If you sell under a name that is not simply your own name, Kenyan law expects you to register it. It is cheap, it is done online, and it unlocks the things most sellers actually want: a till number in the business name, a business bank account, and a county permit.
This guide covers the cost on eCitizen, the steps, the documents, and how a registered business name compares with a limited company.
Do you have to register?
The Registration of Business Names Act requires registration for every individual with a place of business in Kenya who trades under a name that is not their own surname (with or without their forenames or initials). Partnerships trading under a name other than the partners' surnames must register too.
So "Wanjiru Kamau" trading as Wanjiru Kamau does not need to register. "Wanjiru Kamau trading as Glow Beauty Kenya" does.
The Act gives you 28 days from when you start using the name to register it. Until you register, a court will not enforce your contracts made in that business name, unless it grants relief. That alone is a good reason not to put it off.
What it costs in 2026
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Registration of a business name (form BN2) | KSh 950 | BRS fee schedule |
| eCitizen convenience fee | KSh 50 (so about KSh 1,000 in total) | Third-party guides, 2026 |
| Official search on an existing business name (CR13) | KSh 250 | BRS fee schedule |
| Change of business name | KSh 800 | BRS fee schedule |
| Change of particulars (e.g. address) | KSh 200 with the original certificate, KSh 400 with a copy | BRS fee schedule |
| Cessation (closing the business name) | KSh 800 | BRS fee schedule |
About the name search fee. For years the name availability search cost KSh 150 per name, paid before registering. Guides published in 2026 disagree on whether that is still a separate charge or now folded into the KSh 950. The BRS fee schedule itself lists only the KSh 950 registration fee for business names. Check the invoice eCitizen generates before you pay — it shows the exact total.
Do not confuse the name search with the official search (CR13). The official search, at KSh 250, is how anyone checks the registered details of an existing business — a supplier vetting you, for example.
Step by step on eCitizen
- Create or log in to your eCitizen account and open the Business Registration Service (BRS).
- Search and reserve a name. Put in your preferred names in order. Pick names that are distinctive — names too close to an existing business are rejected.
- Fill in the registration form (BN2). You give the approved name, the nature of the business, your details as proprietor (ID number, KRA PIN, address, phone and email) and your business address.
- Upload your documents and submit.
- Pay by M-Pesa, card or bank, using the invoice eCitizen generates.
- Download your certificate from your BRS account once approved.
Documents you need
- Your national ID (or passport for a foreign national)
- Your KRA PIN
- The approved name from your search
- A passport photo if the form asks for one
- Your contact details and business address
A business name is not a separate legal person, so it does not get its own KRA PIN. You use your personal PIN.
How long it takes
BRS's fee schedule gives 1 day for a business name certificate once the application is in order. In practice it can take longer when BRS is busy or a name is queried, so allow a few working days before you promise a supplier or Safaricom a certificate.
What you can do with the certificate
- Apply for an M-Pesa till number in the business name. The steps and documents are in how to get an M-Pesa till number.
- Open a business bank account.
- Apply for a county business permit, which asks for your registration certificate.
- Put the name on receipts and invoices. The Act requires business letters and trade circulars carrying the business name to also show the owner's real name.
Sole proprietor or limited company?
| Registered business name (sole proprietor) | Private limited company | |
|---|---|---|
| BRS fee | KSh 950 | KSh 10,650 |
| Time (BRS schedule) | 1 day | 3–5 days |
| Legal status | Not separate from you | A separate legal person |
| Liability for debts | Unlimited — your personal property is at risk | Limited to the shares you hold |
| KRA PIN | Your personal PIN | The company gets its own PIN |
| Income tax | Profits taxed as your personal income | Corporation tax at 30% on profits for a resident company |
| Annual return to BRS | None | Yes, every year (CR29) |
| Proof of ownership for banks | Business name certificate | Certificate of incorporation and CR12 (KSh 650 official search) |
Both can fall under KRA's turnover tax if sales are between KSh 1 million and KSh 25 million a year — check the current rate on KRA's turnover tax page before you plan around it.
Choose a business name if you are testing a product, selling alone, and the risk of the business running up large debts is low. It is the cheapest legal way to trade under a brand.
Choose a limited company if you are taking on partners or investors, signing large contracts, borrowing, or the business could cause losses big enough that you would not want your house or car exposed. Companies also file an annual return with BRS every year — a filing fee of around KSh 1,000 according to legal guides — which a business name does not.
You can start with a business name and convert later. BRS charges KSh 25,000 to convert a business name to a limited liability partnership; moving the trade into a new limited company is a fresh KSh 10,650 registration.
Common mistakes
- Picking a name that is too generic. "Nairobi Shoes" is likely to clash. Add something distinctive.
- Using a name in your shop before it is approved. Your Instagram handle, till name and bank account should all match the certificate.
- Forgetting changes. If you move or change what you sell, the Act gives you 28 days to notify BRS.
- Thinking registration is the only paperwork. A business name is national registration. Your county permit is separate — see the county's own requirements.
Selling online once you are registered
With a business name and a till, you can sell from a proper shop page instead of a string of WhatsApp messages. On duka.bio you can list products and take M-Pesa or card payments at checkout, with Paystack's 1.5% fee on M-Pesa — see how to start an online store in Kenya. Use the profit margin calculator to make sure your prices still leave you something after fees and delivery.