CAC Registration Documents Checklist: What You Need to Register a Business in Nigeria.

A founder registered as a Business Name because it was faster and cheaper, then spent three months converting to a Limited Company a year later because an investor wouldn’t put money into a structure that couldn’t issue shares. The conversion cost more in fees, paperwork, and delay than registering correctly the first time would have.

The documents CAC asks for depend entirely on which structure you choose, so that decision comes before any paperwork gets filed. Get the structure right and the document list is short. Get it wrong and you’ll be back here again in a year, doing it twice.

Choose your structure first

CAC registers three main types, and each one is built for a different kind of business.

Business Name suits freelancers, consultants, and small operations with no plan to raise outside investment. It’s the fastest and cheapest to register, but it can’t issue shares, which rules it out the moment you want a co-founder with real equity or an investor on the cap table.

Limited Liability Company (Ltd) is the right call for anything you intend to scale, bring on co-founders for, or eventually raise money into. This is the structure almost every startup should register as from day one, even if raising money is still a year or two away.

Partnership fits two or more people running a business together, typically professional services, without the share structure of a Ltd.

If there’s any chance you’ll raise investment, bring on a co-founder with equity, or scale past a one person operation, register as a Limited Company from the start. The extra effort now is small compared to converting later.

Documents you need to register a Limited Company

Before you start, have these ready:

• Two or three proposed company names, in order of preference, in case your first choice is unavailable
• Valid means of identification for every director and shareholder (National ID, international passport, or driver’s license)
• Passport photographs for every director and shareholder
• A registered office address in Nigeria
• Share capital details, including the total amount and how it’s split between shareholders
• Memorandum and Articles of Association, or the Model Articles under CAMA 2020 if you’re using the standard template rather than a custom one

The registration sequence:

1. Reserve your name through the CAC portal for a small fee, which confirms availability before you file anything else
2. Complete the company registration forms online and upload your identification and supporting documents
3. Pay the registration fee, which scales with your share capital, starting from a base fee for lower capital amounts and rising from there
4. Receive your Certificate of Incorporation along with your other CAC registration documents once approved

Incomplete or incorrect documents are the single biggest cause of delay here. A mismatched name between an ID and a share allocation, or a registered address that doesn’t match supporting documents, is enough to send your application back.

Documents you need to register a Business Name

If you’ve genuinely ruled out a Limited Company for now, a Business Name needs far less:

• Your proposed business name
• Valid identification for the proprietor
• A passport photograph
• A business address

This is a lighter process, but remember it can’t take on shareholders later without converting to a different structure entirely.

What to do after you’re registered

Getting the certificate isn’t the finish line. A few things need to happen immediately after:

Apply for your Tax Identification Number (TIN). You’ll need this for banking, tax filing, and most vendor or investor conversations.

Open a corporate bank account. Most banks will ask for your Certificate of Incorporation, TIN, and Memorandum and Articles of Association before opening a business account.

Check your VAT obligations, depending on your revenue and sector.

Update your business letterhead, invoices, and receipts. Under CAMA 2020, every registered company must display its official registered name and registration number on business letters, invoices, and receipts, and CAC has been actively enforcing this requirement. It’s a small detail that’s easy to miss and increasingly costly to ignore.

Mark your annual returns date. Missing annual returns for two years running can get your company marked inactive, and reinstating an inactive company is slower and more expensive than simply filing on time would have been.

What to do next

If you haven’t decided on a structure yet, decide that before touching the CAC portal. If you’re already registered as a Business Name and you’re starting to think about investment or a co-founder, start the conversion conversation now rather than waiting until a term sheet is sitting in front of you.

Book a company registration consultation

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a Business Name and a Limited Company in Nigeria?

A Business Name is simpler and cheaper to register but can’t issue shares. A Limited Company can take on shareholders and is the structure almost every startup should use if investment or co-founders are part of the plan.

Can I register a Nigerian company from outside Nigeria?

Yes. Nigerians in the diaspora and foreign founders can register a Nigerian company remotely, though a registered local address and, in some cases, a local director or representative may be required depending on the structure.

How long does CAC registration take?

Name reservation is usually quick, often within a day or two. Full company registration, from form submission to certificate issuance, typically takes one to two weeks if your documents are complete and correct the first time.

What happens if I don’t file annual returns?

Your company can be marked inactive by CAC after missed filings, which affects your ability to open accounts, raise funds, or operate normally until it’s resolved.