Key takeaways: Registering a business name (sole proprietorship) in Nigeria costs ₦13,600–₦50,000 depending on method. CAC processing takes 1–2 business days. You need a valid ID, passport photo, signature, and basic personal/business details. The fastest option is via WhatsApp with Oya Legal (₦15,000, ~5 minutes, certificate in 48 hours).
A business name registration is the simplest form of business registration in Nigeria — it registers a sole proprietorship with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). It’s for one person operating under a chosen business name, and it’s different from a limited liability company (LLC).
Once registered, you receive a CAC certificate that lets you operate formally, open a business bank account, sign contracts, and prove legal ownership of your business name.
Anyone operating a business in Nigeria under a name other than their personal name is legally required to register with the CAC. This includes freelancers, traders, consultants, shop owners, and online businesses.
Without registration, you cannot open a business bank account, bid for government contracts, or prove ownership of your business name.
You need three documents and a set of personal/business details:
Documents (all can be phone photos):
Personal information: full legal name, date of birth, gender, nationality, occupation, phone number, email, ID type and number.
Business information: proposed business name (have 2–3 alternatives), nature of business (from CAC’s 19 official categories), commencement date, business phone and email.
Addresses: principal place of business and residential address, both with correct state and LGA (Nigeria has 774 LGAs).
The portal is functional but slow — frequent timeouts and strict form validation.
Provide your details and documents, pay ₦20,000–₦50,000, and they handle the CAC portal. Downside: cost and days of back-and-forth.
Message us on WhatsApp, answer questions in the chat, snap and send your documents, pay ₦15,000 online. We check name availability, file with the CAC, and deliver your certificate. The conversation takes about 5 minutes.
| Method | Cost | Your Time | Processing |
|---|---|---|---|
| DIY (CAC portal) | ~₦13,600 | 1–3 hours | 1–2 days |
| Lawyer/agent | ₦20,000–₦50,000 | Hours–days | 2–5 days |
| Oya Legal (WhatsApp) | ₦15,000 | ~5 minutes | 48 hours |
CAC government fees (stamp duty + filing) total approximately ₦13,600 regardless of method. The difference is the service fee charged by agents.
Choosing a taken name. Always check the CAC public registry at publicsearch.cac.gov.ng before applying.
Using restricted words. “Federal,” “national,” “government” — these are automatically rejected.
Wrong LGA. Nigeria has 774 Local Government Areas. Selecting the wrong one delays processing.
Blurry documents. The CAC rejects unclear passport photos, signatures, and ID images.
Name mismatch. The name on your ID must exactly match what you enter in the registration form.
With your CAC certificate you can: