Launching a business in Nigeria is a big decision filled with both excitement and challenges.
Probably, you have spent hours trying to brainstorm the best name for your business, something that can set you apart from your competition.
However, there’s this problem disturbing your success: you can’t tell if the names you selected are already being used.
Even worse is discovering that your preferred name isn’t available on CAC after printing your business card or creating social media accounts.
If you find yourself worrying about this, you are not alone. It can be intimidating and confusing to check the availability of a business name through the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), especially if you have never done it before.
However, you don’t need to worry about that because we’ll walk you through the entire process of searching for a business name’s availability on CAC in this post.
Why Search for Availability of a Business Name on CAC Matters to Business Owners
Before you register a business name, you must search if it is available on CAC for various reasons that are outlined below:
1. To Avoid Duplication of Business Name: One of the major reasons why you should search for the availability of a business name on CAC is to avoid duplication problems. The CAC does not approve names that are identical to or closely resemble existing registered names to avoid confusion. If you register for one without searching, it might lead to the rejection of your business name.
2. Brand Uniqueness: Secondly, search if there are similar names out there to your business name that would make it stand out uniquely amid competition. Your customers won’t be confusing your business name with someone else’s.
3. Legal Protection: You don’t want to launch a business with legal complications, do you? You should therefore check if the business name is available to you before registering it, as registering a name already being used by somebody else could lead to a legal dispute and the loss of your business name.
4. Registration Efficiency: If you don’t want your business name registration with CAC to be delayed or rejected, you must verify the availability beforehand to save time and avoid the complications of going through the application process all over.
How to Search for Availability of a Business Name on CAC
To search for the availability of your business name on CAC, follow the steps carefully below:
Step 1: Visit the CAC Online Portal
The first step to ensuring a successful search for availability is to navigate to the CAC’s official website at https://pre.cac.gov.ng/home. On the home page, you will find the various steps to follow, which lead us to the next step.
Step 2: Access the Name Search Tool on the Website
Just like the image above, you will see something like that on the website. Click on “Search Now,” which will take you to https://search.cac.gov.ng/. At times, if you have gotten the perfect name to use, you will be asked to log into your CAC account if you want to reserve the name so another person won’t be able to register this. At this point, you haven’t registered the name yet.
Step 2: Perform a Preliminary Search
The last step to take is to search for the name using the public search section as seen in the image above. What to do is to:
- Enter your desired business name into the search bar.
- Click on Search to view results.
Once you are done with this process, the system will display a list of names that are either identical to or similar to your input, just like the image below. If no results are found, it means the name is not yet registered, and you can proceed to reserve it.
Tips for Choosing an Available Business Name
To increase the chance of your business name being approved by CAC, here are a few tips to consider:
- Be Unique: Uniqueness means a lot in ensuring a successful business venture. When choosing a business name, make sure to avoid generic or commonly used words by people every day. You can do so by combining unique words or using creative spellings to make your name stand out. You can check out some unique and fresh clothing brand names if you are inspired to start a clothing brand.
- Avoid Restricted Words: Before picking a name, make sure to avoid restricted words. The CAC is a government agency, and it has guidelines prohibiting the use of certain words like federal, national, government, or any name implying government affiliation without prior approval.
- Consider Relevancy: Next, you should choose a name that reflects your business activities to make it more appealing to your target audience and easily identifiable.
- Run Multiple Searches: The CAC suggests you submit at least three names for name reservation. So make sure you search for unique names available by running multiple searches on the platform to avoid any delays in the registration process.
How to Reserve Your Business Name on the CAC Portal
Once you have confirmed the availability of your desired names, the next step is to reserve it. This requires you to create an account on the CAC portal. To ensure a successful name reservation, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Sign Up for a CAC Account: The first step is to visit https://pre.cac.gov.ng/login and click on the sign-up option. You will be asked to provide your email address, phone number, and other necessary details.
After successful registration, you will be asked to log in to your CAC account using the email address and password you used when registering.
Step 2: Initiate a Name Reservation Request: After successfully logging in, navigate to the name reservation section beside the public search. There you will be asked to enter your desired business name and provide details about your proposed business. In this step, make sure you have checked the availability of the name you are reserving to avoid rejection.
Step 3: Pay the Reservation Fee: Next is to pay a non-refundable fee (currently around 600 to 800 naira at the time this article is written) for reserving the business name. The payment can be done via the online portal using a debit card or other available methods.
Step 4: Wait for Approval: Finally, the CAC will review your application for name reservation and notify you via email within 24–48 hours if approved or not. If your name is approved, you can move forward with the full registration of your business name.
ALSO READ: How to Register Your Business Name on CAC
Alternatives to Using the CAC Online Portal
While the CAC online portal is the most convenient option, there are alternative methods for checking business name availability:
- You Can Engage a CAC Accredited Agent: If you’re unfamiliar with the process or prefer professional assistance, you can hire an accredited agent to handle the search and reservation on your behalf. At Gwrite, we can help you out with this process. Don’t hesitate to contact us for more information.
- Visit a CAC Office: You can also visit a CAC office in person to perform the search and reserve your business name. However, this method may take longer than the online option.
After Name Reservation, What is the Next Step?
Once your business name has been successfully reserved, you can proceed with the registration process. Here’s what to do next:
Step 1: Prepare Necessary Documents: These typically include identification documents (e.g., national ID, voter’s card, or passport), completed CAC registration forms, and passport-sized photographs.
Step 2: Complete the Registration: Log in to your CAC account and provide the required details for your business registration. The CAC offers various categories of registration, including sole proprietorship, partnership, and limited liability companies.
Step 3: Make the Registration Payment: Depending on the type of registration, you’ll need to pay the applicable fee ranging from 20,000 naira. Ensure you keep your payment receipt for future reference.
Step 4: Submit Your Application: Lastly, submit all required documents and await approval. The CAC will issue a Certificate of Registration upon successful processing.
In conclusion, if it seems that the process is daunting and frustrating, why not allow us at Gwrite to handle it for you to reduce the stress you will pass through? Contact us today to make your CAC certification of registration successful in weeks.