Here is how to register a business in Kenya

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The registration of businesses in Kenya has been made easier and faster. One can now do a name search and even register their business fully online on eCitizen. It’s important to note that from 15th October 2017, no manual registration of businesses will be done by the registrar of companies.

Here is the new process of registering a business in Kenya.

A. Log onto eCitizen your account

For you to use the eCitizen platform, you need to have registered on it which is a simple process. Once you log in, select Business Registration Service.

B. Name search

Once you are in the Business Registration Service, click on Make Application. It will take you a section where you will click on Business Name Registration. In the next step, you will need to choose the type of business you want to register plus your preferred business name.

If say you want to register a sole proprietorship or partnership, then choose Business Name Registration and if you want to register Private Limited Company then choose that option and so on.

A name search is processed within a day and only one name can be submitted at a time. It is processed from Monday to Friday between 8am to 5pm excluding public holidays.

C. Business Registration

Once the business name has been approved, you can then be allowed to register your business. The name search approval is not communicated via email so you have to keep checking the eCitizen website.

D. Requirements for registration

Company

1. Fill company registration form CR1 (Download HERE).
2. Fill details of directors and shareholders and upload scanned copies of I.D. card/passport, KRA PIN certificate and recent coloured passport photograph. Directors/shareholders have to be registered on the iTax platform.
3. Fill shareholding details.
4. Fill a notification of directors’ residential address – Form CR8.
5. Fill the statement of nominal capital.

Kindly note that you can now register a company with one person as both the shareholder and director.

Registration takes a week and certificate will be available on the eCitizen platform for download.

Partnership and Sole proprietorship

1. Fill BN2 form
2. Upload ID card/passport, KRA PIN certificate and recent coloured passport photographs of sole proprietor or partners as the case might be.

Registration takes a week and certificate will be available on the eCitizen platform for download.

E. Costs

• Name search – Ksh. 150
• Company registration – Ksh. 10,650
• Partnership and Sole proprietorship – Ksh. 1,000

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