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Business Name Search & Registration in Kenya

HOW TO DO BUSINESS NAME SEARCH IN KENYA ONLINE

Business Name Search

This process of Business Name Search & Registration is now online and has to be done on the E-Citizen platform.

The Company Registry requires that a Business name search be conducted and approved before the registration process of any local business. Business name searches and reservations are done online through the E-Citizen portal.

In 2016, the Companies Registry set up a digital Business Registration Service (BRS), which is hosted on the E-citizen portal.

Since the BRS system has gone live, all company incorporations have been done online and a company is automatically linked to the E-citizen portal when incorporated. Entities established prior to 2016, under the manual system, now need to be linked to the E-citizen portal.

The requirement to link to the E-citizen portal applies to all companies, including public limited companies, companies limited by guarantee, foreign companies as well as limited liability partnerships, and sole proprietorships.

Steps on how to register a Business name in Kenya.

  1. Business Name Search.
    One must provide at least three unique business name suggestions in order of preference for a Business name search.
    Currently, it takes one (1) day for the business name search to be processed.
  2. Application for Business name registration.
    Once a name is searched and reserved the applicant(s) should complete the online application form in the portal.
  3. Business Name Certificate
    Once an application is successful, the certificate of Registration of the Business name, also referred to as BN 3 is processed thereafter and issued.

Requirements for Business Name Registration

  • Proposed Business name
  • The nature of Business/activities the business shall undertake.
  • Names of the Proprietor/s in Full.
  • Postal address for the Business Name.
  • Proposed Physical address of the Business. The address includes road, plot number, town, county.
  • Copy of ID / Passport of the Proprietor or Partners.
  • Passport photo of the Proprietor/s.
  • Copy of PIN certificate of the Proprietor/s or partner/s.

For a step-by-step guide on how to carry out a company search click here.