A business name application is mostly about the people behind it and the chosen name itself. Here is what to have ready before you sit down to start filling in the form.
Identification for each proprietor
Every listed proprietor needs a valid means of identification. A national identification number or an international passport are the ones most commonly used.
List every proprietor if more than one person owns the business. Spell each name exactly as it appears on their identification, since a mismatch is a common cause of a query.
Gather this early, especially if a partner lives elsewhere or is currently travelling. Waiting on one person's scanned document is a common reason an otherwise ready application sits unfinished for weeks.
Passport photographs
Each proprietor also needs a passport photograph, in the format the portal asks for. An old or badly scanned photograph can hold up an otherwise complete application.
Keep a digital copy ready before you start the form, rather than searching for one halfway through and losing your progress on the page.
Proof of the business address
CAC wants evidence of the address the business operates from. A tenancy agreement, a utility bill, or a similar document usually works.
A home address is fine for many small businesses, especially online sellers and freelancers who do not trade from a separate commercial space. Use whatever address the business genuinely operates from.
If the address is a rented flat or a family house, put the bill or agreement in a name CAC can match to the application. An address document in an unrelated third party's name can itself raise a question during review.
The proposed name and a backup choice
Have your proposed business name ready, plus at least one backup. CAC will not register a name too close to one already on its register, so a rejected first choice is common.
See choosing a business name CAC will accept for how to pick a name likely to clear on the first try. Search the register yourself before you commit to either choice.
A description of what the business does
Finally, prepare a short, plain description of the business's main activity. A sentence or two is usually enough, not a full business plan.
Keep the description close to what the business actually does day to day. An overly broad or unrelated description can itself become a reason CAC queries the application later.
Once everything is gathered, the application itself follows a set order. See how to register a business name at CAC for that process from name reservation to certificate. Our cost of registering a business name guide covers what each step costs. Browse the CAC registration hub for the rest of the series.