Business name particulars Kenya: Form BN 4, KSh 200 and BN 5

Updated 10 November 2026

Registered a business name years ago, and since then moved premises, changed your phone number, brought in a partner or changed what you sell? The record at the Registrar is now out of date. Banks, tender boards and clients who check it will see the old details. A change of business name particulars Kenya filing at the Business Registration Service (BRS) fixes that. BRS lists form BN 4, a fee of KSh 200 when you submit the original certificate (KSh 400 with a copy), subject to penalties, and a BN 5 certificate of change of particulars within 3 days.

Source: BRS Fee Schedule – Companies Registry, read on 8 November 2026. Applications run on eCitizen. Confirm current fees and penalties there before paying.

Change of business name particulars Kenya: key facts

When you need a change of business name particulars Kenya filing

File BN 4 whenever the registered details of the business name stop matching reality. Typical triggers:

• You have moved to a new business address or postal address.
• A partner joins or leaves, or a partner’s details change.
• The nature of the business has changed.
• Contact details on the record are outdated.

Keeping particulars current matters most when you deal with banks, procurement or licensing bodies. They compare your documents with the official record.

How to file a change of business name particulars in Kenya

1. Run an official search on the business name (CR 13, KSh 250) to see exactly what the Registrar holds.
2. Log in to eCitizen and open the BRS business name services.
3. Choose change of particulars and complete form BN 4 with the new details.
4. Upload the original BN certificate (for the KSh 200 fee) or a copy (KSh 400).
5. Pay the fee and any penalties shown, by mobile money or card.
6. Download the BN 5 certificate of change of particulars. BRS lists the timeline as 3 days.

Fees and penalties

The base fee is low: KSh 200 with the original certificate, or KSh 400 with a copy. The schedule adds “subject to penalties where applicable”, so late updates or other outstanding obligations on the name can raise the total. eCitizen shows the amount due before you pay. If it looks unexpectedly high, ask BRS to explain the penalty before paying.

Worked example: what a change of business name particulars Kenya filing costs

Take a hypothetical salon registered as a business name that moves from one street to another and adds a second partner. The owner first runs a CR 13 search for KSh 250 to confirm the current record. She then files BN 4 with the original certificate for KSh 200. If eCitizen shows no penalties, the official BRS cost is KSh 450 in total, and the BN 5 certificate is expected within 3 days.

If she had lost the original certificate and filed with a copy, the change fee would be KSh 400 instead, giving KSh 650 with the search. Any penalties shown on eCitizen would be added on top.

This is an illustration built only from the published fee schedule. It is not a quote for any real business. Check the amount eCitizen shows before you pay.

After the change of business name particulars Kenya update

• Run a fresh CR 13 search to confirm the record now shows the new details.
• Update your bank mandate, KRA records, county business permit and supplier registrations.
• Refresh invoices, letterheads, receipts and your website.
• File the BN 5 certificate with your business records.

Other options: close, convert or incorporate

Sometimes updating particulars is not the right move:

• Closing the business? File a cessation on BN 6 (KSh 800, subject to penalties, letter of confirmation in 1 day). See our guide on LLP conversion and other structure changes.
• Need limited liability? Convert the business name to an LLP on LLP 5 for KSh 25,000 (2 days), or register a limited company.
• Not sure which structure fits? Read our comparison of sole proprietorship, partnership and limited company.

Common mistakes

Updating only the bank, not BRS. Institutions often check the Registrar’s record, so a mismatch causes delays.

Ignoring partner changes. If a partner leaves but stays on the record, they may still appear connected to the business.

Paying an agent for a simple filing. BN 4 is an online filing with a small official fee. If you do use an agent, pay the BRS fee only through eCitizen.

Using a copy when you have the original. Submitting a copy doubles the base fee from KSh 200 to KSh 400.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a change of business name particulars in Kenya cost?

KSh 200 with the original certificate, or KSh 400 with a copy, subject to any penalties, per the BRS fee schedule.

Which form do I use?

Form BN 4. BRS issues a BN 5 certificate of change of particulars.

How long does it take?

BRS lists 3 days.

How can I see the current record first?

Run an official business name search, which BRS lists as KSh 250, with a CR 13 issued instantly for verified businesses (3-5 days otherwise).