The verdict in three sentences
In Nigeria, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) handles registration of Business Names and Limited Companies, now 100% online in 2026. A Business Name costs about 20,000 NGN, a Limited Company 50,000-100,000 NGN, with a 2-to-7-day delay. The TIN (tax number) is mandatory and the corporate bank account is handled in parallel to collect cleanly.
Costs and delays at the CAC
The CAC online platform covers the whole journey. Figures are a 2026 order of magnitude.
| Step | Delay | Cost (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | 24-48 h | ~500-1,000 NGN |
| Business Name (registration) | 2-3 days | ~20,000 NGN |
| Limited Company (Ltd) | 3-7 days | 50,000-100,000 NGN |
| Minimum capital (Ltd) | — | 100,000 NGN |
| TIN (tax number) | included | free |
| Corporate bank account | 2-7 days | variable |
| CAC agent support | variable | 20,000-60,000 NGN |
Business Name or Limited Company?
The choice depends on the liability and credibility you want.
| Criterion | Business Name | Limited Company |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ~20,000 NGN | 50,000-100,000 NGN |
| Liability | Unlimited | Limited to contributions |
| Legal personality | No | Yes |
| Bank/big-client credibility | Medium | High |
| Minimum capital | None | 100,000 NGN |
| Delay | 2-3 days | 3-7 days |
The TIN is issued with registration and conditions the corporate account opening. For an introducer targeting big clients, the Limited Company inspires more confidence.
Becoming a Kolonell business introducer
Once registered with the CAC and holding your TIN, you invoice your commissions. The Kolonell introducer program rewards every client brought, across the four segments.
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| Segment | Sale commission | Recurring |
|---|---|---|
| Showcase site | 15% | 5% |
| E-commerce | 12% | — |
| Marketplace | 10% | — |
| Institutional | 8% | — |
A Lagos introducer referring an institutional project at 15,000,000 FCFA earns 1,200,000 FCFA at 8%. Even a single institutional deal per year changes the scale of your income.
Mini case study
Chidi, a freelancer in Lagos, registers a Limited Company with the CAC for 80,000 NGN in five days, TIN included. He then refers an e-commerce store (2,000,000 FCFA → 240,000 FCFA at 12%) and a showcase site (500,000 FCFA → 75,000 FCFA). In two months he collects 315,000 FCFA in commissions, well above his registration cost.
FAQ
How much does CAC registration cost in 2026? About 20,000 NGN for a Business Name and 50,000 to 100,000 NGN for a Limited Company, excluding any agent fees.
Is the TIN really mandatory? Yes, the TIN is issued with registration and required to open a corporate bank account and invoice legally.
Can I register entirely online? Yes, the CAC offers a 100% online journey in 2026, from name reservation to certificate issuance.
Business Name or Limited Company for an introducer? The Limited Company protects your assets and inspires confidence in big clients, which matters for landing institutional deals at 8% commission.
How soon can I invoice Kolonell? As soon as you get the CAC certificate and corporate account, about a week. You then invoice your 12% or 15% depending on the segment.
Let's talk about your project. Register with the CAC, then join the Kolonell introducer program and turn your Nigerian network into commissions. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
