How Much is CAC Registration for Restaurant in Lagos? Cost Breakdown Guide

Starting a restaurant in Lagos is a major financial commitment. Between renting prime real estate, buying kitchen equipment, and hiring staff, your startup budget can disappear quickly.

One of the first questions you must answer is: how much does it cost to register a restaurant in Lagos?

Many entrepreneurs make the mistake of only budgeting for the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) filing fees, forgetting that local municipal operational levies and health permits in Lagos State can equal or exceed the initial corporate registration costs.

In this guide, we outline the exact costs you must prepare for.

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🏛️ 1. Official Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) Fees

These fees are standard across Nigeria, paid directly to the Federal Government via Remita:

• Name Reservation Fee: ₦500 (allows you to reserve your preferred name for 60 days).
• Business Name Filing Fee: ₦10,000.
• Limited Liability Company (LTD) Filing Fee:
  • 1 Million Share Capital: ₦15,000.
  • 1 Million to 10 Million Share Capital: ₦20,000.
• Stamp Duty (LLC Only): 0.75% of the share capital paid to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). (Approx. ₦7,500 for a 1M share capital restaurant).

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🛡️ 2. Local Government Operational and Sanitary Permits in Lagos

In Lagos, local authorities enforce strict operational permit fees on restaurants to ensure hygiene and waste management compliance:

• Food Handler Health Certificates: Typically ranges from ₦15,000 to ₦30,000 annually, covering medical testing for typhoid, tuberculosis, and hepatitis.
• Commercial Waste Sign-on Fee: Handled by state or local waste boards. Expect to pay between ₦15,000 and ₦30,000 for registration.
• Environmental Health Inspections: Bi-annual kitchen assessments costing between ₦15,000 and ₦35,000.
• Fire Safety Certificate: Basic checks on safety protocols, costing about ₦10,000 to ₦20,000.

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📋 3. Total Cost Estimate Table

Here is the realistic, inflation-adjusted cost breakdown for starting a restaurant in Lagos:

| Cost Component | Business Name (Sole Proprietorship) | Private Limited Company (LTD) |\n| :--- | :--- | :--- |\n| CAC Name Reservation | ₦500 | ₦500 |\n| CAC Registration Filing Fee | ₦10,000 | ₦15,000 (1M Share Capital) |\n| FIRS Stamp Duty & Tax Promax | Included | ₦7,500 |\n| LAWMA Waste Sign-on Fee | ₦15,000 - ₦25,000 | ₦15,000 - ₦25,000 |\n| LGA Health Inspector Inspection | ₦20,000 - ₦35,000 | ₦35,000 - ₦50,000 |\n| Professional Agent Service Fee | ₦15,000 - ₦25,000 | ₦35,000 - ₦60,000 |\n| Estimated Total Cost | ₦45,500 - ₦70,500 | ₦90,000 - ₦143,000 |

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🚀 Save Money and Time on Your Restaurant Registration

Filing incorrectly can lead to multiple name rejections (₦500 each time), query resolutions, and long delays. Furthermore, navigating LGA permits in Lagos without experience can lead to unnecessary fines.

Let our accredited corporate agents handle the entire process from name search to certificate delivery, keeping your startup costs low and transparent.

👉 Chat with a Corporate Registration Specialist on WhatsApp Now