Free CAC Registration for Small Businesses in Nigeria (2026): How to Apply

The Federal Government is registering 250,000 small businesses with the CAC for free — a real waiver of the ~₦11,000 fee, done through a CAC–SMEDAN partnership. If you've been meaning to formalise your business, this is the cheapest moment you'll get. Here's who qualifies and exactly how to apply.

This is genuinely free. Register through the official SMEDAN portal — you should never pay anyone a "processing fee" to access the free scheme. Slots are limited and first-come, first-served.

What the scheme is

Under the FG's MSME drive, the CAC and SMEDAN (the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency) are covering the cost of business-name registration for 250,000 micro, small and nano enterprises. It waives the roughly ₦11,000 you'd otherwise pay to register a business name yourself.

Formalising matters: a CAC certificate lets you open a corporate bank account, apply for loans and grants, win bigger contracts, and it's increasingly required to access government support.

How to apply (step by step)

1. Go to the SMEDAN portal — portal.smedan.gov.ng/signup — and create an account (name, email, password).
2. Complete your business profile — business name, address, sector, and your National Identity Number (NIN). You'll get a SMEDAN ID (SUIN).
3. When asked "do you already have a CAC number?", select "No".
4. SMEDAN profiles your business and passes it to the CAC, which completes the free registration.

That's it — no payment for eligible businesses. Don't have a NIN yet? See what is the NIN.

Good to know

• It covers business-name registration (sole proprietor/partnership), not a limited company — for the difference, see business name vs limited company.
• The scheme is unaffected by the CAC's April 2026 "AI service charge" — that applies to paid registrations, not the free MSME slots.
• Slots are limited and first-come, first-served, so apply early.

After you're registered

A CAC number unlocks the next steps:

• Your tax ID — your CAC number now serves as your business Tax ID (see how to get a TIN).
• Funding — you can now apply for government schemes and business loans.
• Grants — most require a registered business; see government grants for small businesses.

Frequently asked questions

Is the free CAC registration really free? Yes — the FG/SMEDAN scheme waives the fee for eligible MSMEs. Never pay an "agent" for it; apply through the official SMEDAN portal.

What do I need to apply? A NIN, your business details (name, address, sector), and an email. You register on the SMEDAN portal and the CAC completes it.

Business name or company? The free scheme is for a business name. If you need limited liability or more credibility, see business name vs limited company.

Educational information, not legal advice. Scheme terms, slots and portals can change — confirm the offer is still open on the official SMEDAN/CAC channels before applying, and never pay a fee for the free registration.