Company registration charges in Kenya and Process

You are looking forward to register a company and you are wondering, how much will it cost to register a company in Kenya? This article will guide to through the process of registering various companies and the process involved during the registration process. But first, you can easily register a company in Kenya online through the eCitizen platform.

There are various types of companies that one can register in Kenya and each kind comes with various requirements and fees among the companies one can register in Kenya include; Private limited company, Construction company, Foreign company, betting company, security company among others.

It is important to note that the cost of opening a company in Kenya ranges from Ksh. 1,000,000 to Ksh. 500,000,000. This cost mainly caters for the company’s registration, start-up cost, among other costs.

You may also wish to know the cost of registering a company in Kenya which ranges from ksh.5,000 to Ksh. 30,000 depending on the type of company you are registering.

Company registration Costs In Kenya

Private Limited Company

It will cost you Ksh. 11,000 to register a Private limited company. Upon registration, you will be issued witht a certificate of incorporation. This process can easily be done online

Construction Company

If you’re considering starting a construction company in Kenya, it’s important to be aware of the associated costs. On average, registering a construction company in Kenya costs approximately Ksh. 20,000. This fee covers the official registration process, enabling you to legally operate your construction business in the country.

Security Company

Starting a security company in Kenya can be a lucrative venture, providing numerous job opportunities for citizens. The initial cost to start a security company in Kenya is approximately Ksh. 500,000. This investment covers the necessary expenses to establish and operate a legal and functional security business, positioning you to capitalize on the growing demand for security services.

Foreign company

Foreign companies can also be established and operated in Kenya. The cost of registering a foreign company in Kenya ranges from Ksh. 25,000 to Ksh. 30,000. This fee covers all necessary charges for the registration process, allowing foreign businesses to legally operate within the country.

Betting Company

If you are considering starting a betting company in Kenya, you should be aware that the initial cost ranges from Ksh. 20,000,000 to Ksh. 100,000,000. This substantial investment is required due to the lucrative nature of the betting industry in Kenya, making it one of the more capital-intensive business ventures in the country.

Company registration process in Kenya; Step by step

Login on eCitizen.

The eCitizen portal is where online company registration in Kenya is conducted. It is free to use and easy to navigate. If you do not have an eCitizen account, you will need to sign up using your email address, Kenyan ID number, or travel passport number.

 Navigate to the Business Registration Service.

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

  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 Options Available include;

– Business Name

– Private Limited Company

– Public Limited Company

– Company Limited by Guarantee

– Limited Liability Partnership

– Foreign Company Registration in Kenya

Add at least 3 Proposed Company Names.

You can submit between 3 and 5 names for registration. Make sure to list them in order of priority, as the registrar will approve the first available name. Be aware that names might be rejected if they are too similar to those of existing registered businesses in Kenya.

Fill out the Articles of Association Details.

In this section, you will provide the applicant’s details and their role. Choose whether to adopt the general articles of association as outlined in the Companies Act of 2015. Specify the nature of the business, select the primary business activity, indicate the business start date, choose the accounting period end month, and provide the estimated annual turnover.

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.

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.

Add Shareholders and Directors Details

Among the necessary details are the position held, either National ID Number or Travel Passport, date of birth, contact number, email address, occupation, residential address, passport-sized photograph, and the allocated number of shares.

Following this, you’ll include any beneficial owners if they differ from the shareholders listed. A beneficial owner refers to any individual holding a minimum of 10% of the issued shares or exercising at least 10% of the voting rights in a company, directly or indirectly.

Download and sign the registration documents

Download the registration documents and confirm that all the captured data is correct. After verifying the information, sign the documents. Then, upload clearly scanned copies of the signed documents and proceed to make the payment.

If all the information is correctly submitted, the registrar will approve your company within 7 days or less. Once approved, you can download your company registration certificate and Form CR 12, which lists the shareholders and directors.