How Much to Register a Company in Nigeria: 2026 CAC Fees

Your business is growing. A big client wants to deal with a "Ltd", a bank wants company accounts, or you want to bring in a partner who will own shares. So the question comes: how much to register a company in Nigeria?

The short answer, as of October 2026: for a small private company with ₦1 million share capital, the official costs come to roughly ₦18,500, plus small portal service and online payment charges. That covers name reservation, the CAC filing fee and stamp duty. This is our estimate from published fees. Agent charges, if you use one, are extra.

This guide breaks down every official cost under the Corporate Affairs Commission's (CAC) revised fee schedule, explains share capital in plain words, and shows the yearly costs that start after registration. It is about limited companies. If you only need a business name, see our separate guide to registering a business name with CAC.

In short:

• A private limited company (Ltd) costs more to register than a business name, mainly because of the filing fee and stamp duty, which both rise with share capital.
• Under the revised CAC schedule in force from 1 October 2025, the filing fee is reported as ₦10,000 for share capital up to ₦1 million, plus ₦10,000 for each extra ₦1 million.
• Stamp duty is 0.75% of share capital, so ₦7,500 on ₦1 million.
• Name reservation is ₦1,000, or ₦5,000 for names with restricted words. Since April 2026, the portal has reportedly added small service charges of about ₦700 in total.
• After registration, budget for the yearly annual return (reported at ₦5,000 for most small companies) and an accountant for your yearly accounts.

What share capital means, in plain words

Share capital is the total value of the shares your company issues to its owners. Shares are the units of ownership. If your company has ₦1,000,000 share capital split into 1,000,000 shares of ₦1 each, and you hold 600,000 of them, you own 60% of the company.

Under the Companies and Allied Matters Act 2020 (CAMA 2020, the main law on companies), the minimum share capital for a private company is ₦100,000.

Two things to know:

• Share capital drives your registration cost. Both the CAC filing fee and stamp duty go up as share capital goes up.
• Share capital is not money the CAC takes. It is the value of ownership in your company. Owners are expected to pay for their shares, and that money belongs to the company.

Many small owners start with ₦1 million or less. That keeps the filing fee at the lowest level, and you can increase share capital later as you grow (for a fee).

How much to register a company in Nigeria: official fees

The CAC revised its schedule of fees in 2025. The new fees were first announced for 1 August 2025, and the CAC later moved the start date to 1 October 2025, according to Nairametrics' report on the CAC notice.

Here is what we could confirm, as of October 2026:

Cost	Amount	Source and notes
Name reservation (standard)	₦1,000	Gazetted fee since May 2025
Name reservation (restricted words)	₦5,000	For names with sensitive words
Filing fee, share capital up to ₦1 million	₦10,000	Revised schedule
Filing fee, each extra ₦1 million	₦10,000	Revised schedule
Stamp duty	0.75% of share capital	Paid when you register
Portal service charges	Reported as ₦200 on name reservation and ₦500 on registration	Added from April 2026; disputed, see below
Online payment charges	Small extra amount	Added by the payment service
Accredited agent	Varies	Optional, not a CAC fee

The name reservation figures come from Blueprint's report on the revised CAC fees. The filing fee figures come from a law firm's summary, Mondaq's breakdown of the new CAC schedule of fees. Before the change, each extra ₦1 million cost between ₦5,000 and ₦10,000, depending on total share capital.

What stamp duty is

Stamp duty is a government tax on certain legal documents. When you form a company, it is charged on your share capital. The rate is 0.75%, according to PwC's Nigeria tax summary, last reviewed in May 2026, which reflects the new Nigeria Tax Act. In simple terms, that is ₦7.50 for every ₦1,000 of share capital.

Since 1 January 2026, stamp duties fall under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025 and are collected by the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), which replaced FIRS. The portal shows the stamp duty to pay during registration.

The extra portal service charges

In April 2026, users reported two new charges on the CAC portal: ₦200 called an "iCRP service charge" on name reservation, and ₦500 on company or business name registration. A lawyer publicly challenged these charges as unlawful, because they are not in the gazetted fee schedule. We could not confirm whether the CAC has kept or removed them, so budget about ₦700 extra just in case.

When sources disagree

Some websites and agents still quote older fees, or different totals. Fees also change. If what you read differs from what you see, trust the amount the CAC portal shows at the payment step, and keep your receipt. If you are unsure, ask CAC support or an accredited agent to show you the official breakdown.

Cost of registering a company with CAC: worked examples

These are our own rough estimates, calculated from the fees above. They exclude the portal service charges (about ₦700, if they still apply), online payment charges and agent fees. Confirm the exact amount on the CAC portal before you pay.

Share capital	Name reservation	Filing fee	Stamp duty (0.75%)	Estimated total
₦100,000 (the minimum)	₦1,000	₦10,000	₦750	about ₦11,750
₦1,000,000	₦1,000	₦10,000	₦7,500	about ₦18,500
₦5,000,000	₦1,000	₦50,000	₦37,500	about ₦88,500
₦10,000,000	₦1,000	₦100,000	₦75,000	about ₦176,000

You can see how fast costs grow with share capital. A higher share capital can make your company look bigger, but for most small businesses, ₦1 million or less is enough to start.

Agent fees: do you need one?

Accredited agents are lawyers, accountants and chartered secretaries registered with the CAC to file for other people. Their charges are not set by the CAC and vary widely, depending on the city, the agent and what is included (for example, drafting your company rules or getting a bank account letter).

Many owners can register a simple private company themselves. An agent helps if you have several shareholders, special company rules, foreign shareholders or no time. If you use one:

• Ask for a written breakdown: official CAC fees, stamp duty and their own charge.
• Make sure the company is registered with your details and that you get the login and documents.
• Confirm they are accredited with the CAC before you pay.

How the registration process works (summary)

As of October 2026, companies are registered online on the CAC portal, which the CAC upgraded in July 2025, as TechCabal reported on the new AI-powered portal. Start from the official CAC website so you know you are on the real site.

1. Create your account with your email, phone number and NIN (National Identification Number).
2. Search and reserve your name. Choose "private company limited by shares". Your name must end with "Limited" or "Ltd".
3. Fill in the company details: registered office address, what the company does, share capital, and how the shares are split.
4. Add the people: at least one director (a person who manages the company) and the shareholders, with their NIN and ID. You must also declare anyone with significant control, meaning people who really own or control the company. CAMA 2020 lets a single person be both the only director and the only shareholder.
5. Add your company rules. The memorandum and articles of association set out what the company does and how it is run. You can usually use the CAC's standard version or upload your own.
6. Pay the filing fee and stamp duty on the portal, and save the receipts.
7. Download your documents once approved: the certificate of incorporation, the status report and, where offered, copies of your company rules.

How long it takes

The CAC aims for fast approvals on the new portal, but timelines vary. Plan for anything from a few days to about two weeks, and longer if your application gets a query (a request to correct something). Start at least two weeks before any deadline, such as a contract or loan application.

Worked example: Ngozi's catering business in Port Harcourt

This is an illustrative example, not a real person.

Ngozi runs a catering business in Port Harcourt. She wants oil company contracts, which ask for a limited company. Her sister will own 30%.

• Share capital: ₦1,000,000 in 1,000,000 shares. Ngozi takes 700,000, her sister 300,000.
• Official costs (estimate): ₦1,000 name reservation, ₦10,000 filing fee and ₦7,500 stamp duty, so about ₦18,500, plus service and payment charges of around ₦1,000 or less.
• Her choice: she registers herself, as the only director. She pays an accountant later for her yearly accounts.

She sets two reminders: one for her annual return, and one to file her company's tax returns with the NRS.

Costs after registration

Registering is the start. A limited company has yearly duties that a business name does not.

Annual returns

An annual return is a yearly update to the CAC confirming your company's details. Under the revised schedule, the fee depends on share capital. It is reported as ₦5,000 for share capital from ₦100,000 to ₦100 million, ₦100,000 above ₦100 million up to ₦500 million, and more for bigger companies, according to the same Mondaq summary.

The revised schedule also sets penalties for late filing, and for companies these can apply to each director and officer, not just the company. File on time every year. Check your due date on your CAC account, or ask an accredited agent.

Accounts and tax

• Financial statements: a company files yearly accounts with its annual return. Small companies under CAMA 2020 do not need audited accounts, but most still pay an accountant. Our simple bookkeeping guide keeps that bill smaller.
• Tax ID: your company's Tax ID is linked to its CAC registration. Our guide on how to get a TIN in Nigeria explains how to find it.
• Company income tax: under the Nigeria Tax Act 2025, a small company (one under the turnover and asset limits in the law) pays 0%, but it must still file returns. Ask an accountant whether your company qualifies.

Other occasional costs

• Certified true copies of documents: ₦5,000 per document, according to the Ripples Nigeria report on the revised fees.
• Increasing share capital later: filing fees and stamp duty on the increase.
• A corporate bank account: see our guide to opening a business account with a bank or fintech app.

Mistakes to avoid

• Picking a huge share capital to look big. It raises your filing fee and stamp duty for no real benefit.
• Paying an agent without a breakdown. You should know what goes to the CAC and what goes to the agent.
• Registering in someone else's name. The company must carry your own details as director and shareholder.
• Forgetting annual returns. Penalties build up, and they can affect each director.
• Choosing Ltd when a business name would do. Read our comparison of business name vs limited company before you pay.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to register a limited company in Nigeria in 2026?

For ₦1 million share capital, we estimate official costs at roughly ₦18,500: ₦1,000 name reservation, ₦10,000 filing fee and ₦7,500 stamp duty. Portal service charges, payment charges and any agent fee are extra. Confirm the exact amount on the CAC portal.

What are the CAC registration fees for a company?

As of October 2026, the filing fee is reported as ₦10,000 for share capital up to ₦1 million, plus ₦10,000 per extra ₦1 million. Name reservation is ₦1,000, or ₦5,000 with restricted words.

What is the minimum share capital for a private company?

₦100,000 under CAMA 2020. With that, the estimated official cost is about ₦11,750, before payment charges.

Can one person register a company in Nigeria?

Yes. Since CAMA 2020, one person can be the only director and only shareholder of a private company.

How much is the annual return for a company?

Reported at ₦5,000 for share capital from ₦100,000 to ₦100 million under the revised schedule. Check the amount on the CAC portal when you file.

Words to know

• Limited company (Ltd): a business that is its own legal person, separate from its owners.
• Share capital: the total value of the shares a company issues to its owners.
• Filing fee: the CAC's charge for registering the company.
• Stamp duty: a government tax on certain legal documents, charged on share capital when you form a company.
• Memorandum and articles of association: the company's rules.
• Annual return: the yearly update a company files with the CAC.
• Accredited agent: a professional registered with the CAC to file for others.

Next step

Decide your share capital today. For most small businesses, ₦1 million or less is enough. Then check your preferred name on the CAC public search page before you reserve it.

For more on registration, tax and the rules that affect your business, visit our government and compliance section. This guide is general information, not legal advice. For complex cases, speak to a lawyer, accountant or the CAC directly.