Reserve a Business Name on CAC without stress, read till the end!

If you are planning on starting a business in Nigeria, the first step you need to take as regards the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is by making sure that you reserve a business name.

The essence of this process is to help keep your business name intact so that no one else can make use of it while you complete your registration.

You may choose to ask, How exactly do I reserve my business name on the CAC portal? We’ll walk you through the processes involved in this article.

Step 1: Visit the CAC Portal

The first step is to visit the official CAC registration portal HERE. Everything business name reservations are done on this portal. Once you are in, you can go ahead to the second step, which is to create your own account.

Step 2: Create an Account

If you are a new user, you have to click on “Sign Up” to create an account. You are going to need:

• Full name
• Email address
• Phone number
• Password

After you’ve filled in your details, go to your email to confirm and activate your account.

Step 3: Login and Start Name Reservation

Once you’ve successfully logged in, you will have to select “New Name Reservation.” That is where you will enter the business name that you are proposing to make use of.

CAC often gives you the opportunity to submit two names, just in case your first choice is not available. We will advise that you choose names that are unique and can be easily used to identify with your business.

Step 4: Fill Out the Form

You will be asked to provide the required details, including:

• Business name options (you have 2 choices, remember)
• Type of business (it should be Business Name, Company, or Incorporated Trustees)
• Business objectives (what your business will do)

Make sure you carefully review everything before you submit.

Step 5: Pay the Reservation Fee

CAC usually charges ₦500 for name reservation. You can easily pay online through:

• Debit card (ATM card)
• Internet banking
• Remita

Once your payment is successful, you are going to receive your acknowledgement letter almost immediately.

Step 6: Reservation Approval

Before now, waiting for your Business name to be approved used to take a while. Things have changed now. 

CAC has newly upgraded its portal for AI functionalities, so approval for most CAC Business applications happens immediately.

Incorporated Trustees applications do require manual review, so it does take some time. But all other kinds of Business registrations’ name approval happens automatically.

Step 7: Final Registration

Immediately you get approved, you should go ahead with the actual registration. But if for any reason you wish to defer it to another time, yeah, you can do that also.

Why Reserving a Business Name Matters

• It automatically stops someone else from registering with your name.
• You will be given a whopping 60 days to prepare the documents you need for registration.
• By now, we believe you know how to reserve a business name on the CAC website.

If you need an Accredited CAC Agent service or you want us to help you register your Business with the CAC, then call or chat with us at +23407033512807