How to Register Your Online Store with CAC in Nigeria (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

Selling under a personal bank account with your personal name works when you're just starting out. But as your sales grow, you will quickly hit a glass ceiling.

Corporate clients and high-value buyers won't transfer ₦150,000 into a personal savings account named "Emmanuel Chukwu". They want to pay into a registered corporate account like "Chukwu Footwear Enterprises".

Registering your business with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) is no longer a bureaucratic nightmare that requires paying a lawyer ₦60,000. In 2026, you can complete the entire process online from your smartphone.

Here is the exact step-by-step guide.

Business Name (BN) vs Limited Liability Company (LTD): Which One?

For 95% of Nigerian online retail and social commerce stores, a Business Name (Sole Proprietorship) is all you need: - Cost: Official CAC filing fee is approximately ₦10,000–₦12,000 (compared to ₦30,000+ for LTD). - Simplicity: No need for company secretaries, complex share allocations, or annual audited accounts. - Corporate Account Ready: Banks, fintechs (Moniepoint, Kuda, OPay), and payment processors (Paystack) accept a registered Business Name certificate for corporate accounts.

Step-by-Step Registration on the CAC Portal

Step 1: Name Availability Search 1. Visit the CAC Company Registration Portal (pre.cac.gov.ng). 2. Create an account with your NIN, email, and phone number. 3. Submit two proposed names (e.g. 1st Choice: *Luxe Wears Concepts*, 2nd Choice: *Luxe Wears Collections*). 4. Pay the ₦500 name reservation fee via Remita. Approval usually takes 24 to 48 hours.

Step 2: Complete the Business Details Once your name is approved: - Enter your nature of business (e.g., General Merchandise, Retail of Fashion & Apparel). - Enter your business address (your home address or warehouse address is completely valid). - Upload a passport photo, your signature on a white paper, and your valid ID (NIN Slip, Voter's Card, or International Passport).

Step 3: Pay the Registration Fee and Download Certificate Pay the official statutory fee (around ₦10,000). Once approved within 3–5 working days, download your: - CAC Certificate of Registration (with QR code) - Status Report (replaces the old Form BN1)

Next Steps: Tax Identification Number (TIN) & Corporate Bank Account

• •Automatic TIN: In 2026, CAC automatically issues your Joint Tax Board (JTB) Tax Identification Number directly on your registration certificate.
• •Open a Corporate Account: Download the Moniepoint Business, Kuda Business, or bank app of your choice. Upload your CAC certificate and status report. Your corporate account will be approved within 24 hours.
• •Connect Paystack to Myshoplet: Now connect your corporate bank account to Paystack and Myshoplet for seamless automated payouts directly into your registered business account.