CAC Business Name Registration for General Trading in Kogi State

Shop owners, wholesalers, market traders, distributors and suppliers across Kogi State can have a CAC Business Name registered without closing up for a day to sort out paperwork. Onelove Business Ventures is an accredited CAC agent, and we take care of the name search, reservation, filing and certificate for you, from wherever you trade in the state. A Business Name registration costs ₦35,500, all-inclusive, with the CAC filing fee and our service fee rolled into that one figure. Drop your business name in a WhatsApp message and the process begins — nothing else is needed to get started.

Lokoja Has Always Been a Trading Town, and It’s Getting a New Market

Trade is how Lokoja began. British merchants set up a trading post at the Niger–Benue confluence in the late 1850s, and the town grew into a commercial centre handling yams, cassava, maize, sorghum, beans, fish, palm produce and shea nuts. More recently, the Kogi State Government has said the Lokoja Ultra Modern Market, now under construction on 25 hectares, is meant to bring together traders from seven existing markets in Lokoja. State officials describe it as a flagship of the Urban Renewal Agenda and point to Kogi’s position at the crossroads of Nigeria’s major transport routes as its main advantage.

The market is still being built, and a CAC certificate doesn’t allocate a stall or guarantee a place in it. How shops and stalls will be assigned is a matter for the state and market management. What registration does give you is a formally recognised business, which is the kind of footing traders, suppliers and customers increasingly look for as markets modernise and trade grows.

General Trading Businesses We Register Most in Kogi

• General merchandise stores: shops selling mixed household, personal and everyday goods
• Wholesale distribution: suppliers of provisions, toiletries and household items to retailers
• Supermarkets and mini-marts: self-service and convenience stores serving households and neighbourhoods
• Commodity and produce trading: buyers and sellers of grains, yams, cassava products and similar goods
• Distribution and dealership agencies: businesses appointed to stock and sell manufacturers’ products
• Supply and procurement: firms supplying goods to offices, schools, institutions and project sites

Business Name vs. Limited Liability Company

A Business Name gives you a registered trading identity for selling to households, retailers, institutions and other traders. If you later move into large wholesale volumes, formal distributorships, supply contracts or outside investment, the LLC structure separates your personal assets from the business. You can start with a Business Name and convert when the time comes.

Pricing at a Glance

📋 CAC Business Name Registration

💰 Cost: ₦35,500 (All-Inclusive) ⏱️ Turnaround Time: 5 – 7 Working Days ✅ What You Get: Official CAC Certificate + Certified Status Report + TIN 🚚 Delivery: Soft Copy Sent via WhatsApp (Print Hard Copy Locally)

START REGISTRATION NOW →

The Full Breakdown of Your ₦35,500

Your ₦35,500 all-inclusive covers the government filing fee and our service fee together. It fits most shop owners, traders and small wholesalers who want proper registration without extra structure they don’t yet need. A Limited Liability Company is also available at ₦65,500 all-inclusive.

• Business name availability search
• Business name reservation
• Completion and submission of the CAC Business Name application
• CAC government filing/processing fee
• Certificate of Registration (soft copy)
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• CAC Status Report confirming your business is active on the public register

Considering the Limited Liability Company instead? For ₦65,500 all-inclusive you get everything above plus your Memorandum and Articles of Association (Memart) and personal liability protection. It tends to suit wholesalers and distributors operating at scale, firms bidding for supply contracts, and businesses with partners.

What to Have on Hand

1. Two proposed business names, ranked by preference
2. A valid means of ID: National ID (NIN), international passport or driver’s license
3. A passport photograph
4. Your business address in Kogi State, indicating the LGA
5. Phone number and email address
6. Nature of business, described simply, e.g. “general merchandise and wholesale” or “supply and distribution of household goods”
7. For a Limited Liability Company only: names, ID and details of directors and shareholders

None of this needs preparing in advance. Send what you have and we’ll match it to CAC’s requirements.

General Traders and Wholesalers Across All 21 Kogi LGAs

Price, documents and turnaround are the same wherever you trade. We register trading and wholesale businesses in places including:

• Lokoja, Kogi (Koton Karfe), Ijumu and Mopa-Muro: shops, wholesalers and suppliers around the state capital and its markets
• Kabba/Bunu, Yagba East and Yagba West: traders and distributors across the western towns and road junctions
• Okene, Okehi, Adavi, Ajaokuta and Ogori/Magongo: general merchants and wholesalers around the Okene area
• Dekina, Ankpa, Idah, Ofu, Olamaboro and Omala: traders and suppliers across the eastern axis, including Idah’s river-trade corridor
• Bassa, Ibaji and Igalamela-Odolu: market traders and small suppliers in the riverine and eastern LGAs

If your shop, stall or warehouse is anywhere in Kogi’s 21 LGAs, you’re covered.

How We Get You Registered

1. Check name availability on CAC’s public search portal. We handle this.
2. Reserve the name once it’s confirmed available.
3. Complete the application with your business, proprietor and Kogi address details.
4. Upload your ID and passport photograph. A phone photo works.
5. Pay the ₦35,500 all-inclusive fee in a single payment.
6. Receive your Certificate of Registration, TIN and Status Report, usually within 5–7 working days.

That’s it from your end: one message, one payment, and your certificate arrives.

Separate From This Registration

• NAFDAC requirements for packaged foods, drinks, cosmetics and drugs in your stock, where they apply to the products you sell
• SON standards for regulated goods you stock or distribute, where they apply
• Import documentation, customs clearance and duties for goods you bring in from abroad
• VAT registration and tax filing with the tax authorities, which go beyond the TIN included here
• Kogi State and local government permits, market levies and stall or shop allocation for your trading location
• Weights and measures compliance for goods you sell by weight or volume
• Vehicle and haulage documentation for trucks you use to move goods
• Printed copies of your certificate (delivered as soft copy; print locally whenever you like)
• Business bank account opening, done with your chosen bank once your certificate is ready
• Annual returns in future years, a small separate step we can also help with later

Buying Well, Pricing Fairly, Knowing Your Customers: You Do That Already

Trading comes down to buying at the right price, knowing which lines move fast and which sit on the shelf, deciding who gets credit, and keeping your regulars happy. None of that comes from a form. What can be handled for you is the registration. Once your certificate is in hand, a supplier, a manufacturer’s rep or a bank can deal with your trade under a name that’s officially yours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does CAC registration cost for a general trading business in Kogi State? ₦35,500 all-inclusive for a Business Name, the same across all 21 LGAs. A Limited Liability Company is ₦65,500 all-inclusive.

What’s included in the ₦35,500? Your name search and reservation, the completed CAC application, the government filing fee, your Certificate of Registration, your TIN and a CAC Status Report.

How long does it take? Usually 5–7 working days from when we have your details and payment.

Is a Business Name enough to run a general trading or wholesale business? For most shop owners, traders and small wholesalers, yes. It establishes your registered trading name and is the main registration you need to start.

Business Name or Limited Liability Company? A Business Name suits most people starting out. Consider the LLC if you wholesale at scale, take on formal distributorships or supply contracts, or have partners.

When should I move to an LLC? Typically when volumes grow, when manufacturers or larger buyers ask for it, or when a partner or investor requires it. You can convert later.

Can I register several product lines under one name? Yes. One registration covers your business as a whole, and you can describe your nature of business broadly enough to include your different lines.

How should I describe a mixed-goods business? Keep it simple and broad, such as “general merchandise and wholesale”. You don’t need to list every product you sell.

I trade from a small shop, a stall, or without a fixed shop. Can I still register? Yes. You need a business address in Kogi State, which can be your shop, stall, warehouse or storage location.

Do I need NAFDAC registration? Only for the regulated products you sell, such as packaged foods, drinks, cosmetics or drugs. NAFDAC is separate from CAC registration.

Do I need SON approval? Some goods fall under SON standards. This is separate from CAC, and what applies depends on what you stock.

What about importing goods for resale? Imports involve customs clearance, duties and documentation outside CAC registration. You’ll need to arrange these separately.

Does the TIN mean I’m registered for VAT? No. The TIN is your tax identification number. VAT registration and tax filing are separate steps with the tax authorities.

Are there Kogi State or local permits and levies I should check? Permits and market levies may apply depending on your location and trade. Confirm them with the relevant state and local offices.

Will registering get me a stall in the new Lokoja Ultra Modern Market? No. The market is still under construction, and stall allocation is handled by the state and market management, not CAC. Registration gives you a recognised business, which is a sensible thing to have in place.

Will the certificate help me get distributor or wholesale accounts? Many manufacturers, distributors and bulk suppliers ask for proof of registration before opening a trade account, so a CAC certificate is often the first document they request.

Will it help me supply schools, offices or institutions? Many institutions prefer to buy from registered businesses and ask for proof of registration, so a CAC certificate is often the first document they request. Each has its own supplier approval, which is separate from CAC.

Can I open a business bank account with it? Yes. A CAC certificate is one of the main documents banks ask for, along with your ID and other details.

Do you register businesses outside Lokoja? Yes. We register trading businesses in all 21 Kogi LGAs at the same price and turnaround.

What if my preferred name is taken? Send a second name and we’ll check it right away. Two or three ready in advance keeps things moving.

Can I convert from a Business Name to a Limited Liability Company later? Yes. Many businesses start with a Business Name and convert as volumes or partnerships grow, and we can assist with that when the time comes.

Do I need to file anything after registration? CAC annual returns apply in future years. It’s a small, separate step we can help with when it’s due.

📋 CAC Business Name Registration

💰 Cost: ₦35,500 (All-Inclusive) ⏱️ Turnaround Time: 5 – 7 Working Days ✅ What You Get: Official CAC Certificate + Certified Status Report + TIN 🚚 Delivery: Soft Copy Sent via WhatsApp (Print Hard Copy Locally)

SEND YOUR BUSINESS NAME →

Ready When You Are

Send your business name on WhatsApp and we’ll take it from there. Message us here →