How to Register a Business in Nigeria

Perhaps you will think registering a business is something quite difficult to do, I have registered a number of businesses and it’s quite easy.

This post shows you the steps to follow if you want to register a business name in Nigeria. In most cases the process is the same if you want to register a limited company – albeit with differences in documentation and the amount required.

Here we go folks:

Step 1:	Think about your business and then a name that fits. (often times we can create brands around any name) for example what has Apple got to with technology, or Konga 'well' got to do with selling things online?). The rule of thumb to fast track your registration process is to find a unique name, otherwise you will find yourself enmeshed in the roller-coaster of name rejection and thereby filling several availability forms. Avoid that stress by thinking of a unique name – I guess Steven Covey was right here “Begin with the end in mind”
Step 2:	Find the nearest CAC office. Apparently Corporate Affairs Commission have a website – here it is http://cacnigeria.org/
Step 3:	Pick up the necessary forms and fill them - the first you need is availability check and reservation of name.
Step 4:	Submit the availability form to the CAC office you picked it. You would be asked to check back in 2 weeks for the result – either your names are available or not. If they are not, you start the search process again. Each time you conduct a new search, a search fee is charged and of course paid by you.
Step 5:	Yaay, your name is available, so what’s next? You proceed with the registration process.

The total amount you get to pay for all these shouldn't be up to N10,000 – see breakdown of fee here. 

If you are lazy like me and you don’t like wasting too much time, you may employ the services of a lawyer – they sweat it out for you and you pay for their time.

Now you don’t have an excuse – make your business official and important with a great name (or a name that can become great if you get your acts together).