AI agents for business finance: what they can and can't do
What AI agents can do in bookkeeping, close, collections and compliance today, where a person must stay in charge, and how to judge a product.
The short answer
You register a business name online on the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) portal from anywhere, including Kano; you do not need to visit an office. Under CAC's fee schedule gazetted on 29 May 2025, name reservation costs ₦1,000 and registration of a business name, including a certified copy of the registration documents, costs ₦20,000. Accredited agents charge their own fee on top.
Business name or company?
A business name registration is the simplest form of CAC registration. It suits a sole trader or a small partnership: a shop in Kantin Kwari, a tailoring business, a POS stand, a provisions store. It does not create a separate legal person, so the owner is personally responsible for the business's debts. A private limited company costs more and has more paperwork, but separates the business from the owner. Most Kano traders start with a business name and convert later if the business grows.
The official fees
CAC's new schedule of fees, published in the Federal Government Gazette on 29 May 2025, lists these charges for business names:
| Service | Official fee |
|---|---|
| Name availability search and reservation | ₦1,000 |
| Reservation of a name with a restricted word | ₦5,000 |
| Registration of business name, with certified copy of documents | ₦20,000 |
| Change of business name | ₦10,000 |
| Certified true copy of a document, each | ₦5,000 |
| Late filing of annual returns: one-off penalty | ₦5,000 |
| Late filing of annual returns: daily default | ₦100 per day |
Some older guides online still quote lower figures. Techeconomy's December 2025 guide, for example, gave ₦500 for reservation and ₦10,000 for registration. The gazetted schedule is the official source, so use it and confirm the amount on the portal at payment, because CAC shows the charge before you pay.
Steps to register online
- Create an account on the CAC company registration portal with your email address.
- Search for your proposed name and reserve it. Have two or three options ready in case the first is taken or too similar to an existing name.
- Once the name is approved, start the business name registration and fill in the form with the nature of business, the business address in Kano and the proprietor's details.
- Upload a valid ID (NIN slip, driver's licence or international passport), a passport photograph and your signature, as the portal requests.
- Pay the registration fee online.
- Wait for CAC to review. If there is a query, the portal tells you what to correct.
- Download your certificate and registration documents once approved.
Use your Kano business address, not a home address you do not want on the public register. CAC charges ₦25,000 under the 2025 schedule to restrict a residential address.
The CAC office in Kano and agents
CAC has offices in the states, and a Kano office can help with queries, but the registration itself is done online. We could not confirm the Kano office address from a CAC page, so check the contact section of the CAC website before you go.
Many Kano traders use an accredited agent, often a lawyer, accountant or business centre, to do the filing. Agents set their own fees. As an example only, an agent charging ₦15,000 for a business name filing would bring the total to ₦1,000 + ₦20,000 + ₦15,000 = ₦36,000. Ask the agent for a written quote that separates CAC's fees from their own, ask for the CAC payment receipt, and check the registration on the CAC public search yourself before you pay the final balance.
After registration
- Open a business account in the registered name; banks ask for the certificate and registration documents.
- Get a tax identification number; see getting a business tax ID.
- File annual returns every year, or pay the ₦5,000 penalty and ₦100 a day.
- Understand your tax position as a sole proprietor; see tax for sole proprietors.
- Check what levies apply to your shop; see market and shop levies in Kano.
Mistakes that slow approval
Most delays at CAC come from a few avoidable errors. Check each before you submit:
- A name too close to an existing one: add a distinctive word, such as the market or your family name, rather than a general word like global or ventures.
- A name with a restricted word: words that suggest government links or regulated activity need the higher ₦5,000 reservation and may need consent from a regulator.
- Nature of business too vague: describe what you actually do, for example retail of provisions and beverages, rather than general merchandise.
- ID that does not match your NIN: make sure the spelling of your name matches across your ID and your NIN record.
- Poor photo or signature uploads: use a clear, well-lit photo and a signature on plain white paper.
If CAC raises a query, the portal shows the reason and lets you resubmit; you do not pay the registration fee again for a correction. Keep the email address you used for the portal, because the certificate and any later annual return are tied to that account. A business name must file an annual return each year; forgetting it is how many small Kano businesses end up with penalties when they later need a status report for a bank or a contract.
Where Pryme fits
Once your business name is registered, a Pryme Business Account holds naira, dollars, pounds and euros with local account details for each, and comes with Finance, Compliance, Sales and Customer Support agents that prepare work for you to approve; see business multicurrency accounts.
Questions people ask
How much is business name registration in Kano?
CAC's fees are the same nationwide. Under the schedule gazetted on 29 May 2025, reservation is ₦1,000 and registration is ₦20,000. Agents add their own fee.
Where is the CAC office in Kano?
CAC has a Kano office for queries, but registration is online. Check the office address in the contact section of the CAC website before visiting.
Can I register my business name myself without an agent?
Yes. The CAC portal lets you search, reserve, fill the form, upload documents and pay yourself.
What documents do I need to register a business name?
A valid ID such as a NIN slip, driver's licence or international passport, a passport photograph, your signature, the business address and the nature of the business.
Sources
- Corporate Affairs Commission: New Schedule of Fees (Gazette, 29 May 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
- Techeconomy: CAC step-by-step guide to register a business in Nigeria (18 Dec 2025) · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.