CAC Business Name Registration for Hotels in Lagos State

Running a hotel, guest house, shortlet or serviced apartment in Lagos means competing in one of the busiest hospitality markets in Africa, and putting the business under a registered name is a sensible first piece of paperwork. Onelove Business Ventures is an accredited CAC agent. We handle the name search, the filing and the certificate for you, wherever your property is in Lagos State, so you can stay focused on your rooms and your guests. Just your business name on WhatsApp — everything after that is on us.

Accommodation Businesses We Register in Lagos

• Hotels and boutique hotels — independent properties of any size, from a handful of rooms to a full-service building.
• Guest houses and lodges — smaller, owner-run properties offering rooms and basic services.
• Serviced apartments and shortlets — furnished apartments let out by the night, week or month.
• Motels and budget stopovers — simple, affordable rooms for travellers and short stays.
• Hostels and student or worker accommodation — shared or private rooms rented over longer periods.
• Resorts and beachfront properties — leisure-focused accommodation with extra facilities on site.
• Airport and business-district hotels — rooms aimed at transit guests and corporate travellers.
• Bed-and-breakfast and homestay hosts — private homes or small buildings offering paid stays.

One Law Every Lagos Accommodation Owner Should Know About

In Lagos, accommodation is regulated at state level by the Hotel Licensing Law, formally known as the Lagos State Hotel and Tourism Establishments Licensing Law, Cap H6 of 2003, amended in 2010. Section 4 of that law bars anyone from operating a hotel on any premises in the state without a licence for that premises. The state’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture oversees the licensing, and the ministry’s published list of covered businesses goes well beyond hotels. It includes guest houses, motels, suites and service apartments, among others. The state’s power to legislate in this area was upheld by the Supreme Court, after a dispute over whether Lagos could regulate hotel licensing alongside the federal tourism agency.

The state has also launched an online registration platform for hotels, nightclubs, bars, lounges and beach resorts, and has warned of sanctions for operators who do not register. Your CAC registration is a different step and does not replace this licence. It gives your business a legal name and identity, which is typically the first thing you need before applying for the rest. In practice, that makes the order simple: register the business name, then apply for the state licence for your premises.

📋 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)

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Business Name vs. Limited Liability Company

A Business Name is a good fit when you are an owner-operator running a modest property and need a legal name for your bookings, invoices and bank account. A Limited Liability Company tends to be the better choice once the property is larger, several people share ownership, or you are bringing in investors, because the business then stands apart from your personal assets. It is common to begin with a Business Name and upgrade as the business grows.

Everything Covered in Your ₦35,500

Your ₦35,500 is a single all-inclusive payment for a Lagos accommodation business, with CAC’s filing fee and our service fee both built in. Nothing is added later. If you prefer to start as a company, a Limited Liability Company is 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
• Your Certificate of Registration (soft copy)
• Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• A CAC Status Report confirming your business is active on the public register

What You’ll Need to Arrange Separately

• Physical/printed copies of your certificate (delivered as soft copy; print locally whenever convenient)
• Your operating licence from the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture under the state Hotel Licensing Law, issued for your specific premises
• Registration with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, which may also apply to hospitality businesses
• Building, occupancy and fire-safety approvals for your property, including requirements from the state’s building and safety authorities
• Environmental, waste and sanitation requirements for the premises
• Liquor, entertainment or food-service approvals if your property includes a bar, club or restaurant
• State and federal tax obligations that apply to hotel and accommodation operators, including consumption or occupancy taxes where relevant
• Business bank account opening, done with your chosen bank once your certificate is in hand
• Annual returns filing in future years — a small, separate step we can also help with when the time comes

What You’ll Need

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 Lagos State — indicating the LGA
5. Phone number and email address
6. Nature of business — described simply, e.g. “hotel and guest house accommodation” or “serviced apartments and shortlets”
7. If you choose Limited Liability Company instead: names, ID and details of directors and shareholders

How the Process Runs

1. Check name availability on CAC’s public search portal — handled on our end.
2. Reserve the name once availability is confirmed.
3. Complete the application with your business, director and Lagos address details.
4. Upload your ID and passport photograph — a phone photo is fine.
5. Pay the ₦35,500 filing fee, one payment that covers everything above.
6. Receive your Certificate of Registration, TIN and Status Report, usually within 5–7 working days.

That’s genuinely the whole process from your side: one message, one payment, one certificate.

Registering Accommodation Businesses Across Lagos

The price, requirements and turnaround are identical wherever your property is located. We register hotels, guest houses and apartments across Lagos, including in the areas below.

Island and the Lekki corridor

• Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lagos Island — hotels and serviced apartments in the business and waterfront districts
• Idumota and Balogun Market — lodgings serving the traders and buyers around the Lagos Island markets
• Lekki, Lekki Phase 1 and Lekki Phase 2 — shortlets, hotels and apartments along the Lekki peninsula
• Eti-Osa, Ajah and Ibeju-Lekki — properties spreading outward along the corridor toward the coast

Ikeja and the mainland core

• Ikeja, Maryland, Ojodu, Ojota and Magodo — hotels and guest houses around the state capital and its commercial belts
• Computer Village — lodgings used by traders and visitors to the electronics market
• Yaba, Ebute-Metta, Lagos Mainland and Makoko — accommodation across the mainland and its waterfront communities
• Surulere, Mushin, Shomolu and Oshodi-Isolo — guest houses and budget hotels in busy residential and commercial areas
• Ifako-Ijaye, Agege, Kosofe and Agboyi/Ketu — hotels and lodges across the northern mainland

Western and south-western Lagos

• Festac Town, Amuwo-Odofin, Ojo and Okota — hotels and guest houses in the Festac, Ojo and Isolo axis
• Alaba International Market, Orile and Ajeromi-Ifelodun — accommodation serving the trade and industrial areas
• Apapa — hotels and guest houses near the port
• Badagry — resorts, guest houses and heritage-area lodging in the border town

Alimosho and the outer areas

• Alimosho, Abule-Egba, Egbe-Idimu and Ikotun/Igando — guest houses and budget hotels across the densely populated west
• Ikorodu and Epe — properties in the north-eastern and eastern parts of the state

If your property is anywhere in Lagos State, you’re covered.

Hospitality Runs on Details; Registration Shouldn’t Be One of Them

Good accommodation depends on things guests notice immediately: a clean room at check-in, a working generator when the power goes, quick check-outs for early flights and staff who answer politely at midnight. You already juggle housekeeping, bookings, supplies and the rhythm of corporate stays, event weekends and holiday rushes. Registering the business name is one thing on that list that we can take off you entirely. After it’s done, your property trades under a recognised name that appears on invoices, booking platforms and bank paperwork.

This Might Be a Great Fit If…

A registration agent should suit the way you work. Here’s who tends to be happiest with us:

• You’d rather not squeeze CAC’s portal in between check-ins, supplier calls and night-shift handovers — you want the paperwork finished while you keep the property running.
• You’re planning beyond one property — a guest house today, perhaps serviced apartments in Lekki or a second location around Ikeja later, and you want a registered name to grow under.
• You’d like the cheaper option when it’s enough — we’ll say so plainly rather than steer you toward a Limited Liability Company you don’t need yet.
• You like knowing the full cost upfront — ₦35,500 covers the filing and our fee together, with nothing added later.

If any of that rings true, you’re likely a good match for how we work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does CAC registration cost for a hotel or guest house in Lagos State? ₦35,500 all-inclusive for a Business Name, the same wherever in Lagos your property is. A Limited Liability Company is ₦65,500 all-inclusive.

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

Is a Business Name enough to run a guest house or small hotel? For most owner-operated properties, a Business Name gives you the legal name and registration you need to start. Hotel operating licences from the state are a separate matter.

Does CAC registration replace the Lagos State hotel licence? No. The state licence is issued by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture for your specific premises. CAC registration gives you the registered business name you apply under.

Do I also need to register with the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation? It may apply to hospitality businesses, and it is handled separately from CAC. Check the current requirements for your type of property.

Do shortlets and serviced apartments need registration too? Yes. A shortlet or serviced apartment business can be registered the same way as a hotel, and the Lagos ministry’s list of covered establishments includes service apartments.

Can I register more than one property under a single business name? One registration covers your business as a whole, and you can describe it broadly. State licences generally attach to each premises, so confirm the approvals for every property you run.

I haven’t finalised my property yet. Can I still register? You need a business address in Lagos State and the LGA for the application. If you are still arranging premises, send the address you plan to use.

Can I register a hotel and a restaurant or bar under the same name? Yes, describe the nature of business broadly. A bar, club or restaurant on the premises may need its own approvals.

Do you register businesses outside Ikeja, Victoria Island and Lekki? Yes. We register accommodation businesses across all of Lagos State, from Badagry and Epe to Ikorodu and Apapa, at the same price and turnaround.

Will a CAC certificate help with corporate bookings? Companies and organisations often ask for proof of registration before arranging bulk or recurring bookings, so the certificate is a useful document to have. It does not guarantee any booking.

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, along with your ID and other details.

Is the TIN included? Yes. A Tax Identification Number is part of what you receive for the ₦35,500.

Do I need to file anything with CAC in the following years? Registered businesses have annual returns to file. It is a small, separate step and we can help with it when the time comes.

What if my proposed business name isn’t available? Send a backup name and we will check it right 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 accommodation businesses start with a Business Name and convert once the property grows or investors join. We can assist with the conversion.

When does it make sense to start with a Limited Liability Company? If you are building a larger hotel, sharing ownership with partners, or an investor requires a company structure, the Limited Liability Company route is worth considering from day one.

Ready when you are — it takes one message. Send your business name on WhatsApp →