Apply In-Person:

1. To apply for a reserving a Company name in person, the applicant has to visit any nearest office of the Corporate Affairs Commission.
2. The address and contact details of the CAC can be found in the following Link
3. Visit the office and obtain a form for doing a public search of name among the existing entities registered in the CAC and reserving an available name.
4. Complete the form as required with a list of names as well as your details and attach required number of passport size photographs with it.
5. Within the end of the day, results will be informed to you regarding the name availability.
6. With respect to the results, you can reserve a name of your choice that is available as well.
7. To register the available name, you have to obtain an Application for reservation of a company Name from the relevant department.
8. Complete the reservation form as required and submit it to the relevant authority in the office.
9. Within 24 hours, all the required processes will be completed and the name that you had reserved will be reserved for you.
   

Apply Online

1. To apply for a reserving a Company name online, the applicant has to visit the CAC online registration portal: Link
2. Click on the “Search now” option under ‘public search’ tab to conduct a public name search. Enter the proposed names in the search bar and look for availability by clicking “search” button.
3. Choose an available name and return back to the homepage. Click “Reserve name now” option to reserve the chosen name.
4. If you already have an account, enter the user details and click “login” button. If not, click the “Sign up” button below, registration page will appear.
5. Complete the registration form as applicable and click “Register” button. Account verification mail will be sent, click the link sent to you to activate the account.
6. Click “Login” button at the top of the next page and enter the user details, then click “Login” button to enter into your account.
7. Click “New name reservation” button, name reservation form page will be opened, complete the first tab and click “save & continue” button. Select classification as ‘Business name’.
8. Similarly, complete the next tab and click “save & continue” button. Go through the application preview and click “save & continue” button.
9. Click “Remita” button in the payment tab and complete the payment as applicable by entering the card details and clicking “submit” button.
10. As an acknowledgement, an availability code will be generated for the reserved name.
    

• Completed Availability Check and Reservation of Name form
• Completed Application for Registration of Business Name
• Valid proof of Identification
• Proof of payment
• Memorandum and Article of Association (if required)
• Any supporting document (as instructed)
  

CAC CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS
Corporate Affairs Commission
Plot 420, Tigris Crescent,
Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street,
Maitama, Abuja.
Nigeria.
Tel Main: +234-809-552-1924
Tel Line 1 : +234-818-229-8971
Tel Line 2 : +234-818-229-9016
Tel Line 3 : +234-908-740-1600
Tel Line 4 : +234-908-740-1599
Tel Line 5 : +234-908-740-1598
Tel Line 6 : +234-913-105-5341
Tel Line 7 : +234-913-105-5342
Tel Line 8 : +234-913-105-5343
Email : cservice@cac.gov.ng
Email : protocol@cac.gov.ng
Website: Link

CAC Portal : Link

Any company or business entity in Nigeria, that needs a business name before registration is eligible.

Please approach the authorities for fees details.

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

The name reservation would get done within a day.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.gIn the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

• Please note that you will not be allowed to make modifications after payment during reservation of name.
• If you do not have a debit/credit card to use for payment online; you can still use your internet banking to pay for fees in the CAC-CRP. If you don't have internet banking either; just generate the bill from the CAC-CRP; walk into any bank branch in Nigeria and make the payment.
• You can seek advice from an accredited agent, if you wish to get more clarifications.
  

• Names of the applicant
• Date of birth and gender
• Nationality and Full address
• National Identification Number
• Phone number and email address
• Occupation/Description
• Proposed names
• Type of company
• Nature of Business Category
  

Any company’s new name must be first informed to the Corporate Affairs Commission in a proper format and get approved by CAC after a public search.

No company, limited liability partnership, limited partnership, business name or incorporated trustee shall be registered under this Act by a name or trademark which —

• is identical with that by which a company or limited liability partnership in existence is already registered, or so nearly resembles that name as to be calculated to deceive, except where the company or limited liability partnership in existence is in the course of being dissolved and signifies its consent in such manner as the Commission requires;
• contains the words "Chamber of Commerce" unless it is a company limited by guarantee;
• in the opinion of the Commission, is capable of misleading as to the nature or extent of its activities or is undesirable, offensive or otherwise contrary to public policy;
• in the opinion of the Commission, would violate or conflict with any existing trademark or business name registered in Nigeria or body corporate formed under this Act unless the consent of the owner of the trademark, business name or trustees of the body corporate has been obtained;
• contains any word which, in the opinion of the Commission is likely to mislead the public as to the nationality, race or religion of the persons by whom the business is wholly or mainly owned or controlled;
• is, in the opinion of the Commission, deceptive or objectionable in that it contains a reference or suggests association with any practice, institution, personage, foreign state or government, international organisation or international brand or is otherwise unsuitable; or is capable of undermining public peace and national security.
  

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

Place some external links which might help.

More information which might help people.