A Comprehensive Guide to Setting Up a Business in Nigeria: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

A Comprehensive Guide to Setting Up a Business in Nigeria: What Every Entrepreneur Needs to Know

August 05, 2025

Nigeria is Africa’s largest economy and a fast-growing hub for innovation, tech, agriculture, and manufacturing. If you’re planning to start a business here, whether as a Nigerian resident or a foreign investor, there are important steps and regulatory requirements to navigate. This guide breaks down the process to help you launch confidently and legally.

1.     Choose Your Business Structure

Your first step is to determine what type of business structure best suits your goals. Common types include:

  • Business Name (Enterprise or Sole Proprietorship):Suitable for small businesses and informal trade.
  • Private Company Limited by Shares (Ltd):Most common structure for SMEs and startups.
  • Public Company (PLC):For businesses that intend to raise capital from the public.
  • Incorporated Trustees (NGOs, Charities):For non-profit activities.
  • Limited Liability Partnership (LLP):Combines flexibility of a partnership with liability protection.

2.     Register with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)

You can register your business online through the CAC portal. The steps typically include:

  • Name Reservation:Search and reserve a unique name.
  • Filing Incorporation Documents:Includes information on directors, shareholders, share capital, and registered address.
  • Payment of Fees:Pay applicable government filing fees.
  • Issuance of Certificate:Once approved, you’ll receive your Certificate of Incorporation and other documents like Status Report and Memorandum & Articles of Association.

3.     Obtain a Tax Identification Number (TIN) and Register with FIRS

Every business must register for tax purposes with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS):

  • Apply for a TIN(Tax Identification Number)
  • Register for Value Added Tax (VAT), Company Income Tax (CIT), and Withholding Tax (WHT)where applicable

4.     Open a Corporate Bank Account

To operate formally, open a corporate bank account in your business name. Requirements usually include:

  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • CAC Form (Status Report)
  • TIN
  • Valid ID and utility bill of directors/signatories

Some banks may require a business plan or evidence of physical address.

5.     Register with Relevant Regulatory Bodies

Depending on your industry, you may need licenses or approvals from regulatory agencies such as:

  • NAFDAC– For food, drugs, cosmetics
  • SON– For product standards
  • CBN– For financial or fintech companies
  • NITDA– For data protection compliance
  • NOTAP– For foreign technology agreements

6.     Secure Necessary Local Permits

If you’re operating from a physical office, shop, or factory, register with your Local Government Area (LGA) and obtain a business premises permit or environmental clearance where necessary.

7.     Comply with Labour & Immigration Laws

  • Draft proper employment contractsfor your staff.
  • Register with NSITF, ITF, PENCOM, and NHFas required by law.
  • If employing foreigners, obtain Expatriate Quotasand CERPAC (resident permits).

8.     Protect Your Intellectual Property

If you have a brand name, logo, product formula, or innovation:

  • Register your Trademark, with the Trademarks, Patents and Designs Registry.
  • For tech products or inventions, consider patentsor industrial designs.

9.     Set Up Accounting & Compliance Systems

Ensure you have systems in place for:

  • Annual returns filing with CAC
  • Monthly/quarterly tax filings (VAT, WHT, PAYE)
  • Financial reporting and audits.
  • Legal and company secretarial compliance

You may consider engaging a legal or accounting firm to help with ongoing compliance.

10.  Explore Business Incentives

Nigeria offers several investment incentives, especially in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and export:

  • Pioneer Status Incentive (PSI): Tax holidays for new companies in select sectors.
  • Export Expansion Grant (EEG)
  • Lekki Free Trade Zone or Other EPZs: Duty waivers, tax exemptions, and easier repatriation of profits.

Setting up a business in Nigeria can be straightforward with the right guidance. Whether you’re a Nigerian entrepreneur or a foreign investor, working with local professionals (lawyers, accountants, and consultants) helps avoid delays and costly mistakes.

Team 618 Bees

 

 

 

The information in this blog post (“post”) is provided for general informational purposes only, no information contained in this post should be construed as legal advice, nor is it intended to be a substitute for legal counsel on any subject matter. No reader of this post should act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information included in, or accessible through this post without seeking the appropriate legal or professional advice from the particular facts and circumstances at issue from a lawyer. This post is protected by intellectual property law and regulations. It may however be shared using appropriate sharing tools provided that our authorship is always acknowledged and this Disclaimer Notice attached

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Frequently Asked

  • Why must I file Annual Returns?

    It is a mandatory statutory requirement under the Companies and Allied Matters Act to file Annual Returns yearly. 

  • Must my Company Secretary be a Lawyer?

    Although it’s ideal to have a lawyer as a company secretary, it is not compulsory for small private businesses.

  • What is an execution clause in a contract?

    This is the section in which the parties sign the contract or agreement.

  • What are the benefits of Registering with SON?
    1. Product traceability in the Nigerian market
    2. Detection of counterfeit products
    3. Barriers to the circulation of substandard goods
    4. The official SON Product Registration Logo and number are displayed on registered products.
  • Can I use the data collected legally for one purpose for another purpose?

    No, you can’t use the data collected for one purpose for a different purpose.

  • What is the difference between licensing and assigning a patent?

    Licensing a patent means granting permission to another individual or organisation to make, use as well as sell the creation that has been protected by patent.

    A patent assignment on the other hand, is a finished exchange of patent rights starting with one individual then onto another person.

  • What will happen if I buy the wrong category of forms with NAFDAC?

    Nothing, the purchased form will be in your account for future use.

     

  • Can my kids be shareholders in my company?

    Yes your kids can hold shares in your company but there must be a minimum of two adult shareholders before kids can be included.

  • What do I need for a trademark search in Nigeria?

    To do a trademark search you will need the name or/and logo (device) of the trademark to be searched and the Class of the trademark that accurately describes it.

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