Please note
Belmadeng is an independent study platform and is not affiliated with the CAC. This is general information, not legal or financial advice — register and manage your business only on the official CAC portals (pre.cac.gov.ng and post.cac.gov.ng) and pay through official channels. You can register a business name or a simple company yourself; for complex structures consider a professional. Beware clone sites and agents charging inflated fees.
The fees
| Item | Approx. fee |
|---|
| Name reservation | ₦500 |
| Business name registration | ~₦10,000 (up to ~₦20,000 all-in) |
| Private company (share capital ≤ ₦1m) | ~₦10,000 |
| Company (higher share capital) | Scales up (to ~₦150,000+) |
Fees are set by CAC and revised periodically — always confirm the current schedule on the official CAC portal before paying.
Business name
The government business-name fee is roughly ₦10,000; a 2025 fee revision moved it higher in some schedules (toward ₦20,000 all-in with reservation and incidentals). Confirm the current figure on the portal.
Company (by share capital)
A private company’s fee scales with its share capital — from about ₦10,000 for share capital up to ₦1m, rising for larger capital. Most small startups keep share capital modest and pay in the lower range.
Stamp duty
Companies also attract stamp duty tied to share capital, collected during the process — factor this in.
DIY vs agents
You can register a business name or simple company yourself for the government fees. Accredited agents charge extra (often ₦50,000–₦400,000) — useful for complex jobs, but not necessary for a basic registration.
Tips
- Confirm current fees on the CAC portal.
- Keep share capital realistic to control company fees.
- Do simple registrations yourself to save money.
Government fees vs agent fees
The most useful thing to understand about CAC costs is the split between the official fee and what you might pay someone else. CAC's own fees are low at the government end — a business name is the cheapest product (a low five-figure naira CAC fee plus a small name-reservation charge). Where costs balloon is the agent/professional fee: agents at CAC offices often inflate the headline cost. So a big money-saver is simply to register yourself on the portal for a basic business name, and, if you use an agent, insist they quote the CAC fee separately from their service charge.
Company fees and stamp duty
A limited company costs more than a business name, and its cost scales with share capital. You pay the CAC filing fee plus stamp duty calculated on the share capital — so a higher share capital means higher stamp duty. Most small startups keep share capital modest, keeping the cost down. Incorporated trustees (NGOs) have their own fee schedule. Because the company figure depends on your share capital (and document complexity if you use help), work out your share capital first, then you can estimate the fee more accurately.
Confirming the current fee
CAC publishes its fee schedule and changes it from time to time, so treat any figure you read (including here) as indicative and check the current amount on cac.gov.ng before paying. Also budget for related costs that aren't the CAC fee itself — for example any professional help, and downstream items like tax compliance or sector permits. Always pay through the official portal rather than handing cash to someone at an office, and keep your receipts. Paying officially and doing the basic filing yourself is the cheapest, safest route.
Frequently asked questions
How much is CAC business name registration in 2026?
The government fee is roughly ₦10,000, with total costs (including the ~₦500 reservation) up to about ₦20,000. Confirm current fees on the CAC portal.
How much does it cost to register a company?
From about ₦10,000 for share capital up to ₦1m, scaling with larger share capital, plus stamp duty. Confirm current figures on the portal.
How much is CAC name reservation?
Around ₦500, which holds the name for 60 days.
Do I have to pay an agent?
No — you can register a business name or simple company yourself for the government fees; agents charge extra (often ₦50,000–₦400,000) and are mainly useful for complex cases.
What is stamp duty on company registration?
A duty tied to your share capital, collected during company registration — factor it into your budget.
How much does CAC registration cost?
It varies and CAC revises its schedule, so treat figures as indicative and check the current amount on cac.gov.ng before paying. In broad terms, a business name is the cheapest (a low five-figure naira CAC fee plus a small name-reservation charge), while a company costs more (CAC fee plus stamp duty on share capital).
Why do CAC costs vary so much?
Because of the split between the official fee (low at the government end) and what you pay an agent (often inflated). For a company, cost also scales with share capital via stamp duty. Registering yourself for a basic business name, and insisting an agent quotes the CAC fee separately, saves money.
How much is it to register a company with CAC?
More than a business name — you pay the CAC filing fee plus stamp duty calculated on the share capital, so a higher share capital means higher stamp duty. Most small startups keep share capital modest to keep costs down. Confirm the current figure on cac.gov.ng.
Do I need to pay an agent to register with CAC?
No — for a basic business name you can register yourself on the portal and avoid agent mark-ups. Agents at CAC offices often inflate the headline cost. If you do use one (useful for complex companies or NGOs), insist they quote the CAC fee separately from their service charge.
Where do I check current CAC fees?
On cac.gov.ng — CAC publishes its fee schedule and changes it from time to time, so treat any quoted figure as indicative and confirm the current amount there before paying. Always pay through the official portal and keep your receipts.