How to Register a Company in Nigeria: 5 Step Guide

You are looking for detailed information on how to register a company in Nigeria right? New business owners and startup entrepreneurs are also asking the different between business name registration and limited liability company. Many business owners usually find themselves fixed when it comes to decisions about the business registration processes and how they can get started. They are not just sure which type of business structure would work best for their businesses.

Starting a company in Nigeria is a gateway to tapping into one of Africa’s largest and most dynamic markets. With a population of over 200 million people and a rising demand for goods and services, registering a business in Nigeria gives entrepreneurs legal recognition, access to financial services, and the ability to bid for contracts, attract foreign investors, and operate within a structured economy.

Whether you’re a local entrepreneur or a foreign investor, this comprehensive guide walks you through how to register a company in Nigeria—from choosing a name to getting your certificate and beyond.  You may also need a website designs, corporate branding, social media marketing, and print advertising strategies to increase your customer base, boost sales and grow your business. Contact us for free consultation if you need help marketing or growing your business in Nigeria.

This article will look at the important steps on how to register a company in Nigeria, such as a limited liability company, a public company, a religious organisations, NGOs or associations. For small business owners or enterprises, you can read more on how to register a sole proprietorship business in Nigeria.

Now let get started;

 

Why Register a Company?

Be it limited by shares, limited by guarantee, or unlimited, a company may be either a private or a public company. A private company is a company owned by one or more individuals, and it’s not allowed to transfer its shares to the public as its articles of associations restrict this power.

The public company in the other hand, can sell (issue) its shares, or transfer its right of ownership to the public as a way to raise business funds. Registering your company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) offers several benefits:

• Legal recognition under Nigerian law.
• Protection of your business name against claims.
• Access to business banking, loans, and grants.
• Eligibility to apply for contracts and tenders.
• Credibility with customers, investors, and partners.
• Compliance with tax laws and avoidance of penalties.
• It also signals that you are ready to operate at a professional level.

 

Learn: What is a Company in Nigerian Law

 

How to Register a Company in Nigeria in 5 Easy Steps 

 

Step 1: Choose the Right Company Structure

Your ability to choose the best business options will also depends on whether your business is going to be a non-profit making venture or profit oriented kind of business. For your understanding, we have discussed the basic Types of Business Organisations; each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The CAC allows for various business structures. The most common types for commercial operations are:

• Private Company Limited by Shares (Ltd) – Most popular and suitable for SMEs and startups. Here, shareholders’ liability is limited to the value of their shares.
• Public Company Limited by Shares (PLC) – Used by companies listed on the stock exchange. Requires a minimum of 2 directors and 3 shareholders.
• Company Limited by Guarantee – For not-for-profit organizations (e.g., foundations, associations).  Here, profits are not shared among members.
• Incorporated Trustees – For religious bodies, educational, cultural, or charitable organizations.

Most entrepreneurs go with Private Company Limited by Shares (Ltd) due to its flexibility and scalability.

 

Step 2: Reserve a Unique Company Name with CAC

The Nigeria Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is the regulatory body responsible for the formation, registration, control and overall monitoring of the affairs of companies in Nigeria. The Commission is established under Section1: (1) and (2) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA 1990 as amended); a legal framework for the control of the activities of companies in Nigeria.

The Commission has its corporate headquarter at Abuja (the Federal Capital Territory), with branches in various state capitals in Nigeria such as: Lagos, Kano, Benin, Owerri, Jos, Enugu, etc. With regards to corporate matters (according to the CAC), only accredited legal practitioners, chartered accountants and chartered secretaries who are duly registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission are the professionals allowed to transact business with the commission.

However, business individuals or partners may also start out their business registration processes if they think this is the best way to go. You can start your business registration processes online by visiting the CAC official website and entering your preferred names in the search features. The CAC is said to have created an enabling environment to allow customers register their businesses within 24 hours to improve the ease of doing business in the country.

Nevertheless, what you need to understand is that the requirements to register your Company and the duration will depend on the business type. For example, if your chosen business name is not already in use, it will be reserved for 60 days within which you are expected to finish your registration process. Your company name must be unique and not too similar to an existing name. The CAC rejects names that are already registered or reserved.

 

You may Like: How to Choose a Name for your Business in 10 Easy Steps

 

Step 3: Prepare the Required Pre-Registration Documents

If you’re incorporating a Limited Liability Company in Nigeria, one of the first steps you must take is to prepare some specific documents, which must meet strict requirements.

Required Documents and Information:

• Approved company name.
• Details of at least one director and shareholder (can be the same person).
• Share capital (minimum ₦100,000 for private companies).
• Registered office address.
• ID documents (National ID, Voter’s Card, International Passport, or Driver’s License).
• Passport photographs (scanned).
• Memorandum and Articles of Association (pre-filled templates available).
• Proficiency certificate (where applicable)
• Utility bill or proof of address

Share Capital Note: As of 2025, CAC no longer uses “authorized share capital” as a minimum barrier. You only declare what is appropriate for your company (e.g., ₦1,000,000 shared between shareholders).

 

Step 4: Complete the CAC Registration Forms Online

To register a Limited Liability Company in Nigeria, visit the CAC office nearest your city of residence and request for name reservation or name availability check. Alternately, this registration process is fully digital through the CAC’s Company Registration Portal (CRP).

To sum-up:

• Go to the CAC’s official portal: www.pre.cac.gov.ng.
• Use the Public Search feature to check for existing names.
• Reserve your name online by creating an account and paying the required fees.
• You will receive a confirmation if your name is approved (valid for 60 days).

Once you have completed the name search and registration processes, you are to pay the filing fees at the Corporate Affairs Commission office or online. Fees are payable via the Remita platform during registration. The CAC’s official fees vary depending on your company size and share capital.

You may also need to pay for the statuary Stamp Duty fee to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS – now Nigeria Revenue Service). You can hire the services of a CAC-accredited agent or lawyer to help you and avoid mistakes.

Sign the CAC forms, scanned copies of your pre-registration documents above, evidence of payments and upload all on the CAC portal for approval; including:

• CAC 1.1 (Application form with director and shareholder info)
• Memorandum and Articles of Association (MEMART)
• Valid ID of directors/shareholders
• Passport photographs
• Proof of address (utility bill or tenancy agreement)

Please ensure that your application forms clearly stating the business name and other derails before submitting and making payments. After submission, CAC will review and approve the documents. If anything is missing or incorrect, you’ll receive a query notification via email. Approval usually takes 24–72 hours if all documents are in order.

 

Step 5: Download Your Certificate and Documents

Once your company registration is approved, you will be issued your Certificate of Incorporation and the Certified True copies of the report documents, including your Tax Identification Number (TIN).

The CAC will send digital copies of the following documents to your registered email:

• Certificate of Incorporation
• CAC Status Report
• Form CAC 1.1 (Company Details)
• Memorandum & Articles of Association (MEMART)
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)

As of 2023, the TIN is now automatically issued by CAC in partnership with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS)—so no separate application required. If everything goes well, your company registration process is not expected to exceed 10 business days.

Related: How to Get Business Licenses and Permits in Nigeria

 

What is a Limited Liability Company?

The Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the most important unit of business organisations in Nigeria. It is a legal entity separate from its members or owners. Here the liability of its owners is restricted only to the amount of unpaid share capital contributed to the business.

In Nigeria, a limited company can be formed by at least one (1) or two (2) persons who are not less than 18 years old, and who are not bankrupt, not insane among other things. Such registration also must be in line with the provision of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, (CAMA 2020), as amended.

The process of setting up this kind of company is referred to as registering or incorporating a company – which is usually costly and involves more documentation and time than other types of business structures like sole proprietorship or partnership.

 

Incorporated Trustee and Limited by Guarantee

Some businesses (e.g those Limited by Guarantee) also require you to file an operating agreement, which is similar to a partnership agreement (detailing how the corporation will run, including the responsibilities of the shareholders, directors and officers).

In the other hand, partnership is the relationship that exists between persons with a common goal of carrying out a business. If you’re thinking of towing this path, safeguard your investment by having a written and duly registered partnership agreement with your partners.

There is another type of company that is under the part B of CAMA known as Incorporated Trustee which is a little bit complex. Under this incorporated trustee also you can equally decide to register churches, associations, clubs and other Non Government Organizations (NGOs) if that is what you want.

If it’s a school, hospital or a professional training firm, there should be a proficiency certificate as required by CAC to process the certificate of incorporation.

 

Public Limited Company (PLC)

Additional, if you want to register a Public Limited Company (PLC), this will mean a higher legal, accounting, tax service costs and enough paper works. You may be required to hold directors meetings and annual shareholders’ meetings, etc. as stated in the company formation and filling documents.

If you are not familiar with how to prepare some of your business registration documents, we advise that you seek the guidance from reliable legal professionals to help you.

Registering a company in Nigeria is now easier, faster, and more transparent than ever, thanks to digital reforms at the CAC and FIRS. Whether you are launching a small business, seeking investment, or planning expansion, a properly registered company gives you legal protection, market credibility, and full access to Nigeria’s economic opportunities.

 

Wrapping Up: How to Register a Company in Nigeria

We hope these tips have helped most entrepreneurs and foreign investors who are thinking of doing business in Nigeria or stating a Company in Nigeria. Registering your business as a limited liability company in Nigeria can makes your business gain customers trust, and business funding opportunities when necessary. It also protects your personal assets against liabilities and claims due to failures, accidents and business debts. With the CAC portal, your intending business partners may check if your Company is legitimately Registered in Nigeria or Not. So, when do you pan to register your company in Nigeria?

The limited liability company (LLC) is the popular and preferred legal structure to choose in carrying on most businesses in Nigeria. Contact us now if you need help registering your business in Nigeria. If you’re just starting out, we recommend that you run your business for some time before formalizing the business structure. This is because you business idea may change after some time and this will definitely affect your registered name at the long run.

But, if you have registered as a sole proprietorship business and wish to migrate to private limited company or vice versa, this is still allowed by law. We provide Business Development Services for startup entrepreneurs and foreign businesses that have investment interests in Nigerian economy. Our services include niche-specific market research and business planning services, corporate branding and printing service, and business registrations with relevant authorities such as the CAC, NAFDAC, and SON.

By following the steps in this guide—choosing the right structure, preparing your documents, using the CAC portal effectively, and staying compliant—you’ll position your company for success from day one.

 

Don’t Miss: How to Register a Business Name in Nigeria: 4 Step Guide

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