Quick answers
Register a private limited company in Kenya online through BRS on eCitizen. Biz Brokers Kenya assists with application preparation, submission, Registry queries and incorporation-document handover for founders in Nairobi and across Kenya.
Cost
BRS lists KES 10,650 for private limited company registration. Our professional fee is quoted separately. Check the payable portal invoice. Source: BRS fee schedule.
What to prepare
Proposed names, business activity, founder identification and contacts, Kenyan registered office, share allocations and beneficial ownership particulars.
Documents
BRS lists CR1, CR2, CR8 and the Statement of Nominal Capital. Supporting documents depend on the parties and current application prompts. See BRS forms.
Procedure
Prepare the particulars, complete the online application, check and sign the generated forms, pay, submit and respond to any Registry query.
Processing time
BRS publishes 3–5 days. Allow additional time for preparation and corrections; approval is not guaranteed by a fixed deadline. Source: BRS fee schedule.
Outcome
A Certificate of Incorporation and available filed records. Bank onboarding, tax registration and operating licences are separate steps.
Official information checked on 15 September 2026. This service covers a new Kenyan private limited company.
On this page
Registration support
What Our Company Registration Service Covers
Our company registration service is designed for founders, startups, SMEs, investors and foreign shareholders who want a new Kenyan private limited company incorporated through eCitizen/BRS. We coordinate application preparation, submission, Registry follow-up and incorporation handover so that the filing progresses through one managed workflow.
Who this service is for
- Kenyan founders registering a private limited company for a new business or project.
- Startups and SMEs that want professional BRS filing support rather than a self-filed application.
- Foreign individuals investing through a newly incorporated Kenyan company.
- Companies with several directors, shareholders or beneficial owners that need the ownership data checked before submission.
- Clients working toward a tender, contract, bank onboarding or licensing deadline and who need the incorporation file prepared efficiently.
What we handle
| Service stage | What we do |
|---|---|
| Structure check | Confirm that a Kenyan private limited company is the intended entity and identify obvious branch, LLP, business-name or regulated-sector issues before filing. |
| Filing-readiness review | Review the proposed filing for consistency, completeness and practical submission readiness before it is entered on BRS. |
| BRS/eCitizen filing | Prepare and complete the incorporation application through the online BRS/eCitizen workflow. |
| Forms and signatures | Review the portal-generated forms, coordinate signature and prepare the application for submission. |
| Application follow-up | Track the filing and coordinate responses to Registry queries or requested corrections. |
| Incorporation handover | Provide the approved Certificate of Incorporation and advise on any agreed post-incorporation next steps. |
Important: local company vs foreign company branch
This page is for a new Kenyan private limited company, including one with foreign shareholders. If you already have a company incorporated outside Kenya and want to register that same foreign company to operate through a Kenyan branch, use our foreign company branch registration in Kenya page instead. A branch receives a Certificate of Compliance, not a Certificate of Incorporation.
Government and professional fees
The government incorporation fee and our service fee are separate. The BRS fee schedule provides the official benchmark; we provide a written professional-fee quotation after reviewing the proposed ownership and scope. Tax setup, registered-address services, bank support and operating permits are included only when expressly quoted.
For the wider setup budget, see government fees and additional setup costs.
Experience & professional oversight
Company Registration Support Backed by Practical Kenya Experience
Biz Brokers Kenya provides hands-on company registration and business setup support for Kenyan founders, foreign investors, SMEs and companies establishing operations in Kenya. Our work covers incorporation planning, BRS/eCitizen filing, ownership and beneficial ownership information, Registry queries and post-incorporation compliance planning.
15+ Years' Experience
Our lead consultant has more than 15 years of experience involving company processes, business setup, corporate compliance, intellectual property, immigration and related regulatory matters in Kenya.
Kenya-Based Support
We are based in Nairobi and assist both Kenyan and international clients establishing businesses and managing regulatory requirements in Kenya.
BRS & eCitizen Filing Experience
Our work includes preparing incorporation information, reviewing ownership structures, coordinating signatures, submitting applications and responding to Registry queries through the BRS/eCitizen process.
Foreign Investor Experience
We advise on the practical distinction between incorporating a new Kenyan company and registering an existing overseas company as a Kenyan foreign-company branch.
Get a Free Quote
Send your name, email, phone/WhatsApp, business activity, number and nationality of founders, proposed ownership and target date. We will confirm the scope and quote.
Online registration
How to Register a Company in Kenya online
To register a private limited company in Kenya, access BRS through eCitizen, complete the company and ownership particulars, review and sign the generated forms, upload the required documents, pay the portal invoice and submit. Monitor the application for corrections, then download the Certificate of Incorporation after approval.
- Confirm the entity and prepare the particulars. Agree the business activity, proposed names, registered office, directors, shareholders, shares and beneficial owners. Use the pre-filing requirements and document checklist to assemble the file.
- Open the company application. Sign in through eCitizen, access BRS and select the private limited company registration service. Follow the current naming and application prompts.
- Enter and check the information. Enter the company, people, address and ownership particulars. Reconcile names against identification records and share allocations against the agreed ownership before generating documents.
- Review, sign and upload. Check the generated documents and obtain the required signatures. Upload complete, legible copies and the supporting records requested for the relevant parties. Refer to the official BRS forms.
- Pay, submit and retain the reference. Follow the payment and submission sequence shown in the portal. Save the invoice, receipt and application reference, and confirm that the application has been submitted for review.
- Respond to queries and collect the outcome. Check the application status. Address any correction request and resubmit where required. Once approved, download and check the Certificate of Incorporation and available company records.
Before submission: three checks that prevent rework
- One agreed ownership schedule: use the same share numbers and names throughout the application and signed documents.
- One final signed version: if an ownership or address detail changes after signing, review the affected documents before uploading an earlier version.
- One defined deadline: tell us whether you need the certificate, a bank account or authority to start trading. Those are different milestones.
These are practical filing checks, not a claim about measured rejection rates. BRS administers the registration process; portal labels and screen order may change.
Talk to Us
Tell us the company you want to establish, your target timing and any special filing circumstances. We will advise on the appropriate registration route and next steps.
Duration and delays
How Long Does Company Registration Take in Kenya?
The BRS fee schedule lists 3–5 days for private limited company registration. Use this as a Registry-stage planning benchmark, not the total time from your first enquiry. Preparing information, obtaining signatures, answering queries and completing later tax or bank onboarding can extend the overall period. The schedule says “days”; it does not specify working days.
| Stage | Planning position | Main variable |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-filing preparation | Can be prioritised when the brief is complete | Whether the client brief is settled and the application can be prepared without further changes. |
| BRS Registrar review | 3–5 days for a complete filing | Registry workload, name review and whether a correction query is raised. |
| Correction / resubmission | Variable | The issue raised and how quickly the response can be prepared and resubmitted. |
| Post-incorporation setup | Separate process | Separate agencies and onboarding processes apply after incorporation. |
What to do if the application is delayed
| Issue | Useful next action |
|---|---|
| Name is queried | Read the actual query and prepare an alternative or the supporting consent requested. Check BRS naming guidance. |
| Details or signatures do not match | Compare the application with identification records and signed forms, then correct the affected documents consistently. |
| Payment made but status unclear | Retain the receipt and reference; check whether the application was submitted before making a duplicate payment or filing. |
| Submitted application has no decision | Record the submission date, current status and any query history for follow-up. Avoid treating a promised bank or tender date as an assured Registry deadline. |
Planning example: if your contract requires an operational company bank account, plan beyond the incorporation stage. A certificate alone does not complete the bank’s checks. This is an illustrative scenario, not a client case or turnaround guarantee.
After incorporation
What Happens After the Certificate of Incorporation?
The Certificate of Incorporation confirms that the company has been registered. It does not by itself complete tax, bank, county or regulated-sector onboarding.
- Company KRA PIN: KRA states that company and partnership PIN registration is initiated online through iTax.
- CR12 / official search: obtain current Registry particulars where required by banks, tenders, counterparties or due-diligence teams.
- Bank account: complete the bank’s KYC, ownership, address, source-of-funds and signatory requirements.
- County business permit: check the county permit required for the company’s premises and activity.
- Sector licences: obtain any regulator approval required for telecoms, construction, tourism, finance, health, education, importation or other regulated activities.
For tax onboarding, see the KRA company and partnership PIN registration guidance.
Related Biz Brokers Kenya guides
- Foreign company branch registration in Kenya — branch route for an existing overseas company.
- Business permits in Kenya — operating-permit planning after incorporation.
Your questions answered
Company Registration FAQs
Can I register a company without an agent?
Yes. You can apply through BRS on eCitizen yourself. An agent can assist with preparation, signatures and queries; using an agent does not change the Registrar’s approval process.
Can a foreigner use this registration service?
Yes, for a new Kenyan private limited company with foreign shareholders, subject to any activity-specific restrictions. Registering an existing overseas company as a Kenyan branch is a different route.
Can you help with an application I have already submitted?
Send the application reference, submission date, current status and exact query wording. We can assess the assistance needed before agreeing a scope. Do not send your eCitizen password.
Is urgent company registration available?
We can prioritise preparation when the information, signatures and payment are ready. We cannot guarantee when the Registrar will approve the application.
Can I coordinate the registration remotely?
The BRS application is online. You can generally coordinate documents and signatures remotely, subject to the identification and authorisation requirements applicable to the file.
Does the registration quote include a bank account and business permit?
Only if those services are expressly included in the written quotation. Incorporation, bank onboarding and operating permits have different requirements and completion stages.
Lead consultant
Edward Omondi
Kenya Business Registration, Immigration & Regulatory Compliance Consultant
Edward Omondi is a Nairobi-based business setup and regulatory compliance consultant with more than 15 years of experience involving company processes, corporate compliance, immigration and related regulatory matters. He holds Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) and Bachelor of General Legislation (BGL) qualifications.
His company-registration work focuses on helping founders and investors understand the appropriate entity structure, prepare incorporation information, navigate the BRS/eCitizen filing process and plan the compliance steps that follow incorporation.
Company Registration Matters We Commonly Handle
- Kenyan-owned private companies: incorporation for founders, startups, SMEs and project companies.
- Foreign-owned Kenyan companies: incorporation involving non-resident directors, shareholders and beneficial owners.
- Multi-shareholder companies: checking share allocations, ownership percentages and incorporation information before submission.
- Foreign company market entry: determining whether the intended structure should be a new Kenyan subsidiary or registration of an existing overseas company as a branch.
- Post-incorporation setup: planning KRA registration, registered-office requirements, business permits, banking and sector-specific licensing where separately required.
- BRS correction queries: reviewing incorporation applications where the Registry has requested clarification, correction or resubmission.
Established professional network
Selected Clients, Partners & Professional References
Biz Brokers Kenya has worked with individuals, SMEs, professional firms and businesses in Kenya and internationally. Selected clients, partners and professional associates published on our references page include:
Film Crew in Africa Limited
Kenya-based film and production services company.
Amadi & Amadi Advocates
Kenyan legal practice and professional associate.
Kazi Legal – Maruja & Amunga Advocates
Legal and professional services association.
Rhino Box Manufacturers
Kenyan manufacturing business.
References shown here represent selected clients, partners and professional associates of Biz Brokers Kenya and should not be interpreted as endorsements of any specific service unless expressly stated.
Ready to Register a Company in Kenya?
Send your name, contact details, proposed business activity, ownership structure and deadline for a preliminary review. If already submitted, include the application reference and any Registry query.