Updated 31 October 2026
A business permit in Machakos County (the Single Business Permit) costs from KSh800 a year for a small informal trader up to KSh61,000 for a hypermarket, depending on the type of business, its size and the market it is in. A small shop with up to four employees pays KSh2,000 in rural markets, KSh2,500 in peri-urban towns such as Tala and Kangundo, and KSh4,250 in Machakos Town, Athi River, Mlolongo and Syokimau. The figures below come from the Machakos County Finance Act, 2025.
How Machakos classifies markets
- Urban markets (Fifth Schedule): Machakos Town, Mavoko large-scale enterprises, Athi River, Mlolongo and Syokimau.
- Peri-urban markets (Fourth Schedule): including Matuu, Joska, Kangundo, Kathiani, Masii, Masinga, Mwala, Tala, Wamunyu, Kithimani, Ol Donyo Sabuk, Kabaa and others.
- Other markets (Third Schedule): any market not listed as urban or peri-urban.
Business permit Machakos County fees: main categories
| Code and business type | Other markets (KSh) | Peri-urban (KSh) | Urban (KSh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 103 Mega store or hypermarket (over 100 staff or over 3,000m²) | 24,000 | 41,000 | 61,000 |
| 105 Large trader or shop (21–100 staff or 300–3,000m²) | 8,000 | 10,000 | 24,000 |
| 110 Medium trader or shop (5–20 staff or 50–300m²) | 4,000 | 5,000 | 8,500 |
| 115 Small trader or shop (up to 4 staff, under 50m²) | 2,000 | 2,500 | 4,250 |
| 120 Kiosk or temporary structure (under 5m²) | 1,600 | 2,000 | 3,400 |
| 195 Other wholesale and retail traders | 1,600 | 2,000 | 3,400 |
| 205 Hawker with motor vehicle | 2,000 | 2,500 | 4,250 |
| 210 Hawker without motor vehicle | 1,600 | 2,000 | 3,400 |
| 215 Small informal trader (shoeshine, shoe repair, street vendor) | 800 | 1,000 | 1,700 |
| 220 Semi-permanent informal trader (up to 2 people, verandah) | 1,200 | 1,500 | 2,550 |
Transport, petrol stations, storage, hotels, bars, professional offices and other sectors have their own codes in the same schedules. For example, in urban markets a small petrol station with up to three pumps pays KSh22,500 and a small cold store up to 100m² pays KSh10,200.
Other charges added to the permit
The permit fee is not the whole bill. A 2025 Machakos permit issued in Syokimau, seen on a public document-sharing site, showed the permit fee plus a KSh2,000 application or renewal fee, a KSh4,000 fire certificate fee and a KSh1,000 solid waste management fee. Food businesses also need public health approval, and bars need a liquor licence. Ask the county revenue office for the full bill for your category before you pay.
How to apply for a Machakos business permit
- Register your business name or company with the Business Registration Service and get a KRA PIN.
- Apply through the Machakos County revenue system or at the sub-county revenue office, giving your business activity, number of staff, premises size and location.
- Wait for the county to approve the application and issue a bill. The county warns applicants not to pay before a proper bill is issued.
- Pay using the bill reference, then download or collect the permit. Permits paid for but not collected within 30 days attract a search fee.
- Display the permit at the premises and renew it every year.
The general process across counties is in our guide on how to apply for a Single Business Permit, and the county’s spending plans are covered in the Machakos County budget.
Which category is my business?
Size is judged by number of employees and/or floor space. A two-person cake or tailoring shop under 50m² is a small trader; a hardware store with six staff is a medium trader. If you are planning a hardware shop, read how to start a hardware business. Fast-growing areas on the Machakos–Kajiado border are discussed in our piece on Kitengela business opportunities.
FAQ
How much is a business permit in Machakos Town?
A small trader with up to four employees pays KSh4,250 a year, a medium trader KSh8,500 and a large trader KSh24,000.
Are Syokimau and Mlolongo charged urban rates?
Yes. The Finance Act 2025 lists Machakos Town, Athi River, Mlolongo, Syokimau and Mavoko large-scale enterprises as urban markets.
Do I need to renew my Machakos business permit every year?
Yes. The Single Business Permit is an annual permit and must be renewed.
Updated October 2026.
Related: Kajiado County Business Permit Fees 2026: Trade Licence Rates for Kitengela, Ngong and Other Towns
Related: Kisumu County Business Permit Fees: Trade Licence Rates for Kisumu City and Sub-Counties
Related: Nyamira County Business Permit Fees 2025/2026: Single Business Permit Rates by Zone
Related: Konza targets 10,000 factory jobs as first textile maker starts production in its EPZ
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