Register a Company in Kenya
Fast, Compliant, Fully Managed

MaxisHR registers your Kenya business in 7–14 business days — handling entity setup, Business Registration Service (BRS) filing, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) tax registration, and payroll-readiness from day one. Corporate tax: 30%. VAT: 16%.

MaxisHR Corporate Services

East Africa Company Formation Specialists

Company FormationEast Africa7–14 business days

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Kenya Company Facts

2026 incorporation data

7–14

Total Timeline

KES

Registration Cost

30%

Corporate Tax

📌

VAT Rate

16%

📌

VAT Threshold

KES 5,000,000/yr

💱

Currency

KES

📌

Registry

Business Registration Service

📌

Entity Types

4 available

Prêt à recruter ?

Aucune entité requise. Intégrez votre premier employé en days avec pleine conformité.

Start Kenya Registration→

7–14

Typical timeline in Kenya

30%

Corporate income tax

16%

Standard VAT rate

Entity types available

Incorporating in Kenya

Company Registration in Kenya — Complete Guide 2026

Registering a company in Kenya gives your business a local legal presence — enabling you to open corporate bank accounts, hire employees directly, sign local contracts, and access government procurement. Kenya is East Africa's largest economy and a leading tech and finance hub, making it one of East Africa's most compelling markets for business expansion.

The registration process in Kenya involves filing with Business Registration Service (BRS), obtaining a company tax identification number from Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), registering for VAT (if your turnover exceeds KES 5,000,000/yr), and completing employer registration for PAYE and social security contributions.

MaxisHR handles the entire Kenya company formation process — from name reservation and document preparation to registry filing, tax registration, and payroll setup. Most clients have a fully operational Kenya entity within 7–14 business days of engagement.

Name search and reservation with Business Registration Service (BRS)

Memorandum & Articles of Association drafted and filed

Certificate of Incorporation obtained

Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) registration — corporate tax, VAT, PAYE

Employer registration — social security and statutory levies

Registered office address provision in Kenya

Corporate bank account introduction

Payroll setup — MaxisHR KES payroll from day one

Types d'Entités au Kenya

Business Structures Available in Kenya

Min. capital: No minimum · Timeline: 3–5 business days

Private Limited Company (Ltd)

Most common structure for foreign investors. Separate legal entity, limited liability, minimum 1 director.

Min. capital: No minimum · Timeline: 10–15 business days

Branch Office

Extension of a foreign company — not a separate entity. Requires parent company documents and local representative.

Min. capital: KES 500,000 · Timeline: 15–20 business days

Public Limited Company (PLC)

For businesses intending to raise public capital. Minimum 7 shareholders, audited accounts required.

Min. capital: No minimum · Timeline: 5–7 business days

Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

Hybrid of partnership and company. Partners have limited liability. Suitable for professional services.

Le Processus

How to Register a Company in Kenya with MaxisHR

Step 1

Name search & reservation (1 day)

Search and reserve your company name via the eCitizen portal. Names must be unique and not misleading. Reservation is valid for 30 days.

Step 2

Submit incorporation documents (1–2 days)

File Memorandum & Articles of Association, Form CR1 (application), Form CR8 (directors/shareholders), and identification documents for all directors via eCitizen.

Step 3

Certificate of Incorporation issued (1–3 days)

The Business Registration Service (BRS) reviews and issues a Certificate of Incorporation. MaxisHR tracks your application and follows up with BRS on your behalf.

Step 4

KRA PIN registration & tax setup (1–2 days)

Register for a company KRA PIN, VAT (if applicable), PAYE, and NSSF/SHIF employer registration. MaxisHR handles all authority registrations simultaneously.

Step 5

Business Permit & local licences (3–7 days)

Obtain County Government Business Permit and any sector-specific licences (e.g. financial services, healthcare). MaxisHR identifies all required permits for your industry.

Step 6

Bank account & payroll setup (2–5 days)

Open a KES corporate bank account and connect MaxisHR payroll. Your company is fully operational — ready to hire, pay employees, and file statutory returns.

Taux d'Imposition

Kenya Corporate Tax Rates & Business Tax Overview 2026

Component	Employee	Employer	Notes
Corporate Income Tax	30% (resident) / 37.5% (non-resident)	—	On net profits. Lower rates for newly listed companies.
VAT	16%	—	Standard rate. Registration mandatory above KES 5,000,000 annual turnover.
Withholding Tax (dividends)	5% (resident) / 10% (non-resident)	—	Withheld at source on dividend payments.
PAYE (employer obligation)	10–35% (graduated)	—	Monthly withholding on employee salaries — remitted to KRA.
Digital Service Tax	1.5% of gross transaction value	—	Applies to non-resident digital marketplace suppliers.
Turnover Tax (SMEs)	3% of gross revenue	—	Alternative to CIT for businesses with revenue KES 1M–50M/yr.

📌Source: Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)· Effective 2026

Conformité Annuelle

Kenya Annual Compliance Calendar — 2026

Component	Employee	Employer	Notes
Annual Returns (BRS)	Within 42 days of AGM	—	File CR12 with current directors and shareholders
Corporate Tax Return	6 months after year-end	—	Instalment tax due quarterly
VAT Returns	20th of following month	—	Monthly or quarterly depending on turnover
PAYE Monthly Return	9th of following month	—	Filed via iTax — KRA's online portal
Audited Financial Statements	Within 6 months of year-end	—	Required for companies above KES 5M turnover

📌Source: Business Registration Service (BRS)· Effective 2026

Why MaxisHR for Kenya Company Registration

5 Reasons to Register Your Kenya Company with MaxisHR

MaxisHR combines local East Africa expertise, digital efficiency, and end-to-end support to make Kenya company formation faster, cheaper, and less risky than doing it alone.

Fastest Kenya incorporation — 7–14 business days guaranteed

7–14 business days

MaxisHR's established relationships with Business Registration Service (BRS) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) mean your Kenya company is registered faster than any DIY approach. We track your application in real time and escalate any delays immediately.

Zero compliance risk — all filings handled by East Africa experts

Expert-Filed

Kenya's company registration process involves multiple authorities, precise document requirements, and strict deadlines. MaxisHR's East Africa legal team prepares every document to the exact standard required — eliminating rejection risk and costly re-filings.

All-inclusive pricing — no hidden government fees

Fixed Price

MaxisHR provides a fixed-price company registration service in Kenya covering all government fees, document preparation, authority submissions, and tax registrations. You know the total cost upfront — with no surprise invoices.

Payroll-ready from day one — KES payroll connected at registration

Payroll-Ready

Unlike standalone incorporation agents, MaxisHR connects your new Kenya entity to our payroll platform from day one — so your first employee hire and PAYE filing happen seamlessly. No gap between incorporation and operational readiness.

Ongoing company secretarial and compliance support

Ongoing Support

After registration, MaxisHR manages your Kenya annual returns, tax filings, compliance calendar, and company secretarial obligations — so you never miss a deadline or face a penalty. One partner from incorporation to ongoing operations.

Plateforme MaxisHR

Digital Company Management Tools — Built for Kenya

Once your Kenya company is registered, MaxisHR's platform keeps it compliant, connected, and running — from director dashboards to automated tax filings.

Company Compliance Dashboard

Real-Time

Track every Kenya compliance obligation in one place — annual return deadlines, tax filing dates, licence renewals, and director obligations. MaxisHR sends alerts 30 days, 7 days, and 24 hours before each deadline.

Automated Annual Returns & Tax Filings

Automated

MaxisHR files your Kenya annual returns with Business Registration Service (BRS) and corporate tax returns with Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) automatically — before every deadline. You review and approve; we handle the submission.

Director & Shareholder Register — Always Current

Digital Records

MaxisHR maintains your Kenya statutory registers — directors, shareholders, charges, and minutes — in digital format. Instantly download a CR12 or equivalent director confirmation letter whenever needed.

Corporate Bank Account Introduction

Banking Support

MaxisHR has working relationships with major East Africa banks — facilitating faster corporate account opening for your Kenya entity. We prepare the required board resolutions, KYC documents, and bank introduction letters.

Multi-Country Entity Management

55 Countries

Managing entities across Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Ghana? MaxisHR's multi-country dashboard shows all your East Africa entities, compliance status, and upcoming deadlines in a single view — from one login.

Secure Document Vault

Secure Storage

All your Kenya corporate documents — Certificate of Incorporation, MOI, shareholder register, tax certificates, and annual returns — stored securely in MaxisHR's encrypted document vault. Accessible 24/7 from anywhere.

Faire le Bon Choix

Kenya Own Entity vs. Employer of Record — Which is Right for You?

Factor	Own Kenya Entity	MaxisHR EOR (No Entity)
Setup time	7–14 business days	5–10 business days
Setup cost	KES 10,650 + professional fees	No incorporation cost
Minimum commitment	Long-term — dissolution is complex	Flexible — scale up or down anytime
Corporate tax filing	Annual — your responsibility	Not applicable — no entity
Annual compliance	5 filings/year	Handled by MaxisHR
Best for	Long-term market commitment, high headcount	Testing market, remote teams, fast hiring
Payroll	KES payroll via MaxisHR	KES payroll via MaxisHR
Repatriation of profits	Via dividend — WHT applies	Invoice-based — simpler

Risques de Conformité au Kenya

Key Compliance Risks When Registering in Kenya

Understanding Kenya's compliance landscape before you incorporate protects your business from costly penalties and operational disruption. MaxisHR's East Africa legal team identifies and mitigates these risks before they arise.

Missing PAYE deadlines attracts 25% penalty + 1% monthly interest

Operating without a Business Permit is a criminal offence in Kenya

Companies must file annual returns even with zero turnover

VAT registration required within 30 days of exceeding threshold

Plus de services au Kenya

Other MaxisHR Services in Kenya

Employer of Record

Employer of Record in Kenya

Not ready to incorporate? MaxisHR hires employees in Kenya on your behalf — managing contracts, KES payroll, and statutory compliance without a local entity.

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Payroll Services

Kenya Payroll Services

Once incorporated, MaxisHR runs your KES payroll — PAYE, pension, and statutory deductions — every month. Payslips delivered via WhatsApp and employee portal.

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Tax Compliance

Tax Compliance in Kenya

MaxisHR manages all your Kenya tax obligations — monthly PAYE, VAT returns, and annual corporate tax — filed on time, every time.

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Contractor Management

Contractor Management in Kenya

Engage and pay independent contractors in Kenya compliantly alongside your incorporated entity — with proper contracts and KES payment workflows.

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HR Advisory

HR Advisory in Kenya

Post-incorporation HR support — employment contracts, workforce policies, labour law compliance, and disciplinary procedures aligned with Employment Act 2007.

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Salary Benchmarking

Kenya Salary Survey

Build your Kenya team with confidence. MaxisHR's 2026 salary benchmark data covers all key roles — helping you attract talent with competitive KES packages.

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FAQ Création d'Entreprise

Registering a Company in Kenya — Common Questions

How long does it take to register a company in Kenya?

Company registration in Kenya typically takes 7–14 business days from submission of complete documents. MaxisHR handles the entire process — name reservation, document preparation, registry submission, and tax registration — so you can focus on your business while we manage the paperwork.

What is the cost of company registration in Kenya?

Government registration fees in Kenya start from KES 10,650. Total cost depends on your chosen entity type, share capital, and any sector-specific licence fees. MaxisHR provides a full cost breakdown before you commit — with no hidden charges.

Can a foreign company register a business in Kenya?

Yes. Foreign investors can register companies in Kenya through a locally incorporated Private Limited Company, Branch Office, or Representative Office. MaxisHR specialises in helping international businesses navigate Kenya's foreign ownership rules, minimum capital requirements, and regulatory approvals.

What is the corporate tax rate in Kenya?

The standard corporate income tax rate in Kenya is 30%. VAT applies at 16% on taxable supplies above KES 5,000,000/yr. MaxisHR's tax team ensures your Kenya entity is structured for tax efficiency from day one — including available incentives, exemptions, and treaty benefits.

What ongoing compliance is required after incorporating in Kenya?

After incorporation in Kenya, companies must file annual returns with Business Registration Service (BRS), submit corporate tax returns to Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), file monthly PAYE and VAT returns, and maintain audited financial statements. MaxisHR's compliance calendar tracks every deadline and files on your behalf — ensuring you never miss a return.

Do I need a physical office address to register a company in Kenya?

Yes. Kenya requires a registered local address for company incorporation. MaxisHR provides a registered office address service in Kenya — satisfying the legal requirement while you establish your physical presence at your own pace.

Can MaxisHR act as a company secretary or local representative in Kenya?

Yes. MaxisHR provides company secretarial services in Kenya — including acting as local representative, maintaining statutory registers, filing annual returns, and ensuring ongoing corporate governance compliance. Our Kenya team monitors regulatory changes and proactively advises you on required actions.

Ready to Register Your Kenya Company?

MaxisHR handles the complete Kenya incorporation process — Business Registration Service (BRS) filing, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) registration, and payroll setup — in 7–14 business days. Get a fixed-price quote today.

Couverture panafricaine

Company Registration Across All 55 African Countries

MaxisHR incorporates businesses across every African market. Search below to find incorporation timelines, corporate tax rates, and registration requirements for your target country.

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