Names
In Nigeria every business is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA). Registration is done online on the CAC portal linked from cac.gov.ng, by you or by an accredited agent, and ends with a certificate and a status report you can show banks and clients.
Business name or limited company?
| Business name (enterprise) | Private limited company (Ltd) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it suits | Sole traders and small partnerships: shops, freelancers, small services | Businesses that want limited liability, investors, bank loans or government contracts |
| Liability | The owner is personally liable for the debts | Shareholders risk only their share capital |
| Owners | One or more individuals | One or more shareholders; a single-member company is allowed under CAMA 2020 |
| Name | Any available name, no suffix | Must end with "Limited" or "Ltd" |
| Usual CAC fee | About ₦10,000 | From about ₦10,000 for share capital up to ₦1 million, plus stamp duty |
CAC registration, step by step
- Prepare two names. Use the generator above with Nigeria selected. A green tick means the name avoids the restricted words listed below.
- Run the CAC name availability search on the public search of the CAC portal to see whether a similar name is already registered.
- Reserve the name. The reservation fee is small (sources give ₦500 to ₦1,000, more for names with restricted words) and the approval is valid for about 60 days.
- Fill in the registration form with the owners' or directors' details, ID, address, the business activity and, for a company, the share capital and shareholders.
- Pay the filing fee and stamp duty online and upload the signed documents.
- Download the certificate and status report. A Tax Identification Number is now issued with the registration, which you need for a business bank account.
Name rules under CAMA 2020
- Not identical or too similar to a registered name or a well-known trademark.
- Restricted words need consent, for example Federal, National, State, Government, Nigeria, Bank, Insurance, Microfinance, Cooperative or Holding. Banks and insurers also need a licence from their regulator.
- Not offensive or misleading, and not suggesting a link with the government or a foreign state.
- Companies end with "Limited" (or Ltd). A company limited by guarantee for charity work can apply to drop it.
Free registration schemes: be careful
The Federal Government, CAC and SMEDAN have at times run free business name registration for small businesses, with a fixed number of slots. When a scheme is open it is announced on cac.gov.ng and smedan.gov.ng and you apply there. Never pay anyone who promises "free CAC registration", and never share your login with a stranger: fake offers on social media are common.
After registration
- File annual returns every year, even when you have no income. Late filing brings penalties and can get the name struck off.
- Register the .com.ng and .com domains the same day: the generator above checks both, and the Nigeria page lists estimated setup costs.
- Foreign shareholders usually need a business permit and expatriate quota and higher share capital. Check current requirements with NIPC and CAC before you plan the structure.
- Fees change from time to time. Confirm the amounts on the CAC portal before you pay; this page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
Questions
How much is CAC registration in Nigeria?
The CAC fee is about ₦10,000 for a business name and from about ₦10,000 for a private company with share capital up to ₦1 million, plus name reservation and stamp duty. Agents charge extra. Confirm the current fees on the CAC portal.
How do I check if a business name is available in Nigeria?
Use the public name availability search on the CAC portal, linked from cac.gov.ng. Then reserve the name before you file the registration.
Should I register a business name or a company?
A business name is cheaper and simpler but leaves you personally liable. A limited company protects your personal assets and is usually needed for investors, larger contracts and some licences.
Can one person register a company in Nigeria?
Yes. CAMA 2020 allows a private company with a single shareholder, who can also be the only director.
Is CAC registration free?
Normally no. Government schemes have occasionally offered free business name registration for a limited number of small businesses. Apply only through cac.gov.ng or smedan.gov.ng and never pay anyone for a "free" slot.
Jurisdictions at a glance
| Jurisdiction | Legal suffix | Domain | Headline corporate tax | Typical setup cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE Mainland | LLC, Sole Establishment | .ae | 9% corporate tax on profit above AED 375,000 | About AED 11,500–14,000 |
| UAE Free Zone (DMCC, IFZA, RAKEZ…) | FZ-LLC, FZCO, FZE, DMCC | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | From about AED 6,000 |
| DIFC (Dubai) | Limited, Ltd | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About AED 100,000 year one |
| ADGM (Abu Dhabi) | Ltd, Limited | .ae | 0% on qualifying income, 9% on the rest | About US$6,300 |
| Saudi Arabia | LLC | .sa | 20% on foreign-owned profit, 2.5% zakat on Saudi and GCC shares | About SAR 15,000 in fees |
| Qatar (QFC) | LLC | .qa | 10% on locally sourced profit | US$500 application |
| Bahrain | W.L.L., S.P.C. | .bh | No general corporate tax (oil and gas and large multinationals aside) | About BHD 250–450 in fees |
| United Kingdom | Ltd, Limited | .co.uk | 19% to 25% corporation tax | £100 |
| Ireland | Limited, DAC | .ie | 12.5% on trading income | €50 |
| Estonia (e-Residency) | OÜ | .ee | 0% on retained profit, 22% on distributed profit | €265 + e-Residency |
| Netherlands | B.V. | .nl | 19% up to €200,000, then 25.8% | €500–1,500 notary |
| Germany | GmbH, UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | .de | About 30% combined corporate and trade tax | About €600 + capital |
| Cyprus | Ltd, Limited | .com.cy | 15% corporate tax (from 2026) | Low registrar fees |
| USA: Delaware | Inc., LLC, Corp. | .us | 21% federal, no Delaware income tax if you don't operate there | $109–110 |
| USA: Wyoming | LLC | .us | 21% federal, no state income tax | $100 |
| Singapore | Pte. Ltd. | .com.sg | 17% headline, with partial exemptions for new companies | S$315 |
| Indonesia | PT, PT Perorangan, CV | .co.id | 22% corporate tax, with a 0.5% final tax on turnover for small businesses | From about IDR 5 million for a local PT |
| Hong Kong | Limited | .com.hk | 8.25% on the first HK$2 million, then 16.5% | About HK$3,900 |
| Nigeria | Ltd, Limited | .com.ng | 0% for small companies, 25% company income tax plus a 4% development levy for the rest (from 2026) | From ₦10,000 in CAC fees |
| Egypt | LLC, S.A.E., OPC | .com.eg | 22.5% corporate tax | Depends on capital |
| British Virgin Islands | Ltd, Limited, Inc. | .vg | 0% | $550 + agent |
| Cayman Islands | Ltd | .ky | 0% | About $5,000 with a provider |
How to choose a company name that gets approved
- Check the register first: names identical or very close to an existing company are refused.
- Avoid regulated words such as Bank, Insurance, Capital or Trust unless you hold the licence.
- In the Gulf, avoid religious, royal or government terms and place names such as Dubai or Emirates.
- In the UK, sensitive words such as British, Royal, Charity or Institute need prior approval.
- Secure the .com and the country domain on the same day you reserve the name.
The rule checks are a quick screen based on published guidance, not legal advice. The registry has the final say.
Information only. CorpNameCheck does not give tax, legal or company-registration advice. Costs, rules and tax rates are simplified estimates that change over time. Many activities need a licence or regulatory approval, and only the relevant registry or regulator can confirm what applies to you. Check name availability and trademarks with the official bodies before you register or buy a domain. Full disclaimer