START A COMPANY / AFRICA
How to register a company in Nigeria
Register online with the Corporate Affairs Commission: reserve a name, file memorandum and articles, pay fees, get the certificate. Then get a tax identification number, and register for VAT (7.5%) and pension. Business names are the cheap sole-trader route.
- REGISTRY
- Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)
- ONLINE
- Fully online
- FROM
- NGN 10,500 (≈ £6)
- STRUCTURES HERE
- 3
Setting up from abroad
Yes. Non-Nigerians can own 100% of a company, but foreign-owned companies face a higher minimum share capital (NGN 100 million under the 2021 regulations; unverified for 2026) and must register with NIPC. You need a Nigerian address, a TIN and a local bank account.
PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY
Ltd: Private Company Limited by Shares (Ltd)
Most local and foreign-owned businesses wanting limited liability.
- Liability
- Limited to what you put in
- You need
- 1 shareholder and 1 director (small companies need no secretary)
- Minimum capital
- NGN 100,000 allotted for Nigerian owners; NGN 100 million for foreign participation (unverified)
- Time
- 3 to 10 working days
Steps
Create an account on the CAC online portal.
Search and reserve the company name (NGN 500 search plus reservation).
Prepare the memorandum and articles of association.
Provide details of directors, shareholders and persons with significant control.
Upload ID, signatures and passport photos.
Pay the CAC registration and stamp duty fees online.
Receive certificate of incorporation and status report.
Get a tax identification number (TIN) and open a bank account.
Documents
- Valid ID (NIN, international passport or driver's licence)
- Memorandum and articles of association
- Registered address in Nigeria
- Passport photos and signatures
- Statement of share capital
Official fees
About NGN 10,000 registration for share capital up to NGN 1 million, plus name search NGN 500 and stamp duty; higher per NGN 1 million above (unverified).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | NGN 25,000≈ £14 | DIY: CAC and stamp duty fees for NGN 1 million capital, about |
| With an accountant or agent | NGN 100,000≈ £56 | About: with a CAC-accredited agent and TIN |
| Full service | NGN 400,000≈ £220 | About: lawyer, address, tax, pension and bank account help |
Every year
- File annual returns with CAC
- File annual tax return with the tax authority
- Monthly VAT returns
- Pay PAYE and pension for staff
- Update persons with significant control within 30 days of changes
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: foreign capital threshold and 2026 fee levels; CAC site was not fetched.
SOLE TRADER
Business Name: Registered Business Name (sole proprietorship or partnership)
Freelancers and small traders wanting a cheap, quick registration.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- 1 proprietor (Nigerian residents; foreign owners generally cannot)
- Minimum capital
- None
- Time
- 2 to 5 working days
Steps
Create a CAC portal account.
Search and reserve a business name.
Choose the business type and nature of business.
Enter proprietor details and upload ID.
Pay the CAC fees online.
Receive the registration certificate.
Get a TIN and open a business bank account.
Documents
- Valid ID
- Passport photo and signature
- Business address
- Phone and email
Official fees
About NGN 10,000 registration plus NGN 500 name search (unverified for 2026).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | NGN 10,500≈ £6 | DIY: CAC fees only, about |
| With an accountant or agent | NGN 25,000≈ £14 | About: via an accredited agent |
| Full service | NGN 60,000≈ £34 | About: agent, TIN and bank account help |
Every year
- Annual returns with CAC
- Personal income tax return
- VAT if registered
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: some regulators require a limited company for certain sectors.
BRANCH OF A FOREIGN COMPANY
Foreign company branch: Registered foreign company (external company)
A foreign company with operations in Nigeria that wants to keep its own legal identity.
- Liability
- Unlimited: you are personally liable
- You need
- Foreign parent and a Nigerian resident representative
- Minimum capital
- NGN 100 million (unverified)
- Time
- 3 to 6 weeks
Steps
Incorporate a Nigerian subsidiary or register the foreign company with CAC.
Obtain a NIPC certificate (Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission).
Prepare certified parent documents.
File the registration with CAC.
Pay CAC fees and stamp duty.
Obtain a TIN and register for tax.
Open a bank account.
Documents
- Certified parent incorporation documents
- Board resolution
- Local representative details
- NIPC certificate
Official fees
CAC fees scale with capital, plus NIPC and stamp duty (unverified).
Budget
| How | About | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | NGN 300,000≈ £170 | DIY: CAC fees on high-capital registration, about |
| With an accountant or agent | NGN 800,000≈ £450 | About: lawyer and agent, NIPC certificate |
| Full service | NGN 2,500,000≈ £1,400 | About: lawyer, address, visas and bank help |
Every year
- Annual returns
- Tax returns
- Audited accounts
Check before you rely on it. Not confirmed with an official source: confirm structure and capital with a Nigerian lawyer.
After you register
- Get a tax identification number (TIN) from the tax authority (FIRS, now the Nigeria Revenue Service) and file annual returns.
- Register for VAT (7.5%); small companies are exempt from some taxes under the 2025 reforms (unverified).
- Pay PAYE for staff and register with PenCom for pension, NSITF and ITF.
- Register persons with significant control with CAC within 30 days.
- Open a corporate bank account (needs CAC certificate, TIN, ID and utility bill).
- Obtain any sector licences (NAFDAC, SON, NCC, CBN).
- Register with NIPC if foreign-owned, for incentives and a business permit.
Sources
Checked against:
Pound amounts use HMRC's exchange rates for 2026-10 and are a rough guide only.
Other countries in Africa
This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Fees, forms and rules change: check the official registry before you file, and take professional advice for anything complex. Agent and lawyer costs are typical market prices, not quotes.