CAC Business Name Registration for General Trading in Lagos State

Trading in Lagos can mean a table of provisions in a neighbourhood market, a lock-up shop on Lagos Island, or a warehouse supplying retailers across the state. Whichever it is, the business runs more smoothly under a registered name that suppliers, banks and customers can check. Onelove Business Ventures is an accredited CAC agent. We handle the name search, the filing and the certificate for you, wherever your shop, stall or store is in Lagos State, so you can keep your attention on stock and sales. Send your business name on WhatsApp and consider it handled — that’s genuinely the extent of what’s asked of you.

Trading Businesses We Register in Lagos

• General merchandise and provision stores — shops selling a mix of household goods, groceries and everyday items.
• Wholesalers and bulk distributors — businesses that buy in volume and sell to retailers by the carton, bag or pallet.
• Market stall and lock-up shop traders — sellers working from a stall, kiosk or lock-up in one of the state’s many markets.
• Import and export traders — businesses that source goods from abroad or ship products out of Nigeria.
• Supply and procurement businesses — firms that supply goods to offices, schools, estates and other organisations.
• FMCG and dealer-network distributors — agents who move packaged goods from producers to shops.
• Online sellers and social-media resellers — Instagram, WhatsApp and marketplace sellers who want a proper business behind the page.
• Mixed-goods and general trading outfits — businesses that deal in several product lines and don’t fit one neat category.

📋 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 →

What the ₦35,500 Actually Buys

You pay once, and CAC’s filing fee and our service fee are already inside that figure. For traders who would rather begin as a company, a Limited Liability Company is ₦65,500, also all-inclusive.

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

Outside the Scope of This Registration

• Printed copies of your certificate — we send a soft copy, and you print it wherever is convenient
• Business premises registration with the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS), covered in the section further down
• Standards and product approvals: the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) for goods and equipment that fall under standards rules, and NAFDAC registration for food, drinks, drugs, cosmetics and similar products you sell or distribute
• Import paperwork, including customs documentation and the bank and clearing-agent steps that come with bringing goods into Nigeria
• Signage or advertising permits for your shop front, where the state’s signage and advertisement rules apply
• Market, association or landlord arrangements — stall allocation, tenancy agreements, service charges and any local government or LCDA levies
• Federal and state tax obligations that apply to your trade, such as VAT and PAYE if you employ staff
• Opening a business bank account, which you do with your bank once the certificate is in hand
• Annual returns in later years — a small, separate step we can also handle when it falls due

Business Name or Limited Liability Company: Which Suits a Trading Business?

For a sole trader selling from one shop or stall, a Business Name usually does the job: it gives you a legal name for invoices, supplier accounts and your bank. A Limited Liability Company becomes worth considering once you carry heavy stock on credit, share ownership with partners, or deal with organisations that prefer to contract with a company. Many traders start with a Business Name and convert later as the volume grows.

Before You Reach Out

1. Two business names you’d like to use, listed in order of preference
2. A valid means of ID — National ID (NIN), international passport, or driver’s license
3. A passport photograph
4. The address of your shop, stall, warehouse or home base in Lagos State, including the LGA
5. A phone number and an email address
6. A short description of what you trade in — for example, “general merchandise and wholesale trading” or “import and distribution of household goods”
7. If you go the Limited Liability Company route: names, ID and details for each director and shareholder

From Message to Certificate

1. Check name availability on CAC’s public search portal — we do this on our side.
2. Reserve the name as soon as it’s confirmed available.
3. Complete the application using your business, owner and Lagos address details.
4. Upload your ID and passport photograph — a clear phone photo works.
5. Pay the ₦35,500 filing fee — one payment covering everything listed above.
6. Receive your Certificate of Registration, TIN and Status Report, normally within 5–7 working days.

Six steps, and only two of them involve you — everything else runs on our end.

Trading From a Premises in Lagos: Where CAC Sits Next to LIRS

A business that sells goods from a shop, stall or warehouse in Lagos deals with two layers of paperwork. CAC registration is the first: it gives the business its registered name. The second is state-level. On its own FAQ page, the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service says business premises administration in the state is governed by the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act 1998, as amended, and that businesses covered by the law are expected to register with LIRS. Business premises levy is among the charges LIRS collects.

The two steps connect. Guidance on registering an enterprise with LIRS commonly lists a Business Name certificate and a CAC status report among the supporting documents, and both come with your registration here. Fees, forms and requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current position with LIRS before you apply. The sensible order is to register the business name first, then handle the premises registration for the shop or warehouse where you actually trade.

Where in Lagos Your Shop, Stall or Warehouse Can Be

Price, requirements and turnaround are the same wherever you trade in the state. Here are some of the market areas and trading belts our clients register from.

Lagos Island and the Lekki side

• Lagos Island, Idumota and Obalende — wholesale and retail traders in the old commercial heart of the city
• Victoria Island and Ikoyi — supply businesses and trading offices serving corporate buyers
• Lekki, Ajah, Eti-Osa and Ibeju-Lekki — provision shops, bulk suppliers and online sellers serving growing neighbourhoods

Ikeja and the mainland

• Ikeja, Maryland, Ojodu, Ojota and Magodo — shops, distributors and traders around the state capital
• Computer Village — dealers and resellers in the well-known electronics and gadgets trade
• Yaba, Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland and Makoko — traders across the mainland’s markets and waterfront communities
• Surulere, Mushin, Shomolu and Oshodi-Isolo — busy market streets and wholesale stretches
• Agege, Ifako-Ijaye, Kosofe and Agboyi/Ketu — northern-mainland traders, including those supplying nearby markets

Western Lagos and the port belt

• Alaba International Market, Ojo and Amuwo-Odofin — traders in the large electronics and goods market in the Ojo axis
• Festac Town, Okota, Orile and Ajeromi-Ifelodun — shops and distributors across the industrial and residential west
• Apapa — importers, clearing-linked traders and warehouse businesses close to the port
• Badagry — border-town traders moving goods in and out of the area

Alimosho and the outer districts

• Alimosho, Ikotun/Igando, Egbe-Idimu and Abule-Egba — large market communities in the densely populated west
• Ikorodu and Epe — traders and suppliers in the north-eastern and eastern parts of the state

Whether you sell from a stall or run a warehouse, if the business is anywhere in Lagos State, we can register it.

The Stock Won’t Sell Itself While You Fill In Forms

A trader’s day rarely pauses: a delivery truck arrives early, a supplier changes a price, customers haggle over a carton, and a buyer wants an invoice before they’ll pay. You already know your products, your regulars and which goods move fastest at which time of year. Filling in a government portal does not belong in that routine, and it is the one job here we can lift off you completely. Once it’s done, your trade has a registered name to put on invoices, supplier accounts, bank paperwork and the social-media page your customers already follow.

You’ll Probably Like Working With Us If…

Different business owners want different things from an agent — this is who we serve best:

• You’d rather be at the shop when a delivery truck pulls up, or while a customer is still haggling over a carton, than working through CAC’s portal on your phone between sales.
• Your trade is heading from retail toward wholesale — you want a registered name for supplier accounts, bulk invoices and distributor conversations, or you’re thinking about a second shop or an import line down the road.
• You want honest advice, not an upsell — if a Business Name covers your stage, that’s what we’ll recommend.
• You’d rather not chase anyone — one message starts it, and the price you’re quoted is the price you pay.

If that’s the kind of service you want, message us and we’ll begin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does it cost to register a general trading business in Lagos State? ₦35,500, all-inclusive, for a Business Name, whichever part of Lagos you trade from. A Limited Liability Company is ₦65,500, also all-inclusive.

What comes with the ₦35,500? The name search and reservation, the completed CAC application, the government filing fee, your Certificate of Registration (soft copy), a TIN and a CAC Status Report.

Is a Business Name enough for a shop or wholesale business? For most owner-run shops, stalls and small wholesale operations, yes. It gives you the legal name and registration to trade under. Separate state and product approvals may still apply to your premises or goods.

Can I register if I trade from a market stall or from home? Yes. The application needs a Lagos State address and its LGA. Use your stall, shop, warehouse or home address, whichever you’ll be operating from.

How do I describe my business if I sell lots of different things? Keep the description broad, for example “general merchandise and wholesale trading.” A wide description lets you add product lines later without a new registration.

Does CAC registration cover business premises registration with LIRS? No. LIRS handles business premises registration for the state, and it is a separate step from CAC. Check LIRS for the current requirements.

Do I need SON or NAFDAC approval to sell my goods? It depends on what you sell. NAFDAC applies to regulated products such as food, drinks, drugs and cosmetics, and SON standards can apply to certain goods and equipment. Neither is part of CAC registration, so check the rules for your specific products.

I import goods. Does a CAC certificate help? Banks, clearing agents and suppliers commonly ask importers for proof of registration. Customs and import documentation is a separate process, so ask your bank or clearing agent what they currently require.

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

Will suppliers and distributors ask for my CAC certificate? Many do, especially before extending credit or agreeing bulk deals. The certificate is useful proof that your business exists, though it doesn’t guarantee supply terms or credit.

Is the TIN included? Yes. A Tax Identification Number comes with your ₦35,500.

Do I have to file anything with CAC after the first year? Registered businesses have annual returns to file. It’s a small, separate step, and we can help when it’s due.

What if my first-choice name is taken? Send a backup name and we’ll check it straight away. Having two or three options ready keeps things moving.

Can I upgrade from a Business Name to a Limited Liability Company later? Yes. Many traders start with a Business Name and convert when the business grows or partners join, and we can help with the conversion.

When does it make sense to begin as a Limited Liability Company? If you’re building a larger distribution or import business, bringing in partners, or dealing with buyers who prefer contracting with a company, starting as an LLC is worth considering.

I have two shops in different parts of Lagos. Does one registration cover both? One registration covers your business as a whole. Premises-level requirements, such as state registration for each location, are separate, so confirm what applies to every shop or warehouse.

I sell only on Instagram or WhatsApp. Can I still register? Yes. Online sellers register the same way. You’ll still need a Lagos State address and LGA for the application.

Do you register businesses outside the big markets? Yes. We register trading businesses across Lagos State, from Ikorodu and Epe to Badagry and Apapa, at the same price and turnaround.

📋 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 →

Got your two preferred names ready? Send them to us on WhatsApp →