Registering a Company with the CAC in Lagos in 2026: Costs and Timeline

The verdict in three sentences

The CAC (Corporate Affairs Commission) is Nigeria's registrar: you can register a business name in 24-72 h for a low fee, or a Limited company (Ltd) for a bigger budget but with limited liability. For a referral partner or web freelancer, a business name is enough to start and invoice cleanly. Once registered, you open a professional mobile-money account (Opay, Moniepoint, or a bank/USSD wallet) to collect commissions and client payments.

Which structure to choose

A business name exposes your personal assets but is cheap and fast to register: ideal for testing a referral or web-services activity. A Limited company protects your assets, reassures large clients and is practically required to sign with institutional buyers, but demands share capital, articles and formal accounting.

Between the two, many start as a business name, collect their first commissions, then switch to an Ltd once a steady flow is reached. The CAC now allows most steps online, cutting down physical trips.

Structure comparison (CAC 2026)

These amounts are 2026 orders of magnitude including CAC filing and possible agent fees. Minimum share capital for a private Ltd is modest under CAMA, but plan for real working capital anyway.

Obligations and pro mobile-money account

The professional mobile-money account is the crux: it lets you collect a client deposit, receive your referral commission and pay suppliers, all traceable for accounting.

Mini case study

Emeka, a community manager in Lekki, wants to become a web referral partner and invoice his services. He chooses a business name.

Startup math: ~₦30,000 for CAC registration + ₦0 for a pro wallet + a small invoicing tool = about ₦35,000 and 3 days to be operational. On his first successful introduction (a showcase site priced around ₦900,000 / ~500,000 FCFA equivalent), his commission of ~15 % covers several times his setup cost. From there, every deal is clean, declared profit.

FAQ

How much does a business name really cost at the CAC? Budget an order of magnitude of ₦20,000 to ₦40,000 including incidentals. It's the cheapest gateway to invoice legally.

How fast can I be operational? For a business name, 24 to 72 hours in practice. An Ltd takes 3 to 7 days because of articles and filings.

Do I need an Ltd to work with large companies? Strongly recommended: institutional buyers usually require a registered company with an RC number and limited liability.

Can I collect commissions on a wallet without a company? Technically yes on a personal wallet, but to invoice and declare properly, a pro account tied to your registered entity is essential and reassures partners.

Is it different in Côte d'Ivoire? Yes: there it's the CEPICI one-stop shop (sole proprietorship vs SARL), with fees in FCFA — see the French version of this guide.

Let's talk about your project. We'll point you to the right structure and connect your new company to a flow of web projects. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.