CAC Pre-Incorporation Nigeria: Step-by-Step Guide for New Businesses (2026)

By 9jaDirectory Editorial Team | Published: February 2026

Every business registration in Nigeria begins in the same place: pre.cac.gov.ng — the Corporate Affairs Commission's pre-incorporation portal. Whether you are registering a business name, a private limited company, or an incorporated trustee, you must go through this portal first.

"Pre-incorporation" refers to all the steps that happen before your business is formally recognised as a legal entity. This includes creating your CAC account, reserving your business name, completing your registration forms, uploading documents, and paying the government fees. Once all of that is done, the CAC reviews your application and — if everything is in order — issues your certificate.

This guide walks through every step of the CAC pre-incorporation process in plain language, covering what to prepare, common mistakes to avoid, and what happens after you submit.

What Is the CAC Pre-Incorporation Portal?

The pre-incorporation portal at pre.cac.gov.ng is the CAC's digital platform for submitting new business registration applications. Before this portal existed, registration required physical visits to CAC offices and weeks of manual processing. The portal has made registration faster, though it still requires care and patience.

The portal handles three main registration types:

• Business Name: for sole proprietors and partnerships (the simplest and cheapest option)
• Private Limited Company (Ltd): for businesses that want a separate legal entity with limited liability
• Incorporated Trustees: for NGOs, churches, associations, and similar non-profit bodies

What to Prepare Before You Start

Most delays on the pre-incorporation portal happen because applicants start without having all their documents ready. Prepare these before you open the portal:

Document / Information	Required For	Notes
NIN (National Identity Number)	All registration types	CAC increasingly requires NIN for identity verification
Valid government ID	All registration types	Passport, driver's licence, voter's card, or national ID card
Passport photograph	All registration types	Clear, white background, digital format (JPEG)
Scanned signature	All registration types	Signature on white paper, scanned or photographed clearly
Business address	All registration types	Can be residential — no rented office required to start
Two proposed business names	All registration types	Primary choice and one alternative in case the first is taken
Director / shareholder details	Limited Companies only	Full names, addresses, email, NIN, shareholding percentage
Memorandum & Articles of Association	Limited Companies only	CAC provides a template you can use; customise the objects clause

Important: Ensure your date of birth on all ID documents exactly matches what you input on the portal. A single digit mismatch is the most common reason CAC queries and returns applications.

Step-by-Step: CAC Pre-Incorporation Registration

Step 1: Create Your CAC Account

1. Go to pre.cac.gov.ng.
2. Click Register (for new users) or Login if you already have an account.
3. Fill in your personal details: full name, email address, phone number, and NIN.
4. Verify your email address by clicking the link sent to your inbox.
5. Log in to your new CAC account.

Step 2: Check Name Availability

Before reserving a name, run a quick check to ensure it is not already taken. You can do this on the public search at search.cac.gov.ng or directly within the pre-incorporation portal during the name reservation step. Have your primary and alternative name ready before you start.

Step 3: Reserve Your Business Name

1. In your CAC dashboard, select New Application and choose your registration type (Business Name, Private Company, or Incorporated Trustees).
2. Enter your proposed name in the name availability checker and click Check Availability.
3. If available, proceed to reserve the name. Pay the name reservation fee (the amount varies by entity type — check the current fee schedule on the portal).
4. Name reservation is valid for 60 days. You must complete registration within this window or the reservation expires.

Step 4: Complete the Registration Forms

After successful name reservation, the portal will prompt you to fill in the registration forms. What you fill in depends on your entity type:

• Business Name: proprietor details, nature of business, address, and signature upload
• Private Limited Company: director details, shareholding structure, company objects (what the company will do), registered address, and Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Incorporated Trustees: trustee details, aims and objectives of the organisation, rules and regulations document

Step 5: Upload Your Documents

Upload scanned copies of all required documents. Common issues to avoid:

• Ensure scans are clear and not blurry — CAC reviewers reject unclear images
• File sizes must be within the portal's limits (usually 200KB to 1MB per file)
• For passport photos, use a plain white background with a clear, front-facing image
• Signature images should be captured against white paper with no shadows

Step 6: Pay the Registration Fee

After completing the forms and uploading documents, the portal generates your Remita payment reference. Pay through Remita using a debit card, bank transfer, or internet banking. Keep your payment receipt — you will need the reference number if there are any issues with your application. Registration fees vary by entity type and share capital (for companies); check the current schedule on the portal as fees are updated periodically.

Step 7: Submit Your Application

After payment, click Submit Application. You will receive a tracking number. Save this number — it is how you monitor your application's progress in the CAC system.

What Happens After You Submit

Once your application is submitted, the CAC pre-incorporation team reviews it. Here is what typically happens:

• Review (1–5 working days): the CAC team checks your documents and details for completeness and accuracy
• Query (if issues found): if there is a problem — a mismatch in details, unclear documents, or a name issue — you will receive a query via email or on your dashboard. You must respond and resubmit the corrected information
• Approval: if everything is in order, the application is approved and your certificate is generated
• Certificate download: download your Certificate of Registration (Business Name) or Certificate of Incorporation (Limited Company) directly from your CAC dashboard

Typical timeline: A straightforward Business Name registration can be approved in 3–7 working days. Limited Company registrations typically take 7–14 working days. Delays are almost always caused by queries — which are caused by document issues or detail mismatches. Prepare carefully and you will avoid the common hold-ups.

Common Pre-Incorporation Mistakes to Avoid

• Starting without both proposed names ready: if your first name fails, you will waste days waiting before you can proceed
• Using restricted words without approval: names containing "Federal," "National," "Bank," "Insurance," "Trust," or "Government" require special approval — using them without it will get your application queried
• Uploading blurry documents: this is the single biggest cause of CAC queries — always scan at minimum 300 DPI
• Mismatched personal details: your name, date of birth, and NIN must be exactly consistent across all documents and the form
• Not logging out of the portal before the session expires: unsaved progress can be lost — fill each section and save before moving to the next

After Registration: Your Next Steps

After you have your CAC certificate, three things matter most for turning your new legal entity into a visible, revenue-generating business:

1. Open a corporate bank account: take your certificate, TIN (get one from FIRS), and directors' IDs to your preferred bank
2. Get your Tax Identification Number (TIN): register with FIRS online at firs.gov.ng — this is required for the bank account and all government contracts
3. Get your business online and discoverable: list your business on 9jaDirectory so customers searching for what you offer can find and verify you immediately

Find more detail on every step in our comprehensive guide to business registration in Nigeria. Once registered, discover businesses in your category across Lagos, Abuja, and every Nigerian state on 9jaDirectory.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between pre-incorporation and post-incorporation?

Pre-incorporation covers all steps before your business becomes a legal entity — creating your CAC account, reserving a name, filling forms, uploading documents, and paying fees. Post-incorporation refers to activities after your certificate is issued — filing annual returns, updating company details, and managing your registration on the post-incorporation portal at post.cac.gov.ng.

Can I register a company on the CAC portal without a lawyer or agent?

Yes. The CAC pre-incorporation portal is designed for direct use by business owners. You do not need a lawyer, accountant, or accredited agent to register a Business Name or a simple Private Limited Company. However, if your company structure is complex — multiple share classes, foreign directors, or a large Memorandum — professional help reduces the risk of queries and delays.

How much does CAC pre-incorporation registration cost in 2026?

The fees are set by the CAC and are updated periodically. As of 2025/2026, Business Name registration costs approximately ₦10,000–₦15,000 in government fees (name reservation plus registration). Private Limited Company fees depend on share capital but typically range from ₦30,000 to ₦100,000 or more for higher share capital. Always check the current fee schedule on the portal before paying, as these amounts change.

What happens if my CAC pre-incorporation application is queried?

A query means the CAC reviewer found an issue — a document is unclear, details are inconsistent, or a name is problematic. You will receive the query through your CAC dashboard or email. Log in, read the query notes carefully, correct the specific issues flagged, re-upload the corrected documents, and resubmit. Most queries can be resolved within one to three days if you address the exact points raised.

Can I use a residential address for CAC registration?

Yes. You do not need a rented office space or commercial address to register a Business Name or Private Limited Company in Nigeria. A residential address is acceptable as the registered office address. You can update the address later through the post-incorporation portal if and when your business moves to commercial premises.