Last updated: 14 Mar 2026 • Fees may change—always confirm the payable amount on your eCitizen/BRS invoice.

This guide explains the cost of company registration in Kenya, including the official private limited company fee, what affects the final eCitizen/BRS invoice, and the setup costs to budget for after incorporation.

Reviewed by: Edward Omondi — Immigration & Business Setup Consultant
Practical guide for founders, foreign investors, and SMEs budgeting for company setup in Kenya.
Quick Cost Answer Why Figures Differ What’s Included Fees Table Other Costs Documents FAQs

How much does it cost to register a company in Kenya?

For a standard Private Limited Company, the baseline government incorporation fee is commonly listed as KES 10,650.

Quick rule: Use the live eCitizen/BRS invoice as the final payable amount. Depending on the filing details, the invoice may differ from a general fee reference shown elsewhere.

Need the full filing process? See our step-by-step company registration guide.

KES 10,650 Baseline private limited company fee
3–5 days Typical private limited processing time
Invoice first Live portal amount is the safest amount to trust

Why do some sources show KES 10,650 and others KES 10,750?

Official BRS materials do not always display the same figure in every place. The general Companies Registry fee schedule lists the private limited company filing at KES 10,650, while a BRS FAQ guide for the private limited filing flow mentions KES 10,750. The safest approach is simple: pay the final amount shown on your live eCitizen/BRS invoice.

Practical takeaway: Use general fee schedules for budgeting, but use the actual portal invoice for payment.

What is included in the government fee?

For a standard private limited company, the baseline fee mainly covers the incorporation filing, registry processing, and issuance of the certificate of incorporation once the application is approved.

  • Private limited company incorporation filing on the BRS platform
  • Registrar review and processing of the application
  • Certificate of incorporation after approval

It does not automatically cover later compliance work, business permits, tax setup, bank-document support, or sector-specific approvals.

How payment works on eCitizen/BRS

  1. Log in to eCitizen and select Business Registration Service.
  2. Complete the filing steps for the chosen entity type.
  3. Review the generated invoice before making payment.
  4. Pay using the options displayed in the portal and keep proof of payment.

Common company formation fees in Kenya

The table below focuses on entity formation costs. It is intentionally narrower than the full registry fee universe, because this page is meant to answer the incorporation cost question first.

Table of Company Fees in Kenya

Company Registration Fees & Services in Kenya - Biz Brokers Kenya
Service Offered Fees (Kshs) Document Lodged Document Issued Processing Time
Limited Liability Partnership Registration Kenya 25,000 New Registration LLP 1 Certificate of Incorporation 1 day
Private Limited Company Registration Kenya 10,650 CR 1, CR 2, CR 8, Statement of Nominal Capital Certificate of Incorporation 3-5 days
Foreign Company Registration Kenya 7,550 FC2, FC4, FC6, Certificate of Incorporation, Copy of Constitution, Notarized Memarts, Acceptance Letter from Local Rep Certificate of Compliance 3-5 days
Public Limited Company Registration Kenya 10,650 CR 1, CR 2, CR 8, CR 10, CR 12, Statement of Nominal Capital Certificate of Incorporation 3-5 days
Unlimited Companies Registration Kenya 20,050 CR 1, CR 4, CR 8, Statement of Nominal Capital Certificate of Incorporation 3-5 days
Company Limited by Guarantee Kenya 10,000 CR 1, CR 3, CR 8 Certificate of Incorporation 3 days (after NIS vetting report)
Change of Company/Business Name Kenya Business Name: 800
Company: 4,000
LLP: 2,000		 Company CR 15 & 19 / Business BN 4 / LLP 9 Certificate of Change of Name 1 day
Official Company Search Kenya 650 N/A CR 12 Verified: Instant
Non-verified: 3-5 days
Change of Directors' Particulars Kenya 550 CR 7 CR 12 2 days
Change of Company Address Kenya 550 CR 16 No document issued (record updated) 1 day
Appointment of Company Secretary Kenya 550 CR 10 No document issued (record updated) 2 days
Conversion to Public/Private Limited Company Kenya 7,000 + 2,000 per form CR 17, CR 15, CR 18, CR 19, Amended Memorandum Certificate of Conversion 2 days
Dissolution of Companies Kenya 4,000 Company Resolution, CR 18 & 19 Letter of Confirmation 90 days

Other costs after incorporation

The incorporation fee is only one part of the wider setup budget. After your company is registered, the next costs depend on what the business will do, where it will operate, and whether it needs extra compliance support.

Budgeting tip: Split your budget into (1) incorporation fee, (2) immediate post-incorporation compliance, and (3) operating licences / sector approvals.
  • Company search or registry extracts for bank KYC, tenders, due diligence, or shareholder confirmation
  • KRA PIN / tax setup on iTax depending on business activities and tax obligations
  • County business permit before trading
  • Sector licences or regulatory approvals for regulated activities
  • Bank account opening support documents and compliance packs
  • Professional support fees for legal, secretarial, accounting, nominee, or registered office services
  • Post-registration changes such as directors, address, company name, or secretary details

In practice, many businesses treat incorporation as the first government cost, not the last one.

Quick filing inputs checklist

These are the basic filing inputs that commonly affect invoice generation. For the full requirements and step-by-step process, see our company registration guide.

  • Directors’ or shareholders’ IDs or passports
  • KRA PIN details where applicable
  • Proposed company names for search and reservation
  • Registered office address and contact details
  • CR1, CR2, CR8 and Statement of Nominal Capital for private limited companies
  • Beneficial ownership details where required

What can change the final amount?

  1. Entity type — private limited, foreign company, LLP, public company, or company limited by guarantee
  2. Share capital — filing variables related to capital can affect the final amount
  3. Portal-generated invoice details — the live invoice should always override rough budgeting figures
  4. Professional support — agency or legal assistance is separate from government filing fees
  5. Post-incorporation needs — permits, bank onboarding, and extra compliance can expand the real setup budget

Related guides

FAQs: Company Registration Cost in Kenya

These FAQs focus on fees and invoice planning. For the full filing process, see our company registration guide.

How much does it cost to register a company in Kenya?

For many private limited companies, the baseline government fee is commonly listed as KES 10,650. Always confirm the final payable amount on your eCitizen/BRS invoice before payment.

Why do some sources show KES 10,650 and others KES 10,750?

Different official BRS materials may display different figures for the same filing flow. The safest approach is to rely on the live portal invoice generated for your application before making payment.

Does share capital change registration fees?

Yes. Share capital and related filing details can affect the total amount shown on the portal invoice.

Are professional fees included in the government registration fee?

No. Government filing fees are separate from professional support fees, post-incorporation compliance costs, and sector-specific approvals.

How long does it take to register a company in Kenya?

Timelines vary depending on name approval, document quality, and whether the Registrar raises any queries. For the full timing guide and step-by-step process, see our company registration guide.

Need Help Registering a Company in Kenya?

We help founders, foreign investors, and SMEs structure the filing correctly, reduce avoidable queries, and budget for incorporation plus immediate compliance steps.

Get started: +254757884710 | Email: info@bizbrokerskenya.com | Chat on WhatsApp | Kose Heights, off Argwings Kodhek Road, Kilimani, Nairobi

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On this page

Official company registration fees, invoice planning, and the main setup costs to budget for after incorporation.

See the full registration process

Who this guide is for

Founders, SMEs, foreign investors, and advisers who need a practical cost guide before filing on eCitizen/BRS.