How to Register Your Business in Nigeria Without an Agent

October 03, 2026

How to Register Your Business in Nigeria Without an Agent

How to Register Your Business in Nigeria Without an Agent or Going to a CAC Office

If you are starting a business in Nigeria, you may have heard that you need an agent to register your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

That is not necessarily true.

For a business name registration, an individual proprietor can complete the registration process personally through the CAC's online Company Registration Portal. CAC specifically states that individuals and proprietors can register business names without the services of a legal practitioner, chartered accountant or chartered secretary.

This means you can potentially complete the process from your home, office or anywhere you have internet access.

But there is an important distinction: doing it yourself does not mean the registration is free. You still have to pay the applicable CAC fees and provide the required information and documents.

The Problem

Many new business owners hear different prices from agents.

One person may say:

"CAC registration is ₦50,000."

Another may say:

"It is ₦30,000."

Someone else may tell you:

"You cannot do it yourself."

This can make the process look more complicated than it actually is.

An agent can provide a useful service if you do not want to handle the process yourself, but an agent's service charge is different from the official CAC fees.

If you decide to register yourself, you can create your own CAC portal account and submit the application online. CAC's current portal provides public-user account registration for people who will act as a proprietor, director, trustee or partner.

Can You Really Register Without Going to CAC?

Yes, for many registrations.

CAC says business-name registration is now end-to-end on its Company Registration Portal, including the electronic Certificate of Registration and Certified Extract.

The CAC's current portal also states that users can register and manage their businesses online.

So the basic process can be handled digitally:

Choose a name → create your CAC account → check/reserve the name → complete the registration → upload documents → pay the applicable fees → submit → receive your registration documents electronically.

You do not necessarily need to travel to a CAC office simply to register a business name.

What You Need Before You Start

Before opening the CAC portal, prepare the information you will need.

For a typical business-name registration, you should be ready with:

Your proposed business name
An alternative business name
Your full personal details
Phone number
Email address
Business address
Business activity
Date of business commencement
Means of identification
Passport photograph
Signature
Other information requested by the CAC portal

The CAC's business-name registration guide specifically includes business information, proprietor information, means of identification, passport photograph and signature among the registration requirements.

Having these ready before you begin can make the process much easier.

Step 1: Create Your CAC Account

The first step is to create an account on the official CAC Company Registration Portal.

CAC's portal provides a public-user registration page where you enter your personal details, contact information, identification details and address.

Do not create your account through a random website claiming to be CAC.

Use the official CAC portal.

Open the official CAC Registration Portal

Step 2: Choose Your Business Name

Think carefully about the name you want to register.

You should have at least two possible names because your first choice may already be taken or may not be approved.

For example:

First choice: SamDlight Business Solutions

Second choice: SamDlight Enterprise

You will then conduct a name availability search through the CAC system.

The CAC FAQ says a name availability request can contain a maximum of two proposed names.

Do not assume that because a name is available on Instagram, Facebook or Google, it is automatically available for CAC registration.

CAC determines whether the proposed name can be registered.

Step 3: Reserve the Approved Name

After your name search, follow the portal process to reserve the available name.

Once the name reservation has been approved, you will have the relevant name availability information/code needed to continue the registration.

The CAC's business registration guide explains that after reservation approval, you start the registration from your dashboard using the name availability code.

### Step 4: Start the Business Registration

From your CAC dashboard, go to the registration section and select the option to register a new business.

You will then enter information about the business.

This can include:

Business email
Business address
Business commencement date
Nature of the business
Proprietor information

The information should be accurate.

One common mistake is rushing through the form because the person thinks the main goal is simply to obtain the certificate.

Your registration information becomes part of the official business record, so check everything before submitting.

### Step 5: Upload Your Documents

You will be required to provide the documents requested by the CAC portal.

For a business-name registration, CAC's published guide includes:

Means of identification
Passport photograph
Signature

The guide specifies that these proprietor documents are uploaded during the registration process.

Make sure your documents are clear and readable before uploading them.

A blurry photograph or poorly prepared document can create unnecessary problems during the application.

Step 6: Review Your Application

Before you pay and submit, stop and check everything.

Check:

Business name

Is the spelling correct?

Your name

Does it match your identification document?

Address

Is the business address correct?

Phone number and email

Are they active and accessible?

Business activity

Does it accurately describe what you do?

Documents

Are the uploaded documents clear and correct?

This is one of the stages where being careful can save you from unnecessary corrections later.

Step 7: Pay the Applicable CAC Fees

You will need to pay the applicable fees shown through the CAC registration process.

This is where you should distinguish between:

CAC fees
and
Agent/service fees.

If you register yourself, you are not paying an agent's professional service charge.

However, you are still responsible for the official charges applicable to your registration.

Because CAC fees and portal processes can change, check the amount displayed in the official CAC portal before making payment rather than relying on an old blog post or a price someone gave you months ago.

Step 8: Submit the Application

After completing the application and payment, submit your registration.

CAC's current service timeline lists 24 working hours for new business-name registrations, subject to receiving the relevant documents and compliance with any queries raised by the Commission.

That does not mean every application will always be completed within exactly 24 hours.

If CAC raises a query or your application has an issue, you may need to respond before the registration can be completed.

Step 9: Receive Your Registration Documents

Once the registration has been approved, your registration documents are made available electronically through the CAC system.

CAC states that business-name registration is now end-to-end through the Company Registration Portal with an electronic Certificate of Registration and Certified Extract.

This is one of the major differences between the older process and the current digital process.

You do not necessarily need to travel to a CAC office just to collect a physical certificate.

What If You Don't Have a Bank Card?

Not having a debit or credit card does not automatically prevent you from completing the payment.

CAC's FAQ states that users can use internet banking for CAC-CRP payments, and where necessary, generate a bill and make payment at a bank.

So there can be alternatives depending on the payment options currently presented by the portal.

When Should You Consider Using an Agent?

Doing the registration yourself can save you an agent's service charge, but that does not mean an agent is useless.

An agent may be helpful when:

Your registration is complicated
You are registering a company rather than a simple business name
You are dealing with restricted names
You have multiple proprietors or more complicated ownership arrangements
You do not understand the documents required
CAC has raised a query that you cannot resolve
You simply prefer someone else to handle the process

The important thing is to understand what you are paying the agent for.

Ask for a breakdown of:

Official CAC fees + agent/service charge + any other applicable charges.

That makes it easier to know what your money is actually paying for.

Business Name vs Company Registration

There is another important point.

"Registering my business" can mean different things.

A business name is not the same thing as incorporating a company.

CAC has separate registration processes for companies and business names. For companies, the process can involve additional information, documentation and statutory requirements.

So before you begin, understand what you actually need.

If you are a sole proprietor starting a small business, you may be looking at business-name registration.

If you are creating a limited liability company or another corporate structure, you should follow the appropriate CAC registration route.

Do not choose a structure simply because someone told you that it is "better."

Understand what you are registering first.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Using an unofficial website

There are many people offering CAC-related services online.

Always verify that you are using the official CAC platform when you are making your own application.

Paying an agent without understanding the charges

An agent's total quotation may include official fees and their own service charge.

Ask for the breakdown.

Using incorrect information

Your registration information should be accurate.

Do not use somebody else's information simply because you think it will make the process easier.

Choosing a name without checking availability

A social-media username being available does not mean the business name is available for CAC registration.

Ignoring your registration after approval

Registration is not the end of your business compliance responsibilities.

You should keep your registration documents safe and understand the post-registration obligations that apply to your business.

A Simple DIY CAC Checklist

Before starting:

☐ Two proposed business names

☐ Active email address

☐ Active phone number

☐ Means of identification

☐ Passport photograph

☐ Signature

☐ Business address

☐ Business activity/details

☐ Money for applicable CAC fees

☐ Internet connection

Then:

Create account → Search name → Reserve name → Complete registration → Upload documents → Review → Pay → Submit → Monitor application → Download/receive documents.

### The Bigger Lesson for Business Owners

Registering your business is one of those processes where understanding the system can save you money.

You do not have to pay someone simply because you do not know how the process works.

At the same time, you should not avoid professional help when you genuinely need it.

The goal is not simply to avoid agents.

The goal is to understand the process well enough to make an informed decision about whether you should do it yourself or pay someone to handle it.

For a straightforward business-name registration, the CAC has provided an online route that allows individuals and proprietors to handle the process themselves.

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