A business or company is said to be legal or formal in Nigeria if it is registered in Nigeria with the Corporate Affairs Commission. Nigeria is a good ground for business though with some risk, the risks can be minimize when your comply with the regulatory authority like Corporate Affairs Commission, FIRS (Tax authorities), NUPRC for business that want to go into Oil and Gas sector, etc.
Business or company registration in Nigeria have categories. There are different services allowed in each category. We have
– Private Limited Company (Ltd)
– Public Limited Company
– Sole trader
– Guarantee Company (not for profit)
In this blog, you will get all the information you need to register company or incorporation of company in Nigeria, whether private or public company.
The first thing to do is conduct a name availability search with Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to determine if your desired name is available. Try to avoid common name as it may not fly.
Where the desired name is available for registration, you register the desired company name for reservation. The company name reservation in Nigeria with Corporate Affairs Commission will be valid for 60 days from the date of registration.
Read: Company Registration Service
Proceed to Corporate Affairs Commission office or their online webpage.
Steps in registering company or incorporation of company in Nigeria
Step 1: Visit CAC website
Step 2: Ascertain the name you want your company to be known with.
To avoid rejection of searched name, calve out a name that is not popular.
Step 3: Ascertain the type of business you or your team want to do first.
The categories for business registration in Nigeria are:
(a) Business Name Registration (one or more persons)
(b) Private Limited Company {LTD} (At least two persons, even if is your wife)
(c) Public Limited Company {PLC} (At least seven persons)
(d) Company Limited by Guarantee (LTD/GTE)
(e) Unlimited Company (ULTD)
(f) Incorporated Trustee (INC) Nonprofit organizations
Step 4: Make payment for the name search with your card online or generate RRR code and make direct deposit at any bank in Nigeria.
Step 5: Gather all the company required documents which are below:
Step 5: Submit the required document to CAC office for assessment. Where there is no alteration(s).
The certificate of incorporation will be out in seven(7) to fourteen (14) working days.
Read: Oil & Gas Cosultancing Service
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Availability and Reservation of Name
- Payment of appropriate Stamp Duty to Federal Board of Inland Revenue
- Submission of Memorandum and Articles of Association together with statutory forms for verification and assessment
- Payment of filing fees at the Corporate Affairs Commission
- Directors identifications