Company Registration In Kenya

Company Registration in Kenya - Register a Company in Kenya

Table of Contents

Company Registration in Kenya | Register a Company in Kenya

Company Registration in Kenya | Registration of a limited Company in Kenya – The Kenyan government has streamlined the process of company registration in Kenya. Whether you’re a Kenyan citizen or a foreign business owner looking to embark on registering a company in Kenya, the company registration process in Kenya is now online and takes between 5 and 7 working days to complete.

Requirements to register a company in Kenya | Company registration in Kenya requirements

The requirements for registering a limited company in Kenya include the following;

– At least 3 Company Names
– Business Objectives
– National Id Card Copy / Travel Passport copy of all the Directors, Shareholders and Beneficial Owners.
– Passport-size photos of all the Directors, Shareholders and Beneficial Owners.
– Physical Addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and occupations of all Directors, Shareholders and Beneficial Owners.

Cost of registering a company in Kenya| company registration fee in Kenya| How much does it cost to register a company in Kenya?

Company Registration Cost in Kenya varies depending on several factors like the type of the business and the total nominal share capital.

The statutory cost of registering a company in Kenya starts at USD 100.

We charge competitive professional fees as your company registration agents in Kenya in order to help you register a fully fledged company in Kenya.

Click here to speak to one of our company setup experts to get a picture of all the costs involved

Process of registering a company in Kenya| Company registration procedure in Kenya| Online company registration in Kenya | How to Register a Company in Kenya Online | 9 Easy Steps

Here is the Procedure for registering a company in Kenya

Step 1: Login on eCitizen.

The eCitizen is the portal where Company Registration in Kenya is carried out. It’s free to use and easy to navigate. If you do not have an ecitizen account, then you will need to signup using your email address, Kenyan ID Number or Travel Passport Number

Step 2: Navigate to the Business Registration Service.

Select the Business Registration Service and proceed to make an application.

Step 3: Choose a business type to register.

Once you’re in the Business Registration Service, make an application and choose the type of business you’d like to create. The companies registered in Kenya include;

– Business Name
– Private Limited Company
– Public Limited Company
– Company Limited by Guarantee
– Limited Liability Partnership
– Foreign Company Registration in Kenya

Step 4: Add at least 3 Proposed Company Names.

The minimum number of names that you can add is 3 and the maximum is 5. Be keen to add the names in the order of priority since the registrar will approve the first available name. The names may be rejected if it is too close to a name of an already-registered Kenyan business.

Step 5: Fill out the Articles of Association Details.

Here you add details of the applicant and their capacity, Select whether to adopt the general articles of association as captured in the Companies’ act of 2015, Add the Nature of the business, Select the Primary business activity, Business start date, Accounting period end Month and Estimated Annual turnover.

Step 6: Add the Registered Address

Here you will specify the registered address ie County, District, Locality, Name of Building, Street, Postal Address, Postal Code, Mobile Number and company email address.

Step 7: Add the share information.

Here you specify the share category, Number of shares and the value of each share. The minimum share capital is KSH 100,000 and there is no Maximum. It is however mandatory to appoint a company secretary if the share capital is more than KSH 5 Million.

Step 8: Add Shareholders and Directors Details

Some of the required info include Designation, National ID Number / Travel Passport, Date of Birth, Phone number, Email address, Occupation, residential address, Passport size photograph and the number of shares assigned.

After this you will also add the beneficial owners if at all they are different from the shareholders added. A Beneficial owner is any natural person holding at least 10% of the issued shares or any person that exercises at least 10% of the voting rights in a company directly or indirectly.

Step 9: Download and sign the registration documents

Here you will download the registration documents, confirm that the data captured is correct and then go ahead and sign against your name. After Signing you will then go ahead and upload clearly scanned documents and then make payment.

If all the information is dully submitted, the registrar will approve the company in 7 day or less. Once approved, you will then go ahead and download your company registration certificate and form Cr 12 showing the list of shareholders and directors

Company registration in Kenya for foreigners | Registering a foreign company in Kenya | Can a foreigner register a company in Kenya?

Yes, and yes. Foreigners are allowed to Register a company in Kenya and there are no ownership restrictions for most of the industries.

Shareholders of a Kenyan company can be any of the following:

A local individual,
A foreign individual,
A local Company, or
A foreign Company.

Any of these shareholders can undertake the Registration process and own 100% of the Kenyan company.

It is Important to note that you might be required to cede some shares to a local shareholder at some point after company setup in Kenya in some highly regulated industries that include Banking, Insurance and Telecommunication.

The registered company can then go ahead and hire local and foreign employees. Foreign employees need a work permit to work in Kenya. Click here for more details on How to get a work permit in Kenya

Doing Business in Kenya | Kenya at a Glance

Did you Know that Kenya is the country with the second highest ranking in World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business index in Eastern Africa?

Kenya is the Largest Economy in the East African Community, the 65^th Largest economy in the world and the Financial, technical and Communications hub in East Africa.

The Kenyan GDP has on average grown at a rate of 6% since 2004 with a Per Capita GDP estimated at $1,991. After Company Registration you get access to the East Africa Community giving you access to a market of about 150 million people and a market size with a GDP of Billion USD 145.

GET A FREE CONSULTATION ON COMPANY REGISTRATION

TALK TO AN EXPERT IN COMPANY REGISTRATION

Why Kenya | Reasons for Foreign Investment in Kenya ;

Macroeconomic Stability: Kenya has enjoyed relatively high GDP growth year on Year.
Supportive Demographic Dividend: Kenya has a young population with increasing disposable income and growing demand for goods and services,
Improvement in Governance: The Kenyan Government has enacted key political reforms that are strengthening governance.
Security: The political climate in the country has eased, with security maintained and hence business has picked up.
Ease of Doing Business: The Government has reduced the bottlenecks in private company registration in Kenya and it is now considerably easier and quicker to start and do business than it was 10-years ago, with business opening up further to regional trade, and supportive infrastructure.
Investment in Infrastructure: There is a lot of investment in infrastructure including roads, rail, education etc.

The Tax Regime in Kenya is Quite Straight forward with the Tax rate for personal Income ranging from 0 to 30 %, Corporation Tax is at 30% and Vat at 16%.

For over 1 decade now, East Africa Business Consultants Has assisted many clients with the following Pre and Post Private limited Company Registration in Kenya Services;

Company Registration in Kenya
Government Licenses Processing
Business Bank Account Opening
HR Recruitment and Management
Work Permit Processing in Kenya
Apartment/Office/Warehouse Sourcing.

Important Things to do after Registering a Company in Kenya.

– Company Tax registration – Company Tax Registration is Mandatory for all companies in Kenya and tax registration certificate issued is used to enable payment of taxes and is often a requirement when applying for a bank account and other additional business licenses.
– Bank Account Opening – Here you can open a business bank account with any of the commercial banks in Kenya. Kenya currently has about 39 Privately owned banks.
– NHIF Registration – Registration with the National Hospital Insurance fund is important because it enables payment of the employee mandatory hospital insurance.
– NSSF Registration – The National Social Security Fund is responsible for the management of the employee social security savings. Here you have the option of registering with a private retirement benefit scheme as an addition to NSSF
– Business premises License Application – This license is issiued by the county governments to companies with a physical location. The cost for this depends on a few dynamics like the total space occupied, number of employee and location.
– Apply for sector specific Licenses – For general businesses, you can operate without any issues after registering for item 1 to 5. However, for highly regulated industries like telecommunications, Banking, Insurance and you will need additional licensing from the relevant government departments.

Feel free to reach out to us for guidance on the processes above

WONDERING WHERE TO START ON COMPANY REGISTRATION IN KENYA

TALK TO AN EXPERT

Company Registration in Kenya Summary Table

Entity	Subsidiary Company	Branch Company
How Long does the Company registration take?	10 Days	10 Days
How long Does it take to Open Bank Account?	5 Days	5 Days
After how Long after company registration can you Invoice and Hire	15 Days	15 Days
Minimum Number of Directors and Shareholders	1	–
Foreigner Can own the Company 100%	Yes	Yes
Can the entity hire expatriate staff	Yes	Yes
Tax Identification Registration required	Yes	Yes
Access to Kenya’s double Tax treaties	Yes	Yes
Can bid for Government Contracts?	Yes	Yes
Can Secure Trade Finance?	Yes	Yes
Can Secure an Import and Export Licence?	Yes	Yes
Can Easily Convert into a PLC?	Yes	No
Can Secure Work permits for foreign Employees and Directors?	Yes	Yes
Multi Currency Bank Accounts Available?	Yes	Yes

READY TO START THE PROCESS OF COMPANY REGISTRATION?

TALK TO AN EXPERT ON COMPANY REGISTRATION

Company registration services in Kenya FAQS

1
Will I Need to be physically present in order to complete the Business Registration in Kenya process?
No. With our offshore Company Setup in Kenya service, we can incorporate your company without you travelling to Kenya. We can perform all necessary tasks remotely. Furthermore, our partner banks now allow remote bank account opening. Therefore, a visit to Kenya is not necessary at all.

Foreigners are free to engage in company setup in Kenya and are not required to relocate to Kenya for this purpose; they are free to operate their company from overseas even after business registration. However, if they wish to relocate to Kenya they must obtain a Work permit.
16
How long does it take to complete a company setup in Kenya?
The Major milestones in company Setup include
- Business Registration in Kenya
- Tax Registration &
- Bank Account opening.
On Average, these steps take a Maximum of 21 working days.
17
Company Setup in Kenya is ideal for;
Businessmen, Consultants, Traders, For the custody of real estate, Commerce over the Internet, Expatriates, For inheritance purposes, Holding intellectual property rights

Contact us Today for expert help on Business Registration in Kenya
18
What other registrations do I need to do after Company Setup in Kenya? Will my Company need to obtain any licenses before commencing operations?
For most industries in Kenya, you do not have to obtain a license before commencing operations. However, certain industries do require a license before commencing activities. Examples include financial services firms, travel agencies, Courier companies, Betting companies, Mining Companies etc.

It is however important to note that once you set up a physical office, warehouse or an outlet, you will be required to apply for a business permit from the county government.
19
How much does it cost to register a company in Kenya?
The cost for company registration in Kenya depends on the type of entity you choose, whether it is a registration of a public company in Kenya or registration of a private company in Kenya. The cost also varies from consultant to consultant. Contact us today for a free quote.
20
What is needed to register a company in Kenya?
The requirements include the following;
- Company name
- Directors & Shareholders travel passport copy, physical address, email address, phone number and occupation
- Business Activity
- Share apportionment
21
Can you register an LLC in Kenya?
Yes a foreigner can Register a Company in Kenya without any limitation. They can register an LLC or any other form of business of business of their choice
22
Why register a company in Kenya?
Company registration offers you with a vehicle to use in running your business and processing work permit and any government licenses for your business
23
How Long Does It Take To Register A Company In Kenya?
This is one of the questions investors and founders ask when looking to Register their company in Kenya. The process of registering a company in Kenya can vary depending on whether you’re starting a new business or reopening an existing one. It can also depend on the type of business you plan to start.
24
What Is The Process Of Setting Up A Business In Kenya?
If you’re opening a new business, you’ll need to complete several steps before you can officially open shop. First, you’ll need to file the business registration forms with the Registrar General’s office. You’ll then need to pay the statutory fee and submit all the required documents. Once these steps are completed, you’ll receive a certificate of incorporation.
25
What Are The Steps Involved In Setting Up A Company In Kenya?
There are three main steps to be undertaken for you to have a fully fledged company involves the following; First, you’ll need to have the company Registered and receive the certificate of incorporation. The Second step, is to register the company with the Kenya Revenue Authority. The third step is to open a Business bank account with access to internet banking and multiple currencies Eg KSH, USD, Euro and GBP
26
How Do I Start My Own Business In Kenya?
If you’re interested in starting a business in Kenya, there are several things you should consider before doing so. You’ll first need to decide whether you want to start a sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation. Then, you’ll need to determine what type of business you’d like to operate. Finally, you’ll need to choose a location where you plan to conduct your business
27
How Much Time Does It Take To Set Up A Company In Kenya?
Setting up a company in Kenya can take anywhere between 1 day and 30 Days. This depends on the type of business you wish to establish, as well as the type of registration required. Sole proprietorships require less paperwork than corporations, while partnerships require more documentation than either.
28
How Can I Register A Company In Kenya Within the shortest time possible?
If you need to register a company within the shortest time possible, then you should consider registering with a professional service provider such as www.eastafricabusinessconsultants.com. We offer fast and easy services at very affordable prices.

Simon Kamau

2022-10-08

Professional business advisor

estus service

2022-07-27

I am very much satisfied with their service extended to form our company in Kenya. Very Reliable.

Agustin Cacciola

2022-06-01

Amazing service, professional and fast. Very detail and customer oriented. Will do business with them again.

frank adu

2022-03-10

Provided Excellent service experience i had with EABC in setting up my company as a foreign investor.

Seba John

2022-01-18

Alex Wright

2022-01-10

I could not be happier with the service provided by East Africa business consultants. Everything from business formation, tax, visas, events they have covered and turn around quickly. Their communication is excellent and they are always available, willing and able to solve a huge range of problems. Would recommend to anyone, and have!

Prosper Dzanwa

2021-11-22

The task looked daunting before I consulted with East Africa Business Consultants. They handled everything with care and professionally. I highly recommend them.

Sammie Ndegwa

2021-10-20

Great level of professionalism. Highly recommend.

Arise Shine

2021-09-02

The services were great. The staff that handled our work is with high integrity and always helped by advising where we did not understand. She was also very honest and explained every cost associated with the work.

Abhishek Gupta

2021-08-12

These guys are brilliant! Very professional service and great communication. I can count on them for all services related to incorporation and accounting.