Registering a Startup with CAC in Nigeria: A 2026 Entrepreneur's Guide

The verdict in three sentences

The one-stop shop model — APIX in Dakar, CEPICI in Abidjan, and Nigeria's Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) portal — remains the fastest way to register a company in West Africa, with an average turnaround of 48 to 72 hours versus 4 to 8 weeks through the classic multi-window administrative route. The real cost almost always exceeds the headline fee: tax stamps, legal publication fees and notary travel costs add up on top of the base rate of 25,000 to 65,000 FCFA. The symbolic minimum share capital of 1 FCFA under the OHADA reform lowers the entry barrier, but an undercapitalized founder quickly runs into refusals from banks or B2B partners who expect a credible capital base.

One-stop shop vs classic multi-window process

Before one-stop shops became widespread, founders had to file separate applications at the commercial court registry, the tax administration, the social security fund and the chamber of commerce — often with back-and-forth trips and re-submitted paperwork. The one-stop shop model centralizes these steps into a single filing.

Real costs by country in 2026

The fee posted on official sites rarely covers ancillary costs. A founder in Dakar or Abidjan should budget an extra 15,000 to 25,000 FCFA safety margin above the base amount.

Across the wider West African region, the one-stop-shop principle extends well beyond Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire: in Nigeria, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) plays a comparable role for company registration, with an online portal and turnaround now reduced to just a few days for a simple structure — evidence that digitizing the business registry is a regional trend, not a local exception.

Mini case study

Awa, who runs a cosmetics shop in Dakar, wants to convert her informal business into a registered LLC-equivalent to sign a distribution contract with a supplier that requires a trade registry number. She goes through APIX: 55,000 FCFA one-stop shop fee + 20,000 FCFA legal publication + 45,000 FCFA notary fees for drafting the bylaws, totaling 120,000 FCFA. Her file is processed in 60 hours. Without the one-stop shop, she estimates she would have had to visit 5 different administrations over 5 to 6 weeks, delaying the distribution contract and the launch of her online shop.

FAQ

Is minimum capital required to register an LLC-equivalent in the OHADA zone in 2026? No, the OHADA reform lowered the minimum share capital to a symbolic 1 FCFA, down from 1,000,000 FCFA previously, though too-low capital can hinder access to bank credit.

Is the APIX or CEPICI one-stop shop enough to formalize everything? It covers registration, the tax/trade registry number and basic tax enrollment, but additional steps (sector license, specific approval) may still be needed depending on the activity.

How long does it take to get a trade registry number via CEPICI in Abidjan? On average 48 to 72 hours for a complete simple LLC-equivalent file, versus several weeks under the classic route before the one-stop shop became standard.

Can you register a company remotely from abroad? Yes, part of the file can be initiated online via the APIX or CEPICI portals, but the notarized signature of the bylaws generally requires a power of attorney or an in-person visit.

Once the company is registered, how do you fund a website or online shop? Many newly formalized founders work with a referral partner connected to a web agency to speed up their launch without having to prospect an agency themselves.

Let's talk about your project. Whether you just registered your company via APIX, CEPICI or CAC and need a website, an online shop or a marketplace, or you know a newly registered founder, Kolonell can help. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.