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Starting a business

The Registrar of Companies is responsible for business registrations in Kenya. He/she issues certificates of compliance for foreign companies, certificates of incorporation for local companies and certificates of registration for sole proprietorships and partnerships. Firms must then obtain registration with National Social Security Fund (NSSF), National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) . A business permit should also be obtained from the County Government depending on the business type. All company and business registrations (sole proprietorships, partnerships and limited liability partnerships) are being done through the ecitizen portal .Click on the links below to see all the steps to start a business in Kenya including where to go, forms to download, what to bring, costs, time frames and legal justifications.

Company registration

A local company is a company incorporated in Kenya. It may take the form of:

A company limited by shares
A company limited by guarantee
Unlimited company

The registration process for the various forms of local companies is the same though the requirements and costs vary. Local companies with a paid-up share capital of less than five (5) million are currenlty requiired to have a secretary, a local director, or a contact person who is a permanent resident in Kenya.
Once the company is registered, it is required to obtain business permits in the counties whose costs and requirements also vary. Choose the location to get the procedures of starting a company in the various counties

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Kenyan citizens wishing to register a company are required to register with the ecitizen portal and proceed to obtain the company registration documents which include Certificate of incorporation, List of director and shareholders (CR 12), Company PIN, NSSF and SHA. In order to commence operations, they are also required to obtain a business permit from the county government in which they would like to operate. The County business permit procedure and fees varies from one county to the other.

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. For a Kenyan citizen to register a company in Kisumu County they would first obtain company registration documents after which they are supposed to obtain a single business permit from Kisumu county eservices portal

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. For a Kenyan citizen to register a company in Mombasa county they would first obtain company registration documents after which they are supposed to obtain a single business permit from Mombasa County eservices portal.

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. For a Kenyan citizen to register a company in Nairobi County they would first obtain company registration documents after which they are supposed to obtain a single business permit from Nairobi County self service portal

The procedure of registration of a local company by a foreigner is almost similar to the registration of local company by a citizen but for the requirements. Local companies with a paid-up share capital of less than five (5) million are currenlty requiired to have a secretary, a local director, or a contact person who is a permanent resident in Kenya.During the registration process, a foreigner will only use their passport to register the company unlike for locals who require a Kenya Revenue Authority PIN for registration. Once the company is registered, it is required to obtain business permits in the counties whose costs and requirements also vary. Choose the location to get the procedures of starting a company in the various counties

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Upon registration the investor is supposed to obtain taxpayer registration for both the company and the directors from Kenya Revenue Authority, registration from Social Health Insurance, National Social Security Fund and obtain a single business permit from Nairobi County.

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Upon registration the investor is supposed to obtain taxpayer registration for both the company and the directors from Kenya Revenue Authority, Social Health Insurance registration from Social Health Authority Social Security registration from National Social Security Fund and a single business permit from Kisumu County

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Upon registration the investor is supposed to obtain taxpayer registration for both the company and the directors from Kenya Revenue Authority, Social health registration from Social Health Authority, Social Security registration from National Social Security Fund and a single business permit from Mombasa County .

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Foreigners wishing to register a company are required to register with the ecitizen portal and proceed to obtain the company registration documents. Upon registration, they are required to obtain a company PIN and register for NSSF and SHA. In order to commence businesses, they are also required to obtain a business permit from the county government which they would like to operate in. The County business permit procedure and fees varies from one county to the other.

Companies incorporated outside Kenya can do business in Kenya by registering a branch. The registrar of companies issues a certificate of compliance once all the requirements have been met. Once the company is registered, the company is required to obtain business permits in the counties whose costs and requirements vary. Choose the location to get the procedures of starting a company in the various counties

Registering a branch of a foreign company (online) Mombasa

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Upon registration the investor is supposed to obtain taxpayer registration for both the company and the directors from Kenya Revenue Authority, Social health registration from Social Health Authority, Social Security registration from National Social Security Fund and a single business permit from Mombasa County .

Registering a branch of a foreign company (Nairobi)

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Upon registration the investor is supposed to obtain taxpayer registration for both the company and the directors from Kenya Revenue Authority, Social health registration from Social Health Authority, Social Security registration from National Social Security Fund and a business permit from Nairobi City County.

Registering a branch of a foreign company (Kisumu)

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Upon registration the investor is supposed to obtain taxpayer registration for both the company and the directors from Kenya Revenue Authority, Social health registration from Social Health Authority, Social Security registration from National Social Security Fund and a single business permit from Kisumu County

Company registration is done online through the ecitizen portal. Upon registration the investor is supposed to obtain taxpayer registration for both the company and the directors from Kenya Revenue Authority, Social health registration from Social Health Authority, Social Security registration from National Social Security Fund and a single business permit from the County government they will be operating in.

A partnership is a form of business structure between two or more people who have a common view of making profit. The level of financial risk in partnerships is less when compared to sole proprietors as any loss incurred is shared between all the partners. Since it also involves more than one person's expertise, the chances of the business failing is also reduced. In addition, the formalities of registration (cost, requirements, duration) are minimal making it an attractive business structure. Registration is done online through the eCitizen portal .

Business name (sole proprietorship) is a business structure operated and owned by one person. The owner is the sole decision maker in the business and is liable for all the losses and returns of the business. In most cases it is usually a business structure for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The registration is done online through the eCitizen portal.

Registering a limited liability partnership -LLP

A Limited liability partnership (LLP) is a unique business association provided for in the Limited Liability Partnership Act which combines the characteristics of both a company and partnership. Once it is registered, it gains a corporate legal entity different from its members and is able to own property in its own name. This type of entity is preferable for members of professional bodies such as Advocates and Certified Secretaries. The partnership must have at least one manager and two partners. A manager may also be a partner in the Limited Liability Partnership

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