CAC Registration Cost in Nigeria: 2026 Official Fees
What CAC charges to register a business name, a limited company or an NGO in 2026, including stamp duty and payment charges.
FinanceUpdated October 16, 20267 min read
CAC's fees are fixed and published, but they depend on what you register, and companies pay stamp duty on top. Here is every official fee for 2026 in one place, so you know what you're paying before you start, and what an agent would add on top.
For the steps and documents too, see the full guide to CAC registration.
CAC Fees at a Glance (2026)
| What you register | CAC name reservation | CAC filing fee | Stamp duty | Total paid to CAC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Name (sole proprietor or partnership) | ₦1,000 | ₦20,000 | None | ₦21,000 |
| Private Limited Company (Ltd, ₦1M share capital) | ₦1,000 | ₦40,000 | ₦7,500 | ₦48,500 |
| Incorporated Trustees (NGO, church, association) | ₦5,000 | ₦40,000 | None | ₦45,000* |
Totals exclude Remita charges (about ₦161 per payment). *Incorporated Trustees also pay for a newspaper publication, about ₦20,000 to ₦30,000. CAC can change its fees, so check the amount on the payment screen before you pay.
Cheaper than an agent. Less work than doing it yourself.
FastCAC's ₦40,000 includes CAC's ₦21,323. Most certificates arrive within 24 hours; CAC reviews a few by hand, which takes longer. Agents' prices and services vary.
Register for ₦40,000CAC Stamp Duty: How Much Is It?
Stamp duty is 0.75% of a company's authorised share capital.On the standard ₦1 million share capital it's ₦7,500, and it goes up by ₦7,500 for every extra ₦1 million.
Only companies pay it. Business names and Incorporated Trustees don't, because they have no share capital. It's paid at registration together with CAC's filing fee.
1. Business Name Fees
A Business Name (sole proprietorship or partnership, often called an "enterprise") is the cheapest way to register with CAC:
- Name reservation: ₦1,000. It holds your approved name for 60 days while you register.
- Registration: ₦20,000. The main CAC filing fee.
- Total: ₦21,000, plus Remita charges.
Not sure your name will pass? Check it free with CAC's own name check before you pay the reservation fee.
2. Limited Company Fees
For a Private Limited Company (Ltd), the fee depends on the authorised share capital. ₦1 million is the usual starting point for small businesses and startups:
- Name reservation: ₦1,000
- Registration (first ₦1M share capital): ₦40,000
- Stamp duty (0.75%): ₦7,500
- Total: ₦48,500
Above ₦1 million, each extra ₦1 million (or part of it) adds ₦10,000 in filing fees and ₦7,500 in stamp duty. Some sectors need more share capital, for example travel agencies (see our travel agency guide). Private schools must register as a limited company, so they pay these fees rather than the business name fee (see our school registration guide).
| Share capital | Filing fees | Stamp duty | Total CAC fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| ₦1 million | ₦41,000 | ₦7,500 | ₦48,500 |
| ₦2 million | ₦51,000 | ₦15,000 | ₦66,000 |
| ₦5 million | ₦81,000 | ₦37,500 | ₦118,500 |
Filing fees include the ₦1,000 name reservation. Worked out from the rates above.
Public companies (Plc) follow a different, higher schedule based on share capital. Few new businesses start as one, so check CAC's current schedule if you need it.
3. NGO/Foundation (IT) Fees
NGOs, foundations, churches, clubs and associations register as Incorporated Trustees. The process is longer because the public gets a chance to object:
- Name reservation: ₦5,000
- Registration: ₦40,000
- Newspaper publication: about ₦20,000 to ₦30,000. The registration notice must be published so the public can object.
- Budget: ₦65,000 to ₦75,000 in required costs.
5. Fees After Registration
Registration is a one-off fee, but staying registered has its own filings:
- Annual returns: a yearly filing that keeps your status "Active". Late filing attracts penalties. See Annual Returns 101.
- Post-incorporation changes: fees to change directors, your address or your share capital.
- Upgrading: moving from a business name to a limited company is a new registration. See how to upgrade.
Know the fees. Skip the agent.
FastCAC is a registration platform, not a CAC agent. Your price includes CAC's filing fees and stamp duty, your details are checked before submission so you avoid queries, and your certificate and TIN arrive in your account.
CAC Fees: FAQs
How much is CAC stamp duty?
Stamp duty is 0.75% of a company's authorised share capital, paid at registration. On the standard ₦1 million share capital that is ₦7,500. Business names and Incorporated Trustees (NGOs) don't pay it.
How much does it cost to register a business name with CAC in 2026?
₦21,000 in official fees: ₦1,000 to reserve the name and ₦20,000 to register it, plus about ₦161 in Remita charges per payment.
How much does it cost to register a limited company (Ltd) with CAC?
₦48,500 for a company with ₦1 million share capital: ₦1,000 name reservation, ₦40,000 registration and ₦7,500 stamp duty. Each extra ₦1 million of share capital adds ₦10,000 in filing fees and ₦7,500 in stamp duty.
How much does it cost to register an NGO or church with CAC?
₦45,000 in CAC fees (₦5,000 name reservation and ₦40,000 registration), plus about ₦20,000 to ₦30,000 for the required newspaper publication, so budget ₦65,000 to ₦75,000.
Why does FastCAC charge more than CAC's fee?
Because FastCAC's price includes CAC's fee. For a business name, about ₦21,300 goes to CAC (₦21,000 plus Remita charges), which we pay for you, and the rest is FastCAC's service: checking your name and details before filing, paying CAC, filing, and resubmitting free if CAC queries the application. Doing it yourself costs only CAC's fee; an agent adds ₦15,000 to ₦50,000 on top of it.
Does FastCAC's price include the CAC fees?
Yes. FastCAC's price includes CAC's filing fees and stamp duty, so there's nothing extra to pay CAC. FastCAC isn't a CAC agent: you enter your details yourself, FastCAC checks them and files directly with CAC.
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. CAC sets and can change its fees.
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