Most of a CAC registration is personal details, not company details. Gathering them from every director and shareholder up front is what actually speeds the form along.
This matters just as much for a two-person startup as for a company with several backers. The form treats every name on it the same way.
Why the form asks for this up front
CAC's register exists to show who stands behind a company. Every director and every shareholder has their particulars recorded from day one, not just the promoter filling in the form.
This is also why the registration on CAC's new portal needs everyone's particulars, not just the promoter's, before you can complete it.
What each director provides
For every director, have these ready:
- Full name, as it appears on their identification.
- Residential address.
- Occupation.
- Nationality and date of birth.
- A means of identification.
- A signature.
None of this is unusual to gather. What slows people down is collecting it from someone who is not in the room. A co-founder abroad or a quiet investor can hold up the whole form if they have not sent their details yet.
Chase these particulars early, well before you plan to sit down and file. A single missing signature can stall a form that is otherwise complete.
What each shareholder provides
Shareholders give the same personal particulars as directors. On top of that, the form records their shareholding. This means how many shares they hold, and what portion of the company that represents.
If a shareholder is also a director, both sections still apply to them. The form treats the two roles separately, even for the same person. Fill in both, rather than assuming one covers the other.
Identification and signatures
A means of identification and a signature go with every director's particulars. Keep clear, current copies ready before you start the form. Do not leave this search for partway through.
A mismatch between how a name is typed and how it appears on the identification is a common, avoidable snag. Type each name exactly as the document shows it, spelling and all.
Getting it right before you submit
Before you open the registration form, write out a simple list. Put down every director and shareholder, their particulars, and their shareholding if they hold shares. Confirm nothing is missing.
This same list also speeds up the persons with significant control declaration, since it uses many of the same particulars. That section sits inside the same registration, not a separate filing.
Once every person's details are confirmed, the rest of registering on CAC's portal tends to move quickly. Our cost guide to registering a company with CAC covers what the whole process costs once your details are ready. You can then start your CAC company registration once everyone's particulars are in hand.