps

KudiAI Track records sales and expenses by tap or by voice, and shows your real profit each day. Those records give you the figures for your annual return's financial statement. Its invoices and receipts carry a QR code anyone can verify at kudiai.app/verify. Customers can also pay into a business wallet with its own account number.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. For your own case, confirm the current requirements on the CAC portal or with an accredited agent.

Questions people ask

Can I register a business name with CAC by myself, without an agent?

Yes. Create an account on the CAC Company Registration Portal at icrp.cac.gov.ng, reserve the name and file the registration yourself. You pay the official fees online through Remita.

How long does CAC hold a reserved business name?

Only for a limited period. File your registration soon after you receive your AV code, so the name does not lapse and you do not have to reserve it again.

What happens if I do not file annual returns for my business name?

When you eventually file, the 2025 fee schedule adds a ₦5,000 late penalty to the ₦5,000 filing fee. CAMA also allows daily default penalties set in CAC regulations.

Can I change my business name after registration?

Yes. File a change of name on the CAC portal; the 2025 schedule sets the fee at ₦10,000. The new name needs CAC approval, just like a new registration.