November 13, 2026
November 13, 2026
Free CAC Business Registration in Nigeria: How to Apply Without Getting Scammed
The Federal Government has reopened free CAC business name registration for 250,000 small businesses. That is genuine good news, but fake portals and 'slot agents' always follow free government offers. Here is how to apply the right way and keep your money.
The Federal Government has reopened free CAC business name registration for 250,000 small businesses. That is genuine good news, but fake portals and 'slot agents' always follow free government offers. Here is how to apply the right way and keep your money.
Free CAC business registration is open again through SMEDAN. This guide explains who qualifies, how to apply step by step, and how to spot the scams around it.
Your business has a name. It has a logo, a WhatsApp catalogue and customers who come back. What it may not have is a CAC certificate, and that one missing document can cost you a business bank account, a supply contract, a grant, or the trust of a customer deciding whether to send you money.
Right now, the Federal Government is offering to pay for that document. Free CAC business registration has reopened for 250,000 small businesses across Nigeria.
But in Nigeria, every free government offer comes with a shadow: fake portals, WhatsApp broadcasts and "agents" who charge you to secure a slot that was never for sale. This guide shows you how to get the real thing, and how not to pay for the fake one.
What Is the Free CAC Business Registration Programme?
It is a joint scheme between the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to register 250,000 nano, micro and small businesses at no cost. BusinessDay reported that CAC is forgoing about ₦3 billion in registration fees under the programme, which works out to roughly ₦12,000 per business, while SMEDAN provides support after registration.
Key facts at a glance:
Who runs it: SMEDAN, in partnership with CAC
How many slots: 250,000 businesses nationwide
What it covers: business name registration only, not limited liability companies or NGOs
Where to apply: the official SMEDAN portal, portal.smedan.gov.ng
Cost to you: nothing
On 12 November 2026, Legit.ng reported that the portal had reopened after applicants struggled to access it earlier. The scheme first opened in mid-2026.
It is also separate from the 3,500 free business name registrations CAC announced in February 2026 to mark its 35th anniversary, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.
Who Qualifies for Free CAC Registration?
You qualify if you run a nano, micro or small business that has never been registered with CAC. That includes traders, artisans, retailers, online vendors and service providers. Businesses already on SMEDAN's database without a CAC registration may also qualify. Businesses that already have a CAC number, and anyone wanting to register a limited liability company, are not covered.
How to Apply for Free CAC Business Registration (Step by Step)
Go to the official SMEDAN portal. Type portal.smedan.gov.ng directly into your browser. Do not use a link from a WhatsApp broadcast.
Create an account with your name, email address and a password, or log in if you already have one. Do not open a second account.
Complete your MSME profile with accurate business details: business name, address, category, phone number and a short description. You may be asked for your NIN.
Answer "No" when asked whether your business already has a CAC registration number.
Review and submit. Check every detail, especially your phone number and email, so you don't miss SMEDAN's message.
Wait for SMEDAN to contact you. Successful applicants receive the next steps from SMEDAN. Submitting an application does not guarantee selection.
Tip: Slots are limited, so apply early, but never pay anyone to "speed it up".
Is Free CAC Registration Real or a Scam?
The programme is real. The scams around it are real too.
Free CAC registration has been a scam magnet for years. In a past case, a viral WhatsApp post promised free CAC registration plus ₦50,000 cash and a free trip to the UK, and CAC told FactCheckHub the message was fake and its link was not CAC's. It is the same trick as the OPay ₦50,000 relief scam: a genuine government programme, a fake link and a promise that sounds slightly too generous.
Here is how these scams usually work:
The bait. A broadcast says "FG free CAC registration closes tonight. Apply here."
The fake portal. The link opens a page with CAC or SMEDAN logos but a different web address.
The harvest. It collects your NIN, BVN, phone number and business details.
The fee. A "processing", "slot" or "activation" fee, often small enough not to feel risky.
The disappearance. No certificate arrives, and your personal data is now in criminal hands.
Red Flags: How to Spot a Fake Free CAC Registration Offer
Anyone asking you to pay to "secure a slot" or "guarantee approval"
A link that does not end in .gov.ng
Extra "benefits" such as cash grants, phones, loans or foreign trips attached to registration
Requests for your BVN, ATM card details or OTP
Pressure: "Only 50 slots left", "portal closes in two hours"
Agents who contact you first, especially on WhatsApp or Telegram
A "certificate" sent as a picture before any official message from SMEDAN
Official free CAC registration | Fake offer | |
|---|---|---|
Website | portal.smedan.gov.ng | Look-alike links, .xyz, .com, shortened links |
Cost | Free for selected applicants | "Slot", "processing" or "activation" fee |
Extras | Business name registration only | Cash, grants, loans, trips |
Contact | SMEDAN contacts successful applicants | Strangers message you first |
Your BVN or OTP | Never needed | Requested "for verification" |
Why CAC Registration Matters for Trust
A CAC certificate is not just paperwork. For a small business, it can help you:
Open a business bank account in your registered name
Qualify for government and development programmes, loans and grants
Win corporate and government contracts that require registration
Show customers you are a real, accountable business
That last point cuts both ways. Customers increasingly check whether a vendor is registered before they pay, and scammers know it. Some fake vendors quote stolen or made-up RC and BN numbers to look legitimate. CAC itself advises the public to confirm a company's registration only through its official website, cac.gov.ng. If you buy from online vendors, our guide to fake vendor page red flags shows what else to check before you pay.
Already Paid an "Agent" or Entered Details on a Fake Site?
Call your bank's fraud desk immediately if you paid or shared card details, and ask for a block or recall.
Never share the OTP that may follow; scammers often call pretending to "complete" your registration.
Watch your accounts and phone line for unusual activity, since your NIN and phone number may be misused.
Report the site or person to the EFCC or the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), and alert SMEDAN through its official channels.
Start again on the real portal. Being scammed does not stop you from applying properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is free CAC registration real in 2026? Yes. SMEDAN and CAC are registering 250,000 small businesses free of charge, and the portal reopened in November 2026. Applications go through the official SMEDAN portal, portal.smedan.gov.ng. Be careful of WhatsApp links and "agents": the genuine programme does not charge applicants or promise cash, grants or trips.
Who qualifies for free CAC business registration? Nano, micro and small businesses that have never been registered with CAC, including traders, artisans, retailers, online vendors and service providers. Businesses on SMEDAN's database without a CAC number may also qualify. The scheme covers business names only, not limited liability companies, and selection is not guaranteed.
How do I apply for free CAC registration? Visit portal.smedan.gov.ng, create an account or log in, complete your MSME profile accurately, select "No" when asked if your business has a CAC registration number, then review and submit. SMEDAN contacts successful applicants with the next steps. Never pay anyone to secure a slot.
Does free CAC registration cover limited liability companies? No. The SMEDAN–CAC programme covers business name registration only. If you want to register a limited liability company, an NGO or incorporated trustees, you will need to go through CAC's normal paid process on its official portal, either yourself or with an accredited agent.
How can I check if a business is registered with CAC? Use the public search on CAC's official website, cac.gov.ng, and compare the name, registration number and status with what the business has told you. CAC advises the public to verify registration only through its official portal, because some businesses quote false registration numbers.
Conclusion
Free CAC business registration is a real opportunity to formalise your business and look more credible to banks, partners and customers. Apply only through portal.smedan.gov.ng, never pay for a slot, and treat any "free CAC" link on WhatsApp as fake until you have checked it yourself.
Registration builds trust, and verification protects it. Profiled Nigeria's business and vendor verification service helps you confirm that the businesses you pay are real before your money moves, while DigiLock, our multi-fraud intelligence grid for Nigerians, helps you stay ahead of scams like fake registration portals as they spread.
Remember: the real free registration costs you nothing. If someone is charging you, it isn't free, and it isn't real.
Verify before you trust. Create your free Profiled account today.
Free CAC business registration is open again through SMEDAN. This guide explains who qualifies, how to apply step by step, and how to spot the scams around it.
Your business has a name. It has a logo, a WhatsApp catalogue and customers who come back. What it may not have is a CAC certificate, and that one missing document can cost you a business bank account, a supply contract, a grant, or the trust of a customer deciding whether to send you money.
Right now, the Federal Government is offering to pay for that document. Free CAC business registration has reopened for 250,000 small businesses across Nigeria.
But in Nigeria, every free government offer comes with a shadow: fake portals, WhatsApp broadcasts and "agents" who charge you to secure a slot that was never for sale. This guide shows you how to get the real thing, and how not to pay for the fake one.
What Is the Free CAC Business Registration Programme?
It is a joint scheme between the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) to register 250,000 nano, micro and small businesses at no cost. BusinessDay reported that CAC is forgoing about ₦3 billion in registration fees under the programme, which works out to roughly ₦12,000 per business, while SMEDAN provides support after registration.
Key facts at a glance:
Who runs it: SMEDAN, in partnership with CAC
How many slots: 250,000 businesses nationwide
What it covers: business name registration only, not limited liability companies or NGOs
Where to apply: the official SMEDAN portal, portal.smedan.gov.ng
Cost to you: nothing
On 12 November 2026, Legit.ng reported that the portal had reopened after applicants struggled to access it earlier. The scheme first opened in mid-2026.
It is also separate from the 3,500 free business name registrations CAC announced in February 2026 to mark its 35th anniversary, as reported by the News Agency of Nigeria.
Who Qualifies for Free CAC Registration?
You qualify if you run a nano, micro or small business that has never been registered with CAC. That includes traders, artisans, retailers, online vendors and service providers. Businesses already on SMEDAN's database without a CAC registration may also qualify. Businesses that already have a CAC number, and anyone wanting to register a limited liability company, are not covered.
How to Apply for Free CAC Business Registration (Step by Step)
Go to the official SMEDAN portal. Type portal.smedan.gov.ng directly into your browser. Do not use a link from a WhatsApp broadcast.
Create an account with your name, email address and a password, or log in if you already have one. Do not open a second account.
Complete your MSME profile with accurate business details: business name, address, category, phone number and a short description. You may be asked for your NIN.
Answer "No" when asked whether your business already has a CAC registration number.
Review and submit. Check every detail, especially your phone number and email, so you don't miss SMEDAN's message.
Wait for SMEDAN to contact you. Successful applicants receive the next steps from SMEDAN. Submitting an application does not guarantee selection.
Tip: Slots are limited, so apply early, but never pay anyone to "speed it up".
Is Free CAC Registration Real or a Scam?
The programme is real. The scams around it are real too.
Free CAC registration has been a scam magnet for years. In a past case, a viral WhatsApp post promised free CAC registration plus ₦50,000 cash and a free trip to the UK, and CAC told FactCheckHub the message was fake and its link was not CAC's. It is the same trick as the OPay ₦50,000 relief scam: a genuine government programme, a fake link and a promise that sounds slightly too generous.
Here is how these scams usually work:
The bait. A broadcast says "FG free CAC registration closes tonight. Apply here."
The fake portal. The link opens a page with CAC or SMEDAN logos but a different web address.
The harvest. It collects your NIN, BVN, phone number and business details.
The fee. A "processing", "slot" or "activation" fee, often small enough not to feel risky.
The disappearance. No certificate arrives, and your personal data is now in criminal hands.
Red Flags: How to Spot a Fake Free CAC Registration Offer
Anyone asking you to pay to "secure a slot" or "guarantee approval"
A link that does not end in .gov.ng
Extra "benefits" such as cash grants, phones, loans or foreign trips attached to registration
Requests for your BVN, ATM card details or OTP
Pressure: "Only 50 slots left", "portal closes in two hours"
Agents who contact you first, especially on WhatsApp or Telegram
A "certificate" sent as a picture before any official message from SMEDAN
Official free CAC registration | Fake offer | |
|---|---|---|
Website | portal.smedan.gov.ng | Look-alike links, .xyz, .com, shortened links |
Cost | Free for selected applicants | "Slot", "processing" or "activation" fee |
Extras | Business name registration only | Cash, grants, loans, trips |
Contact | SMEDAN contacts successful applicants | Strangers message you first |
Your BVN or OTP | Never needed | Requested "for verification" |
Why CAC Registration Matters for Trust
A CAC certificate is not just paperwork. For a small business, it can help you:
Open a business bank account in your registered name
Qualify for government and development programmes, loans and grants
Win corporate and government contracts that require registration
Show customers you are a real, accountable business
That last point cuts both ways. Customers increasingly check whether a vendor is registered before they pay, and scammers know it. Some fake vendors quote stolen or made-up RC and BN numbers to look legitimate. CAC itself advises the public to confirm a company's registration only through its official website, cac.gov.ng. If you buy from online vendors, our guide to fake vendor page red flags shows what else to check before you pay.
Already Paid an "Agent" or Entered Details on a Fake Site?
Call your bank's fraud desk immediately if you paid or shared card details, and ask for a block or recall.
Never share the OTP that may follow; scammers often call pretending to "complete" your registration.
Watch your accounts and phone line for unusual activity, since your NIN and phone number may be misused.
Report the site or person to the EFCC or the Nigeria Police Force National Cybercrime Centre (NPF-NCCC), and alert SMEDAN through its official channels.
Start again on the real portal. Being scammed does not stop you from applying properly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is free CAC registration real in 2026? Yes. SMEDAN and CAC are registering 250,000 small businesses free of charge, and the portal reopened in November 2026. Applications go through the official SMEDAN portal, portal.smedan.gov.ng. Be careful of WhatsApp links and "agents": the genuine programme does not charge applicants or promise cash, grants or trips.
Who qualifies for free CAC business registration? Nano, micro and small businesses that have never been registered with CAC, including traders, artisans, retailers, online vendors and service providers. Businesses on SMEDAN's database without a CAC number may also qualify. The scheme covers business names only, not limited liability companies, and selection is not guaranteed.
How do I apply for free CAC registration? Visit portal.smedan.gov.ng, create an account or log in, complete your MSME profile accurately, select "No" when asked if your business has a CAC registration number, then review and submit. SMEDAN contacts successful applicants with the next steps. Never pay anyone to secure a slot.
Does free CAC registration cover limited liability companies? No. The SMEDAN–CAC programme covers business name registration only. If you want to register a limited liability company, an NGO or incorporated trustees, you will need to go through CAC's normal paid process on its official portal, either yourself or with an accredited agent.
How can I check if a business is registered with CAC? Use the public search on CAC's official website, cac.gov.ng, and compare the name, registration number and status with what the business has told you. CAC advises the public to verify registration only through its official portal, because some businesses quote false registration numbers.
Conclusion
Free CAC business registration is a real opportunity to formalise your business and look more credible to banks, partners and customers. Apply only through portal.smedan.gov.ng, never pay for a slot, and treat any "free CAC" link on WhatsApp as fake until you have checked it yourself.
Registration builds trust, and verification protects it. Profiled Nigeria's business and vendor verification service helps you confirm that the businesses you pay are real before your money moves, while DigiLock, our multi-fraud intelligence grid for Nigerians, helps you stay ahead of scams like fake registration portals as they spread.
Remember: the real free registration costs you nothing. If someone is charging you, it isn't free, and it isn't real.
Verify before you trust. Create your free Profiled account today.
