Updated 10 November 2026
Whether you are registering a new business, updating directors or closing a company, the first question is usually what it will cost at the Registrar. This BRS fees Kenya reference collects the Business Registration Service’s published Companies Registry fee schedule into one table, with the form you file and the time BRS says each service takes. All filings and payments run on eCitizen, by mobile money or card.
Source: BRS Fee Schedule – Companies Registry, read on 8 November 2026. Where the schedule shows two figures for the same service, both are noted. Always confirm the amount eCitizen shows before paying. Professional fees and stamp duty are separate.
On this page
How to read the BRS fees Kenya tables
Each row below gives four things: the service, the official BRS fee, the form you file, and the processing time BRS publishes. The time is what BRS commits to for a complete filing. It does not include the time you spend gathering documents, getting signatures or waiting for verification.
Some lines carry conditions. “Subject to penalties” means late fees for that business name or company can be added at payment. “Varies” means the fee depends on your filing, such as the amount of nominal capital. Where the schedule itself shows two different amounts for the same service, as with official searches, this guide shows both, so that you are not caught out.
Finally, BRS fees are only part of the cost of most transactions. Lawyers, company secretaries, stamp duty and other regulators’ charges are separate. Budget for them before you start.
BRS fees Kenya: registering a new entity
| Entity | Fee | Forms | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business name | KSh 950 | BN 2 | 1 day |
| Limited liability partnership | KSh 25,000 | LLP 1 | 1 day |
| Private limited company | KSh 10,650 | CR 1, CR 2, CR 8, statement of nominal capital | 3-5 days |
| Public limited company | KSh 10,650 | CR 1, CR 2, CR 8, CR 10, CR 12, statement of nominal capital | 3-5 days |
| Unlimited company | KSh 20,050 | CR 1, CR 4, CR 8, statement of nominal capital | 3-5 days |
| Company limited by guarantee | KSh 10,000 | CR 1, CR 3, CR 8 | 3 days after the NIS vetting report |
| Foreign company | KSh 7,550 | FC 2, FC 4, FC 6 plus incorporation, constitution, notarised articles and local representative’s acceptance | 3-5 days (certificate of compliance) |
Official searches
| Search | Fee | Document | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Companies | KSh 650 (a later line of the schedule shows KSh 600) | CR 12 | Instant if verified; 3-5 days if not |
| Business names | KSh 250 (a later line shows KSh 200) | CR 13 | Instant if verified; 3-5 days if not |
See our CR12 search guide for when and how to order one.
BRS fees Kenya for changes to an existing entity
| Change | Fee | Form | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Change of name: business name / company / LLP | KSh 800 (subject to penalties) / KSh 4,000 / KSh 2,000 | BN 4 / CR 15 and CR 19 / LLP 9 | 1 day |
| Change of particulars of directors | KSh 550 | CR 7 | 2 days |
| Change of company address or location | KSh 550 | CR 16 | 1 day |
| Appointment of company secretary | KSh 550 | CR 10 | 2 days |
| Change of particulars of company secretary | KSh 550 | CR 11 | 1 day |
| Change of company secretary’s residential address | KSh 550 | CR 12 | 1 day |
| Cessation of company secretary | KSh 550 | CR 13 | 1 day |
| Increase or decrease of nominal capital | Varies with capital | Company resolution (court order for a decrease) | 1 day |
| Change of particulars of business name | KSh 200 (original certificate) / KSh 400 (copy), subject to penalties | BN 4 | 3 days (BN 5 certificate) |
| Change of particulars of LLP | KSh 2,000 | CR LLP | Varies |
Conversions
| Conversion | Fee | Form | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private to public, public to private, or to unlimited | KSh 7,000, plus KSh 2,000 each for the amended memorandum, CR 15, CR 18 and CR 19 | CR 17 | 2 days |
| Limited company to LLP | KSh 25,000 | LLP 7 | 2 days |
| Business name to LLP | KSh 25,000 | LLP 5 | 2 days |
More detail is in our LLP conversion guide.
Charges, solvency and closure
| Service | Fee | Form | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registration of debentures or charges | KSh 2,000-14,000 | Security instrument with CR 25, 26 or 27 | 2 days (certificate of mortgage) |
| Discharge of charge or debenture | KSh 2,000 | CR 28 | 1 day (certificate of clearance) |
| Declaration of solvency or insolvency (LLP) | KSh 2,000 | LLP 10 | Immediately |
| Cessation of business name | KSh 800, subject to penalties | BN 6 | 1 day |
| Dissolution of a company | KSh 4,000 | Resolution plus CR 18 and CR 19 | 90 days |
Sample budgets from BRS fees Kenya figures
These examples add up official BRS fees only. Professional and other costs are extra.
- Start as a sole trader: business name registration KSh 950, plus a later CR 13 search for KSh 250 to confirm the record, totalling KSh 1,200.
- Start a private company: KSh 10,650 registration, plus a CR 12 search for KSh 650 for the bank, totalling KSh 11,300.
- Replace a director’s details twice in a year: 2 Ă— KSh 550 = KSh 1,100.
Tips
- Pay only through eCitizen. BRS says payment is electronic, by mobile money or card.
- Watch for penalties on business name services. Several lines say “subject to penalties”.
- Keep certificates and confirmations. Banks and procurement offices ask for them.
- Recheck BRS fees Kenya figures on eCitizen before each filing, as the schedule can change.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a business name in Kenya?
KSh 950 on BN 2, with a certificate of registration in 1 day, per the BRS schedule.
How much is it to register a private limited company?
KSh 10,650 with CR 1, CR 2, CR 8 and a statement of nominal capital, in 3-5 days.
What does a CR12 search cost?
The main table lists KSh 650, instant for verified companies. A later line shows KSh 600, so confirm on eCitizen.
How much is it to change a director’s details?
KSh 550 on CR 7, in 2 days.
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