Companies (CAC)
What does it cost to register a company with the CAC?
A 2026 breakdown of the cost to register a company in Nigeria — Ltd vs business name, the share-capital effect, stamp duty, and government vs service fees.
Registering a company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) costs different amounts depending on what you register and how big it is. A registered business name is the cheapest. A private limited company costs more, and the bill scales with your share capital. This guide breaks down what makes up the cost so you can choose the right structure and budget correctly.
Exact CAC fees update from time to time, so the figures below are realistic 2026 ranges — see the live, code-specific fee on the catalog page before you pay.
Business name vs limited company
The first cost driver is structure. The two common choices:
- Business name (BN) — a sole proprietorship or partnership trading name. Cheapest to register, no share capital, minimal ongoing cost. Suits freelancers and small traders.
- Private limited company (Ltd) — a separate legal entity with shareholders and limited liability. Costs more, scales with share capital, and is what banks, investors and most B2B contracts expect.
How share capital affects the cost
For a limited company, the CAC charges a registration fee that scales with your authorised share capital, plus stamp duty calculated as a percentage of that capital. So a company registered with N1m share capital costs less than one registered with N100m.
A common mistake is over-stating share capital at registration to look impressive. Higher share capital means higher registration cost, higher stamp duty, and higher annual returns later. Register the capital you actually need; you can increase it afterwards.
The cost lines for a limited company
A typical private limited company registration is made up of:
- CAC name reservation — a small fixed fee to reserve the proposed name.
- CAC registration / filing fee — scales with share capital.
- Stamp duty — a percentage of the share capital, payable to the FIRS via the CAC portal.
- Incidental costs — preparation of the memorandum and articles, and any professional drafting.
Government fee vs service fee
Two distinct things make up what you pay. The government fee is the CAC's published charge plus stamp duty — fixed for everyone, no one can register more cheaply than this. The service fee is what a filing agent charges to do the work: name search, drafting, filing, and follow-up.
On Docufy the government fee is pass-through at the CAC's exact rate, and the service fee is fixed and shown before you pay. See the live total on /catalog/CAC.NEW_COMPANY, and the CAC hub at /agencies/CAC.
What you get and how long it takes
A successful registration produces your Certificate of Incorporation and your RC number — the permanent identifier that every other agency (FIRS, banks, tenders) will ask for. A clean registration typically completes within a few business days when the proposed name is available and the directors' details are complete.
Once registered, budget for the ongoing cost too: the annual return is due every year, and it is far cheaper to never miss it than to catch up later. See the guide on CAC annual return cost.
Questions
Frequently asked.
How much does it cost to register a company in Nigeria in 2026?
A registered business name is the cheapest. A private limited company costs more and scales with share capital, because both the CAC registration fee and the stamp duty depend on the capital you register. See the live total on /catalog/CAC.NEW_COMPANY — government fee pass-through plus a fixed service fee.
Is a business name cheaper than a limited company?
Yes, significantly. A business name has no share capital and minimal ongoing cost. A limited company gives you a separate legal entity and limited liability, which banks, investors and most B2B contracts expect, but costs more to register and maintain.
Does higher share capital cost more?
Yes. Both the CAC registration fee and the stamp duty scale with your authorised share capital. Register the capital you actually need rather than inflating it — you can increase it later, and a higher figure also raises your annual return cost.
What is the difference between the government fee and the service fee?
The government fee is the CAC charge plus stamp duty — fixed for everyone. The service fee is what an agent charges to do the filing work. Docufy passes the government fee through at the exact CAC rate and charges a fixed, visible service fee on top.
How long does registration take?
A clean registration typically completes within a few business days when your proposed name is available and the directors' details are complete. The output is your Certificate of Incorporation and RC number.
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