Apply In-PersonEdit

Step 1 Reserve a business name

1. Visit the department of registrar of companies in the office of the attorney general to make the application for a name search and reservation.
   
2. Present the proposed business names in order of preference so that a name search can be done.
   
3. Upon successful completion of a name search the business name will be reserved for a period of 60 days.
   
4. During this 60 days you can register the business name.
   

Step 2 Business name registration

1. At the registrar of companies offices you will be given Form BN/2 Statement of Particulars Registration to fill and complete.
   
2. Submit the competed application form and pay the prescribed application fees of Ksh 850.
   
3. After verification of details you will issued with a business registration certificate.
   

Step 3 Obtain a single business permit.

1. Start by visiting the county ward office to make your application for a new business permit.
   
2. Here you will be give an application form BR-1 Form by the ward licensing officer to fill and submit.
   
3. You should fill the required information and attach the documents to the application form. These include  :-
   

   (a). Registered Business name
   

   (b). Physical address.
   

   (c). Business identification number,
   

   (d). Copy of certificate of incorporation,
   

   (e). National ID/Asylum Pass/ Passport No/ Alien ID
   

4. After submission the ward licensing officer will visit your business premises within a day to carry out inspections.
   
5. The information obtained by the inspection visit will determine the fees to charge for the permit. The BR-1 form is then stamped and you will be referred to the main county licensing office. E.g. City Hall for businesses in Nairobi.
   
6. At the main licensing office, the form is approved and the data entered in the single business permits database.
   
7. This is followed by the generation of an invoice bill and payment is made to the cash office. The permit fees vary depending on the size of business.
   

   • Application fee – Kshs. 200
     
   • Permit fees e.g.
     

   (i). Large trader (21-50 employees) – KShs. 20,000
   

   (ii). Medium Trader (5-20 employees) – Kshs. 10,000
   

8. After making the payments, the business permit is signed and you will be advised to collect it from the dispatch office on the same day.
   
9. Once you have acquired the permit, display it on your business premises as the law requires
   
   

Apply OnlineEdit

Step 1 Reserve a business name

1. Register with E-citizen to have a name search and reservation.
   
2. Pay for business name search and reservation, Ksh 150
   
3. Obtain name approval
   

Step 2 Business name registration

1. Assessment of application through E-Citizen
   
2. Pay for business name registration
   
3. Obtain certificate of registration
   

   (i) Visit E-citizen to make the online application.
   

   • In case you are applying from Nairobi visit the Nairobi County :Self Service Portal
     

   (ii) Scroll down to the “County Services” section and select the county which applies to your case e.g.
   

   • County Government of Mombasa: Single Business Permit Management System
     
   • County Government Of Kisumu Trade License Issuance
     

Step 3 Make Online Application

A. For the counties of Mombasa and Kisumu

(a). Click on Add business

(b). Fill in the required information; which include.

(i). Business Identification and Address

(ii). Owner/Contact Person Details

(iii). Business Details

(c). click continue to generate an invoice for business licence fees

(d). Click on proceeded to make payment, confirm details.( Amount to be paid will be provided)

(e). Print generated single business permit and payment invoice.

(f). Once you have printed it the permit, display it on your business premises as the law requires

B. In the case of Nairobi click on the Unified Business Permit (UBP) Tab

(a). Under the UBP tab select Register New Business.

(b). Agree on the Terms and conditions

(c). Fill in the required information , click next to obtain an invoice for business licence fees

(d). Top up the eWallet using the payment options provided. You will receive a confirmation text from Nairobi county that your payment has been received.

(e). Click on proceeded to make payment, confirm details.( Amount to be paid will be provided)

(f). The system will prompt you with two links, one will be to print your business permit and the other one will be about printing the receipt. Print the business permit by clicking on the print permit tab and also download it.

(g). Once you have printed it the permit, display it on your business premises as the law requires.

1. Business name
   
2. Physical address.
   
3. Business identification number,
   
4. Copy of certificate of incorporation,
   
5. National ID/Asylum Pass/ Passport No/ Alien ID
   
   

Department of Internal Trade - Head Office
Ministry of Industrialization, Trade and Enterprise Development (MoITED)
Social Security House,
Block A, 17th, 23rd Floor
P.O. Box 30418-00100,
Nairobi, Kenya
Telephone: +254 20-2731531,
Fax: +254 20-2731511 Email: ps@industrialization.go.ke cs@industrialization.go.ke
Website: Link

• E-Citizen : Business registration services
  

• Prospective business owners. ( persons intending to do business)
  
  

• Application fee – Kshs. 200
  
• Permit fees
  

(i). Large trader (21-50 employees) – KShs. 20,000

(ii). Medium Trader (5-20 employees) – Kshs. 10,000

• Business permit:fee schedule
  
  

• The business permit is valid for 1 year
  
  

• Single Business Permit Registration Form BR-1 Form
  
  

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The processing time is one day.
  
  

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites. 	
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

1. If you are making the application On-line. Create the E-Wallet and top it up so as to make the online payment for the application
   
2. Reserve a business name
   

   (i). Register with eCitizen
   

   (ii). Pay for business name reservation
   

   (iii). Obtain name approval
   

3. Business name registration

   (i). Assessment of application
   

   (ii). Pay for business name registration
   

   (iii). Obtain certificate of registration
   

4. Obtain business permit
   

   (i). Verification of business permit application form
   

   (ii). Assessment of business license fee
   

   (iii). Obtain invoice for business licence fees
   

   (iv). Pay for licence fees and obtain business permit
   
   

1. Business name
   
2. PIN number
   
3. Lands zone
   
4. Physical and postal address
   
5. Telephone
   
6. Total area of premises number of employees
   
7. Numbers of directors
   
8. Personal Id numbers
   
9. Number of rooms
   
10. Number of employees
    
11. Number of vehicles
    
    

• A Single business permit is required for the smooth operation of any business in Nairobi and other towns in Kenya.
  
• The permit is important in ensuring that a business complies with the established rules for that specific type of a business.
  

• The procedure for obtaining a business permit is the same but the cost might vary depending on the size, type, and location of the business.
  
• A separate application form must be completed in respect of each separate business establishment.
  
• The permit is issued under County Government act No. 17 of 2012 laws of Kenya.
  
• Any offence under this act shall be dealt with in accordance with any written laws/act of this County and all the relevant county rules/regulations.
  
• A permit is a County property./regulations or any written law of the county is contravened.
  
• Renewal of this permit shall be done on expiry date.
  
• The owner of the business should notify this office once he/she closes the business.
  
• The advertisement signage included in the unified permit is 600mm x 300mm or less in size, any signage above this size should be paid separately. Please contact urban planning department.
  
• All Unified Business Permits applied and paid remain provisional until they are inspected by sub/ward licensing officers for approval by the County. Undercharges if any shall be adjusted through Demand notice to the client.
  
• Granting this permit does not exempt the business identified above from complying with the current regulations on fire and safety as established by the Government of Kenya and Nairobi City County
  
• Granting this permit does not exempt the business identified above from complying with the current regulations on health and safety as established by the Government of Kenya and Nairobi City County
  
• It is a legal requirement that the Trade License be displayed in a conspicuous place. Licensee who fails to display the permit shall be guilty of an offense and liable to a fine not exceeding five hundred shillings.
  
  

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• Nairobi City Council Finance Act
  
  

More information which might help people.