The Ultimate CAC Registration Handbook: DIY vs. Agent

70% of delays happen because people pick names CAC hates.

The "Restricted Names" List:
You cannot use these words without special permission (which takes months):
- "Government", "National", "Federal", "State".
- "Chamber of Commerce", "Cooperative", "Building Society".
- "Group", "Holding" (Unless you have 3+ subsidiary companies).

The "Similarity" Rule:
If "Dangote Cement" exists, you cannot register "Dangote Concrete Solutions".
- Tip: Use the Public Search tool first. It's free. Type your proposed name. If anything looks similar, change yours. Add a unique identifier (e.g., "Kola & Sons Logistics" -> "Kola Blue-Line Logistics").

Creating an Account:
Go to pre.cac.gov.ng.
- Important: Use a valid email. You will receive your certificate there.
- Public User vs. Accredited User: Choose "Public User" if you are registering for yourself. Choose "Accredited User" only if you are a Lawyer/Accountant with a CAC Accreditation Number.

Name Reservation:
- Cost: ₦500.
- Submit 2 options. Option 1 is your preferred choice. Option 2 is the backup.
- Wait Time: 24 - 48 hours. You will get an approval code (Availability Code) starting with "RS..."

Once your name is reserved, you have 60 days to register.

For Business Name (BN):
- Proprietor Details: Name, Address, Phone, Email, Gender.
- Nature of Business: Select the category carefully. "General Contracts" is vague and often queried. Be specific: "Retail of Footwear", "Digital Marketing Services".
- Business Address: Must be a physical Nigerian address.

For Limited Company (LTD):
- Share Capital: Minimum ₦1,000,000. (Note: You don't pay this money to CAC. It just means the company is worth that much on paper).
- Directors: Minimum of 1 (for private companies).
- Shareholders: Can be the same as directors.
- Secretary: Optional for small companies.

This is where 90% of "Public Users" fail.

The Signature:
- DO NOT digitally sign (like typing your name in a script font).
- Correct Way: Sign on a clean white piece of paper with a black or blue pen. Scan it or take a sharp photo. Crop it tightly. Upload as JPEG/PNG.

The ID Card:
- Accepted: International Passport, NIN Slip (The one with the QR code), Voter's Card, Driver's License.
- Format: PDF is safest. Ensure it is legible.

Passport Photo:
- White background. No glasses. Face straight. JPEG format.

The payment gateway can be... temperamental.

The "RRR" (Remita Retrieval Reference):
This is your transaction ID. Write it down immediately.

Payment Methods:
- Card: Fastest. Instant approval.
- Bank Transfer: Risky. Sometimes the money leaves your account but the portal doesn't update.

What if it hangs?
Do not pay twice. Go to "Check Payment Status" on Remita.net using your RRR. If successful there, go back to CAC portal and click "Check Status" to sync.

A "Query" means CAC rejected your application but is giving you a chance to fix it.

Common Queries:
1. "Means of ID not clear": Re-scan your ID in higher resolution.
2. "Signature irregular": Your signature on the form looks different from the one on your ID card. Sign exactly as you did on your ID.
3. "Address mismatch": The address on your utility bill (if asked) doesn't match the form.

How to resolve:
Click on the "Query" tab. Read the comment. Upload the corrected document. Click "Resolve Query". Do NOT start a new application.