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.
What a limited company is
A private limited company (Ltd) is a separate legal entity from its owners, giving limited liability and more credibility for growth and investment. (For a simpler, cheaper option, see business name vs company.)
What to decide first
Decide your company name, directors and shareholders (at least the minimum required), share capital, registered address, and the company’s objects (what it will do).
Step 1: reserve your name
Reserve your company name on pre.cac.gov.ng (restricted suffixes like “Ltd” are part of this).
Complete the CAC 1.1 application — directors, shareholders and their shareholding, share capital, address and objects (the memorandum & articles).
Step 3: documents & signatures
Upload each director/shareholder’s valid ID, passport photograph and signature, per the requirements.
Step 4: pay (fee + stamp duty)
Pay the filing fee and stamp duty, which scale with your share capital — from about ₦10,000 for share capital up to ₦1m, rising for larger capital. See fees.
Step 5: certificate, status report & TIN
On approval you receive an electronic Certificate of Incorporation and status report, and a TIN is generated for your company.
How long it takes
Companies typically take 5–20 working days, depending on accuracy and complexity. A simple company can be self-registered; complex structures may benefit from a professional.
PSC disclosure and auto-TIN in 2026
Registering a private limited liability company (Ltd) gives you a separate legal entity with limited liability — a bigger step than a business name. Two 2026 changes matter at incorporation. First, Persons with Significant Control (PSC) disclosure is mandatory: anyone owning or controlling more than 25% of the company must be disclosed at registration. Second, your TIN is generated automatically as part of registration — your RC number effectively serves as your TIN — because CAC and the tax authority are now integrated.
Share capital and MEMART
A company registration involves things a business name doesn't. You set a share capital and how it's distributed among shareholders, appoint directors, and adopt a MEMART (Memorandum and Articles of Association) setting out the company's objects and governance rules. You'll provide bio-data, addresses, emails, phone numbers, IDs and photos for each officer, and any sector-specific approvals if your line of business needs them. The share capital you choose also affects stamp duty and therefore cost, so decide it sensibly for your actual plans.
Timeline and doing it right
The process runs on cac.gov.ng: reserve the name, complete Form CAC 1.1 with the company particulars, upload documents, pay (CAC fee plus stamp duty on share capital), and download the certificate and RC number on approval. Limited companies typically take longer than business names (roughly one to two weeks) because of document review on MEMART and directors' particulars. Given the added complexity — shareholding, MEMART, PSC — using a CAC-accredited agent or lawyer can be worthwhile for companies with multiple shareholders or foreign directors, though a simple company can be done yourself.
Frequently asked questions
How do I register a company in Nigeria?
On pre.cac.gov.ng: reserve your name, complete the CAC 1.1 form (directors, shareholders, share capital, objects), upload IDs/photos/signatures, pay the fee and stamp duty, and download your Certificate of Incorporation.
How much share capital do I need?
You set a share capital; the fee and stamp duty scale with it, starting from about ₦10,000 for share capital up to ₦1m. Choose a realistic figure for your plans.
How many directors does a company need?
At least the statutory minimum — confirm the current requirement on the CAC portal; a small company can have a single member/director in some cases.
How much does it cost to register a company?
From about ₦10,000 for small share capital, rising with larger share capital (plus stamp duty). Confirm current fees on the CAC portal.
How long does company registration take?
Usually 5–20 working days depending on accuracy and complexity.
How do I register a limited liability company in Nigeria?
On cac.gov.ng: reserve the name, complete Form CAC 1.1 with company particulars (share capital, shareholders, directors, MEMART), upload documents and IDs, pay the CAC fee plus stamp duty on share capital, and download the certificate and RC number on approval. It gives you a separate legal entity with limited liability.
What is PSC disclosure?
Persons with Significant Control disclosure — mandatory at incorporation from 2026, anyone owning or controlling more than 25% of the company must be disclosed at registration. It's one of the key changes to company registration under the current rules.
Is a TIN generated when I register a company?
Yes — from 2026, your TIN is generated automatically as part of registration, and your RC number effectively serves as your TIN, because CAC and the tax authority are now integrated. You generally don't apply separately.
What documents do I need to register a company?
Approved name reservation, shareholders' and directors' details (bio-data, addresses, emails, phone numbers), share capital and its distribution, a MEMART setting out objects and governance, IDs and passport photos for each officer, PSC disclosure, and any sector-specific approvals your business needs.
How long does company registration take?
Typically longer than a business name — roughly one to two weeks — because of document review on MEMART and directors' particulars. Slow periods or queried submissions extend it. Accurate, complete applications move fastest.