Business Name Registration in Nigeria

The cost depends on the type of Business Name you want to register.

At SplashDict, Sole Proprietorship Business Name registration costs ₦38,000, while General Partnership Business Name registration costs ₦45,000.

Our fixed fee includes the CAC filing fee, name reservation, Certificate of Registration, Status Report, and TIN registration where applicable. There are no hidden charges.

It takes less than 24 hours. Thanks to the CAC’s new Intelligent Company Registration Portal (iCRP), name checks and registration approvals are fully automated.

Splashdict processes your submission and delivers your official digital certificates on the same day, subject to real-time identity clearance.

Yes. Anyone operating a business, trade, or profession in Nigeria under a name other than their own personal legal name is required by law to register that name with the CAC.

Beyond the legal requirement, registration also unlocks practical things you'll likely need anyway: a corporate bank account, the ability to bid for contracts or work with larger clients, and legal protection for your business name.

A Business Name is the simplest form of business registration in Nigeria, designed for individuals or small groups running a trade, service, or venture without forming a full limited liability company. There are two types:

• Sole Proprietorship: one owner, full control, and full personal responsibility for the business.
• Partnership: two or more owners (up to 20) sharing ownership, responsibilities, and liability.

It's the fastest and most affordable way to formalize a business, and it's what most freelancers, traders, consultants, and small business owners in Nigeria start with.

If you're starting, testing a business idea, or running a small operation with low risk exposure, a Business Name is usually the right first step, and you can upgrade to a Limited Company later once the business grows.

If you're bringing on investors, want to separate personal and business liability from day one, or plan to scale quickly, going straight to an LTD may make more sense.

Yes, NIN (National Identification Number) is now required for Business Name registration, along with:

• Valid means of ID (National ID, international passport, or driver's license)
• Passport photograph
• Proposed business name (with 1–2 alternatives, in case of similarity conflicts)
• Nature of business/line of activity
• Registered business address (a home address is acceptable)
• For partnerships: the above for each partner

We'll guide you through gathering exactly what's needed before we submit, so there are no back-and-forth delays.

Yes to both.

The entire process, name search, application, document upload, and payment, is done through the CAC's online portal, so you never need to visit a CAC office in person.

And yes, a Business Name is fully valid for an online business (e-commerce store, digital services, social media-based brands, etc.); CAC doesn't distinguish between online and physical business models for registration purposes. You'll still need to declare a physical business address, even if you operate entirely online.

Name availability is checked through CAC's name search tool, which compares your proposed name against the existing register and flags similarity conflicts. We run this check before filing, so surprises are caught early.

If a name is rejected or queried, it's usually because it's too similar to an existing registered name, or it uses a restricted word. In that case, you'll need to submit an alternative name or provide additional justification/documentation.

This is one of the most common causes of delay, which is why submitting 2–3 backup name options upfront is worth doing.

Certain words (like "Federal," "National," "Government," "Bank," "Insurance," or names implying a chartered institution) are restricted and require special approval or aren't permitted at all for a Business Name.

Once approved, you'll receive:

• Certificate of Registration (digital, downloadable from the CAC portal)
• Status Report, confirming your registered name, business type, and registration number

You'll also typically be issued a Tax Identification Number (TIN) tied to the registration, which is required for tax compliance and often requested by banks.

With your Certificate of Registration and TIN, you can open a corporate/business bank account in your business's name, separate from your personal account, which most banks require for anything beyond basic personal banking.

Annual returns: Yes. Every registered Business Name is required to file an annual return with CAC (a small statutory filing confirming the business is still active). Failing to file attracts penalties, and prolonged non-filing can put the registration at risk.

Upgrading: Yes, absolutely, and it's common. Many businesses start as a Business Name to keep things simple and affordable, then convert to a Limited Company once they need limited liability protection, want to bring in investors, or hit a stage where a company structure makes more sense.

The conversion process involves a fresh company incorporation (it's not a simple "edit" of your existing registration), but your business history and goodwill carry over. We can walk you through this step when you're ready to scale.