How do I check if a business name is taken in Nigeria?

You can check through the official CAC public search portal or submit your proposed name through BusinessReg for our accredited agents to verify on the live CAC Company Registration Portal (CRP).

How long does a CAC name reservation last?

Once approved by the CAC, a reserved name is held exclusively for you for 60 days. You must complete your business or company registration before the 60-day reservation period expires.

What words are restricted or prohibited by CAC?

Words such as 'Federal', 'National', 'State', 'Government', 'Municipal', 'Chartered', 'Imperial', 'Bank', 'Insurance', and 'Cooperative' cannot be used without special consent or regulatory licenses.

Free CAC Availability Checker

CAC Name Search & Availability Guide

Test whether your proposed business or company name complies with CAC guidelines before you pay. Avoid name rejections and start your registration smoothly.

Instant CAC Name Validator

Type your proposed name below to screen for prohibited words and naming suitability.

Want our accredited agent to check live CAC portal records?

We search the official CAC Company Registration Portal within 15 mins.

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CAC Name Guidelines: What Gets Approved & What Gets Rejected

Every year, over 30% of name reservation submissions in Nigeria are denied by CAC examiners. Understanding CAMA 2020 name availability criteria will save you registration delays and query fees.

Prohibited & Restricted Words

Government Affiliation: "Federal", "National", "State", "Government", "Regional", "Municipal", "Armed Forces", "Police".
Special Licenses Required: "Bank", "Microfinance", "Insurance", "Trust", "Chamber of Commerce", "Cooperative", "Building Society".
Deceptive Names: Names suggesting royal patronage ("Imperial", "Royal", "Crown") or connection with foreign sovereign states.
Offensive / Immoral Words: Names containing derogatory, vulgar, or scandalous phrases.

Best Practices for 100% Approval

Combine 2 or 3 Words: A distinctive brand word plus an activity word (e.g. Zentrix Tech Solutions instead of just Zentrix).
Avoid Generic Terms: Names like "Best Logistics" or "Global Trading" are almost certainly already taken or too generic.
Provide 2 Options: Always give a primary and alternative name choice so your registration continues smoothly if one has similarity conflicts.
Correct Suffixes: Business Names use words like "Enterprises", "Ventures", "Stores", "Services". Companies must end in "Limited" or "LTD".

From Name Search to Official CAC Certificate

Once your name is verified, locking it down and incorporating takes just 24 to 48 hours with BusinessReg.

Step 1: Check Availability

Our accredited team reviews your proposed names on the live CAC CRP database to ensure zero conflicts.

Step 2: 60-Day Reservation

We file the official CAC Name Reservation, securing exclusive rights to the name for 60 calendar days.

Step 3: Registration & TIN

We prepare statutory forms, submit to CAC, and deliver your Certificate, Status Report, and TIN.

Start Your Registration With Name Reservation