Registering a Business at CAC Nigeria: Steps, Cost & Timeline 2026

The verdict in three sentences

In 2026, formalizing a digital business in West Africa (APIX Senegal, or the equivalent CAC in Nigeria) costs between 30,000 and 100,000 FCFA depending on status, with a 48h to 7 working-day timeline. A single-member limited company (SUARL) gives you a tax ID (NINEA) and a trade register number (RCCM) that unlock invoicing SMEs and institutions, a Wave Business account, and access to tenders. Staying informal caps your B2B revenue: most buyers require an invoice with a registered tax ID.

Statuses: sole proprietorship vs SUARL vs SARL

Your status determines liability, taxation and credibility. Here is the 2026 order of magnitude for the three most common options for a digital provider.

The SUARL is the sweet spot for a developer or emerging agency: limited liability, a professional image, and symbolic starting capital since the OHADA reform.

Required documents and steps

The one-stop shop centralizes registration. The 2026 journey comes down to a few steps.

The tax ID is essential to issue a recognized invoice. The trade register number proves the company's legal existence.

Why registration changes your business

Once registered, you unlock: VAT invoicing to SMEs and institutions, a Wave Business and Orange Money Business merchant account, access to public and private tenders, and B2B credibility. An informal provider typically loses contracts above 1,000,000 FCFA, which almost always require a registered invoice.

Become a Kolonell referral partner

Once registered, you can turn your network into recurring income. The Kolonell referral partner program pays you for every project you bring in, with no coding or production on your side.

Concrete example: you introduce a restaurateur who orders a Premium showcase site for 1,200,000 FCFA. Your immediate commission is 180,000 FCFA (15%). If they subscribe to 100,000 FCFA/month maintenance, you earn 5,000 FCFA/month recurring, or 60,000 FCFA/year extra. A single institutional contract of 8,000,000 FCFA pays 640,000 FCFA (8%).

Mini case study

Fatou, a freelance developer in Dakar, invoices 4 sites a year to SMEs. Without a tax ID, she turns down a 6,000,000 FCFA institutional contract for lack of a recognized invoice. She sets up a SUARL for 65,000 FCFA in 5 days. That same quarter she lands the institutional contract and becomes a Kolonell referral partner: she brings in two e-commerce projects of 2,000,000 FCFA each, earning 2 × 240,000 = 480,000 FCFA in commissions (12%). Her 65,000 FCFA investment pays back more than 7 times in the first quarter.

FAQ

What does setting up a SUARL really cost in 2026? Expect 50,000 to 80,000 FCFA all-in (registration fees, simplified notary, publication). Minimum capital has been symbolic since the OHADA reform.

How long to get the tax ID? Usually 1 to 3 working days after filing a complete application. Full registration (trade register + tax ID) takes 48h to 7 days.

Can I invoice without registering? Technically an informal invoice exists, but SMEs and institutions require an invoice with a tax ID and trade register number. You lose contracts above 1,000,000 FCFA.

Is a sole proprietorship enough for a freelancer? Yes to start (cost 30,000 – 40,000 FCFA), but your liability is unlimited. Once you pass 5,000,000 FCFA in annual revenue, the SUARL protects your personal assets.

How much can I earn as a Kolonell referral partner? On a 1,200,000 FCFA Premium showcase site, your commission is 180,000 FCFA, plus 5% recurring on maintenance. There is no cap on the number of projects you refer.

Let's talk about your project. Register your business and join our referral program to turn your network into income. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.