CAC Registration Fee for Limited Company in Nigeria (2026)

July 29, 2026

Business and Tax

CAC Registration Fee for Limited Company in Nigeria (2026)

Nankyer Ndom

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Last updated: 29 July 2026. Facts checked against current Nigerian regulation at time of update.

CAC Registration Fee for Limited Company PDF & Nigeria Guide (2026)

Quick Answer

The statutory CAC registration fee for a limited company with share capital up to ₦1 million is ₦10,000. But the real number you need to budget is higher. Add name reservation, stamp duty, and portal charges, and your DIY total lands around ₦24,000 to ₦29,000. With a CAC-accredited agent, expect to pay ₦60,000 to ₦100,000 all-in. Budget the full number before you start.

What You Will Need

Documents:

Valid government-issued ID (NIN slip, driver’s licence, or international passport) for each director and shareholder
Passport photographs for each director
Memorandum and Articles of Association (MEMART), drafted to match your actual business activities
Proof of registered office address (utility bill or tenancy agreement)
Share capital structure and allotment details
Company secretary details (recommended for compliance under CAMA 2020)

Estimated Cost:

Government fees alone: ₦24,000 to ₦29,000
With a CAC-accredited agent: ₦60,000 to ₦100,000
With a law firm: ₦100,000 to ₦220,000

Estimated Timeline:

Online registration: 2 to 5 working days when all documents are submitted correctly
Most delays come from name clashes or MEMART errors

Why Register as a Limited Company?

A private limited company gives your business a separate legal identity. The company can own property, sign contracts, and hold debts in its own name. Your personal assets stay protected if the business runs into trouble.

This question usually surfaces at a specific moment: a major client asks for a proper invoice with a CAC number, or a bank asks for registration documents before opening a corporate account. If you are at that point, here is exactly what to do.

Banks and institutional clients take registered limited companies more seriously than sole proprietorships. A private limited company provides limited liability protection for shareholders, enables equity investment, and carries greater credibility with banks, institutional clients, and government agencies.

Step-by-Step: How to Register a Limited Company with the CAC in 2026

Step 1: Check Name Availability on cac.gov.ng

Go to cac.gov.ng and run a name availability search before anything else. Your name cannot match an existing registered business, and it cannot imply government ties or financial services without the right approvals. Have two or three backup names ready.

Pro tip: Words like “Nigeria”, “Global”, and “Solutions” appear in thousands of existing business names. Add something specific to your brand so your first choice clears.

Step 2: Create a Pre-Incorporation Account

Go to pre.cac.gov.ng. Sign up with a working email address. All approvals, updates, and documents come through that email. Confirm your account via the verification link before moving forward.

Pro tip: Use a company email you control going forward, not a personal Gmail. All statutory communications will come here, and losing access to that inbox creates serious problems later.

Step 3: Reserve Your Company Name

Submit your preferred name (and your backups) through the portal. The reservation fee is approximately ₦500.

Common mistake: Skipping name reservation and going straight to filling the incorporation forms. If your name is rejected mid-process, you lose time restarting.

Step 4: Prepare Your MEMART

The Memorandum and Articles of Association defines what your company can legally do. This is the most critical document in your application. Prepare Articles of Association whose objects cover your full business scope. Keep the objects clause broad enough to cover your actual activities and any direction you might grow.

The CAC provides a template for simple structures. If your setup is more complex (foreign directors, multiple share classes, unusual business objects), get a professional to draft it.

Common mistake: Using a recycled MEMART template without reading the objects clause. Agents sometimes reuse old templates. Read it before you sign.

Step 5: Fill the Incorporation Forms on the Portal

Fill in director details, shareholder allotment, company secretary information, registered office address, and share capital. One person can be both director and shareholder.

Most Nigerian startups register with ₦100,000 share capital, which falls under the ₦1 million fee bracket.

Step 6: Upload Documents and Pay

Upload your MEMART, valid IDs for all directors and shareholders, passport photos, and proof of registered address. Then pay the incorporation fee and stamp duty.

Pro tip: Check every document’s file size and format before uploading. The portal rejects oversized or wrongly formatted files. That adds days to your timeline.

Step 7: Receive Your Certificate and TIN

Once CAC approves your application, you get your Certificate of Incorporation and your RC (Registration) number. Your Tax Identification Number (TIN) is now bundled into the same registration. You no longer need a separate FIRS visit for it.

With your RC number and TIN, you can open a corporate bank account at any commercial bank in Nigeria.

CAC Registration Fee for Limited Company PDF: Full Cost Breakdown

[IMAGE: Table graphic showing DIY vs agent vs Lint registration costs side by side]

Item	Cost	Notes
Name reservation	₦500	Paid on the CAC portal
Incorporation fee (share capital ≤ ₦1M)	₦10,000	CAC statutory fee
Stamp duty (share capital ≤ ₦1M)	₦8,500	Charged by FIRS, not CAC
Portal and processing fees	₦5,000 to ₦10,000	Confirm on the live portal at time of application
Total (DIY estimate)	₦24,000 to ₦29,000	Before any professional fees
CAC-accredited agent fee	₦30,000 to ₦65,000	Total with agent: ₦60,000 to ₦100,000
Law firm fee	₦80,000 to ₦220,000	For complex structures
Annual returns (limited company)	₦10,000/year
Register through Lint	₦10,000 per ₦1M share capital + ₦21,000 + ₦7,500	TIN bundled in the same registration

₦10,000 is the CAC fee. The real cost is the 4 trips and 3 revision rounds if you get your MEMART wrong.

A note on stamp duty: stamp duty is a statutory cost charged by FIRS, not the CAC. When registering a company, you will need to pay ₦8,500 for the first ₦1 million share capital.

What Happens After You Register

Registration is the beginning. Here is what kicks in immediately after your certificate arrives.

Open a corporate bank account. Your RC number and TIN are enough to get started at most Nigerian commercial banks. Bring your certificate, MEMART, and valid ID for each director.

File annual returns every year. For companies incorporated after January 2025, the first annual returns deadline is 18 months from the date of registration, not the end of the calendar year. This catches many founders off-guard. Missing it triggers late penalties.

Register for PAYE and pension when you hire staff. The moment you have employees on payroll, PAYE deductions and pension contributions to PenCom-licensed PFAs kick in. Your payroll software handles the computation. The compliance responsibility is yours.

If you want the payroll side handled automatically once you are up and running, Lint Payroll covers PAYE computation, pension remittance, and payslips from one place. See lint.finance/business/payroll.

Common Mistakes Nigerian Founders Make

1. Budgeting only the ₦10,000 incorporation fee

That is one line item. Stamp duty, name reservation, and portal charges are separate. The full DIY cost is closer to ₦24,000 to ₦29,000 before any agent fees.

2. Using a recycled MEMART without reading it

The objects clause must cover your actual business. Agents sometimes reuse old templates. If it does not match, you pay to amend it later.

3. Registering with very low share capital to save on stamp duty

That is a reasonable call for a lean startup. Be aware that some banks and institutional clients look at your capitalisation when evaluating credibility.

4. Forgetting about annual returns

Annual returns are due every year. Companies pay between ₦5,000 and ₦200,000 in annual returns fees depending on share capital, and late submissions attract additional penalties. Many founders forget about this in year two.

5. Using a personal email on the CAC portal

All statutory communications go to that email. If you lose access to a personal Gmail, you lose access to your company’s official correspondence. Use a company email from day one.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the CAC registration fee for a limited company in Nigeria?

The statutory incorporation fee is ₦10,000 for share capital up to ₦1 million. Add stamp duty (₦8,500), name reservation (₦500), and portal charges (₦5,000 to ₦10,000), and the full DIY cost is ₦24,000 to ₦29,000.

What does the CAC registration fee for a limited company PDF contain?

The fee schedule PDF on cac.gov.ng shows official CAC charges only. It does not include stamp duty (a FIRS charge), portal processing fees, or professional agent fees. The single-line fee figure people search for does not capture the full cost.

How long does CAC limited company registration take?

A limited company registration takes about 2 to 5 working days once all details are correct. Most delays come from name clashes, missing documents, or MEMART errors.

Do I need a lawyer to register a limited company in Nigeria?

No. You can register your business yourself directly through the CAC online registration portal at pre.cac.gov.ng. That said, complex structures with foreign directors or multiple share classes benefit from professional help.

What is the minimum share capital for a private limited company?

There is no statutory minimum share capital for a purely local company under CAMA 2020. Most Nigerian startups register with ₦100,000. Companies with any foreign participation require a minimum of ₦100 million.

Does CAC registration include a TIN?

Yes. Your Tax Identification Number (TIN) is issued as part of the CAC registration process. You no longer need a separate trip to a FIRS office.

What are annual returns and when are they due?

Annual returns are a yearly CAC filing that confirms your company is active and updates your records. For companies incorporated after January 2025, the first annual returns deadline is 18 months from the date of registration. Filing late attracts penalties.

Can I check name availability before registering?

Yes. The name availability search is at cac.gov.ng. Search before paying anything. Common words appear in thousands of existing names, so have backups ready.

Related Tools

PAYE Calculator — Work out your employees’ PAYE once you start hiring
Lint Payroll — Handle payroll, PAYE, and pension from one place after registration

Last updated: July 2026. Always verify current fees at cac.gov.ng before applying. Official sources: CAC, FIRS.

Author: Lint Content Team | Reviewer: [REVIEWER PLACEHOLDER]