Obtaining business permits in Kenya is a crucial step for any entrepreneur looking to start and run a legal business.
The cost of these permits varies depending on the type of business and its location.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the business permit rates in Kenya:
Business Permits Rates
CATEGORIES OF BUSINESS | Amount in Kshs | |
---|---|---|
100 | GENERAL TRADERS, SHOP & RETAIL SERVICES Traders Wholesalers, Hypermarkets, Departmental Stores Supermarkets Showrooms Boutiques, Exhibitions, Retail shop, Chemists Takeaway Butcheries, Kiosks | 120,000 |
103 | Hyper supermarket over 100 employees over 5001 sq.m | 120,000 |
104 | Mega-supermarkets/wholesalers 50-1-employees/3001-5000sq. | 80,000 |
105 | Large Trader Shop retail service. Between 21-50 employees/premises larger 300-3000sqm/prime location | 30,000 |
110 | Medium trader shop or retail service Between 5-20 employees/premises 50-3000cam/fair location | 15,000 |
115 | Small Trader shop or retail service Up to 4 employees/premises less than 50sqm/far away location | 5,000 |
120 | Kiosk Light or temporary construction less than 5sqm. | 4,000 |
195 | Other general merchant shop and retail service. INFORMAL SECTOR INCLUDING HAWKERS, STREET VENDORS & SMALL TRADERS AND SERVICE PROVIDERS OPERATING ON THE STREETS, VERANDAH OR TEMPORARY BUILDING. | 4,000 |
200 | Hawkers with motor vehicle one person with motor vehicle | 7,000 |
205 | Hawker 1 person without motor vehicle | 5,000 |
210 | Small informal sector trader/service provider. Shoeshine, Shoe repairer, Street vendor Newspapers soda sweer, cigarottos etc | 2,500 |
215 | Semi permanent informal sector trader Up to 2 persons in verandah or temporary building | 3,500 |
220 | Other informal sector | 2,000 |
300 | TRANSPORT STORAGE & COMMUNICATIONS such as: Maritime And Airlines international carriers/Freight Fonwarders/Operation of Taxis, Matatus Buses Lorries, Planes Boats/Driving School Tour/Saferi Operator owned and hired vehicles Fixed line and wireless communication providers/IT support co's/Private Vehicles parking Petrol Stations/storage facilities/Cold storage facilities Publishing co's-Newspaper, Books, Texts/Radio/TV Broadcaster/Film producers | 160,000 |
301 | Mega transport company: over 50 vehicles & or premises over 1000 sq.m | 160,000 |
303 | Large Transportation Company from 30 to 50 vehicles & or premises from 500 to 1000sq.m | 100,000 |
305 | Medium Transportation Company From 6 to 30 Vohiclog & or promisos from 300 to 500sq.m | 36,000 |
310 | Small transportation company: 2-5 vehicles/ or premises of 50-300sq | 25,000 |
315 | Other Transportation Company 1 vehicle up to 50sq.m | 15,000 |
320 | Independent Transport Operator 1 vehicle/ 1 Taxi & not in an office | 7,000 |
325 | Large Petrol Filling Station Over 6 pumps or with garage/workshop and spares retail shop | 30,000 |
330 | Medium petrol Filling Station From 4 to 6 Pumps or with garage workshop or spares retail shop | 20,000 |
335 | Small petrol Filling Station with up to 3 pumps and without a garage. workshop or retail shop | 10,000 |
340 | Large cold storage Facility Over 1000sq m | 70,000 |
345 | Medium Cold Storage Facility From 101 to 1000sq.m | 30,000 |
350 | Small Cold Storage Facility Up 10100sq.m | 15,000 |
355 | Large Storage Facility | 60,000 |
360 | Over 5000sq.m Go down/Warehouse, Liquid Storage Tanks Complex Medium Storage Facility From 1000 to 5000sq.m | 30,000 |
362 | Small Storage Facility | 15,000 |
363 | Large private vehicle parking: Capacity, over 100 vehicles | 100,000 |
364 | Medium private vehicles parking: Capacity: 51-100 vehicles | 50,000 |
365 | Small private vehicles parking: capacity; 50 vehicles | 30,000 |
Small Storage Facility Up to 1000sq.m | 15,000 | |
370 | Mega Communications Co Over 100 employees &/or premises OVER 1500 sq.m | 200,000 |
375 | Super Large Communications Co Between 61 to 100 employees & Premises over 1000 to 1500sq m | 90,000 |
380 | Large Communications Co Between 41 to 60 employees & or Premises from 500 to 1000sq m | 100,000 |
385 | Medium communications company: 21 40 employees & or premises of 300 500sq. | 60,000 |
390 | Small communications company: 1 20 employees or premises of 300sq | 40,000 |
395 | Other Transport Storage and Communications | 10,000 |
400 | AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY & NATURAL RESOURCES EXTRACTION ACTIVITIES. Such as: Production of Coffee/Ten/Fruits/Flowers/Grain & Cereal/Forestry /Timber Grain Storage-Processing/Posho Mill/saw mills/Timber Yard/coal production/animal breeding/Dairy products processing, /Bakery Slaughterhouses/Butchery/ Mining quaries and other Natural Resources Extraction activities | 100,000 |
402 | Mega agricultural producer, processor, dealer, exporter with over 60 employees | 100,000 |
405 | Large Agricultural Producer Processor, Dealer Exporter From 36 to 60 Employees | 80,000 |
407 | Medium Agricultural Producer Processor Dealer Exporter with 35 employees | 40,000 |
410 | Small Agricultural Producer Processor, Dealer Exporter From to 10 Employees | 25,000 |
415 | Other Agricultural Producer Processor, Dealer Exporter Up to 3 Employees | 20,000 |
420 | Large mining or Natural Resources Extraction Operation over 50 employees | 200 |
425 | Medium Mining or Natural Resources Extraction Operation From 4 to 50 employees | 100,000 |
430 | Small mining or Natural Resources Extraction Operation Up to 3 employees | 50,000 |
495 | Other Agricultural, Forestry and Natural Resources Exploitation 1 person acting individually | 45,000 |
500 | ACCOMMODATION AND CATERING Such as: International Hotels/tourists camps Outside catering/ Lodging Hoses/Restaurants/Bars/Eating Houses/Butcheries with Meat Roasting &or Soup Kitchen Facilities/Membership Clubs/Night Clubs & Casinos | 200,000 |
505 | Large High Standard Lodging Houses/Hotel D Class over 100 rooms | 200,000 |
506 | Medium high Standard Lodging House/ Hotel Class 41 to 100 rooms | 140,000 |
509 | Small high Standard Lodging House! Hotel D Class from upto 40 rooms | 70,000 |
512 | Large Lodging House with Restaurant And /Or Bar B/C Class basic standards over 15 rooms | 55,000 |
515 | Medium Lodging House with Restaurant And /Or Bar B/C Class basic standards from 6 to 15 rooms | 45,000 |
518 | Small Lodging House with Restaurant And /Or Bar BC Class basic standards rooms | 35,000 |
521 | Large Lodging House B/C Class basic Standards over 15 rooms | 70,000 |
524 | Medium Lodging House B/C Class basic Standards from 6 to 15 rooms | 45,000 |
527 | Small lodging B/C Class basic Standards up to rooms | 35,000 |
530 | Mega restaurant with bar/membership club with over 70 members/customers | 100,000 |
540 | Largo Restaurant with bar membership Club From 31 to 70 members/customers | 50,000 |
543 | Medium Restaurant with bar /membership Club with 70 customers/customers | 30,000 |
546 | Small Restaurant with bar (membership Club Up to 10 customers/members | 20,000 |
549 | Mega Eating House Snack Bar Tea House Outside Catering "Hotel" No Lodging no alcohol served Over 50 customers | 35,000 |
550 | Large eating house/snack bar/lea house/outside catering/hotel with no lodging or alcohol served with customers | 25,000 |
552 | Medium Eating House: Snack Bar: Tea House Hote No Lodging no alcohol served 20 customers | 20,000 |
555 | Small Eating House: Snack Bar: Tea House Hotel No Lodging no alcohol served UO to 6 customers | 15,000 |
558 | Butchery with Roasted Meat and or/Soup Kitchen soup kitchen | 15,000 |
561 | Large Bar/Traditional Beer seller over 50 customers | 20,000 |
564 | Medium Bar Traditional Beer seller from 16 to 50 customers | 15,000 |
567 | Small bar/Traditional Beer seller Up to 50 customers | 10,000 |
571 | Large Night Club/Casino Over 500sqm | 100,000 |
574 | Medium Night Club/Casino From 100 to 500sqm | 60,000 |
577 | Small Night Club/Casino Up to 100sqm | 40,000 |
595 | Other Catering and accommodation Up to 100sqm | 10,000 |
600 | Professional, Technical And Financial Services, Legal/ Financial IManagomont/Engineoring/Architecture/Valuing/ Surveying/Data Processing/Liaison offices/Landlord Care taker Offices/ Accountancy/ Secretarial Support stock & agencies/Clearing & Forwarding co's/Import & Export co's/ Bookmaking/Casinos/Interantional affiliation/Cleaning sorvices/Cybercafes Bureaus, Security Services etc. Bank Head Office-Branch/Money lender Hiro Purchase Company/Insurance Company Real Estate co's/Property Developers/Financier Co's Building co's/ACCO/Co-operative Societies. | 150,000 |
605 | Large Professional Services Firm Over 50employees/Professionals/Technicians/Guards etc & or area over 300sq m | 150,000 |
610 | Medium Professional Services Firm From 20 to 50 employees & or area up to 100-300sq m | 80,000 |
615 | Small Professional Services Firm From to 20 employees & or area up to 100sq m | 35,000 |
620 | independent Technical Operator 1 person acting individually (typist Accountant Bookkeeper etc) Large financial Services including Saccos and | 12,000 |
625 | Cooperative societics Over 25 Employees or premises Over 300sq. | 150,000 |
630 | Medium Financial Services Including Saccos and Cooperative societies From 6 to 2 employees Premises 100 to 300sq.m | 95,000 |
635 | Small Financial Services Including Soccos and Cooperative society/up to 5 employees Premises 100 to 300sq | 65,000 |
640 | Other financial services including financial consultants/creditors/loans on assets firms with no money accounts/1 person acting individually etc. | 40,000 |
645 | Money points/ATMs/money machines separate form branch/office (per ATM) | 50,000 |
685 | Large cybor cafes/bureau with 6 20 computers/machines | 20,000 |
690 | Small Cybor cafes/bureau with 2 5 computers/machines | 15,000 |
695 | Other professional and technical services with 1 computer/ 1 machine | 10,000 |
700 | PRIVATE EDUCATION HEALTH & ENTERTAINMENT Private Education Institution including Nursery/Primary or Secondary School/Polytechnic Institution Profession Training centre/computer management accountancy secretaria technical professiona/Universities, private Health clinica and doctors Surgeries ,consulting offices of doctors/Dentists/physiotherapists/ physchologists & other health professionals/herbalists and traditional Medicine practioneers/funera homes Entertainmment Facilities including cinema/theatre/video shows Amusements Arcade/Juke Box/ Arcade Games/Machines Arcade/Sports Club Gym/Massage parlours. | 150,000 |
703 | Mega private higher education institutions; any type of private university college or higher education institution with over 200 students | 150,000 |
705 | Private Higher Education Institution Any type of private university college or higher education institution From 100 to 200 Students | 90,000 |
710 | Large Private Education Institution Nursery, primary or secondary schools Over 100 pupils or fees from Ksh 50,000 to 100,000 per year | 50,000 |
715 | Medium Private Education Institution From 31 to 100 pupils or fees from 30,000 to 50.000 per year | 30,000 |
720 | Small Private Education Institution Up to 30 pupils or fees up to Ksh 30000 per year | 20,000 |
725 | Large Private Health Facility Hospitals clinic, nursing home etc providing overnight accomodation over 30 beds | 150,000 |
730 | Medium Private Health Facility From 11 to 30 beds | 70,000 |
735 | Small Private Health facility, Up to 10 Beds | 45,000 |
740 | Health Clinic Doctor's Surgery doctor, dentistry/ Physiotherapist, psychologist or other health professional office no overnight accommondation available | 15,000 |
745 | Traditional Health Services Herbalist Traditional healer etc | 25,000 |
750 | Large Entertainment Facility cinema theatre video show/amusement arcade juke box arcade games machine arcade, games machine arcade/ sports club, gym etc. Over 100 seals/Over 10 machines/Over 50 members | 100,000 |
755 | Medium Entertainment Facility From 50 to 100 seats/ from 4 to 10 machines! up to 16 to 50 members | 50,000 |
760 | Small Entertainment Facility up to 50 seats/up to 3 machines/up to 15 members | 35,000 |
765 | Mobile Cinema Operator 1 person acting individually | 30,000 |
0.795 | Other Education, Health and entertainment Services | 20,000 |
800 | Industrial Plants, Factories Workshop, Contractors Such as:- Manufacure Process and Assembly of products vehicles/machinery and equipment and workshop servicing and Repairing products vehicles machinery and equipment Also including Contractors of New Building, Construction and Old buildings restoratin, plumbing and other service-repair | 150,000 |
805 | Large Industrial Plant Over 75 employees or premises over 2500sq.m | 150,000 |
810 | Medium Industrial Plant From 16 to 75 employees or premises from 100sq m to 2,500sq.m | 100,000 |
815 | Small Industrial Plant From 6 to 15 employees &/or premises 51 to 100sq.m | 60,000 |
818 | Other industrial plant/factory with 1 employees & or premises of sq.m | 25,000 |
819 | Mega workshop with over 50 employees & or premises of over 1000 sq.m | 100,000 |
820 | Large workshop/Services Repair contractor From 21 to 50 employees & or premises over 501sq. to 1000sq.m | 70,000 |
825 | Medium Workshop/Service-Repair Contractor From 6 to 20 employees &/or premises from 25sq.m to 500sq.m | 30,000 |
830 | Small workshop Service-Repair Contractor Up to 5 employees &/or premises up to 25sq.m | 15,000 |
895 | Other Manufacturer, workshop, factory, contractor one person acting individually | 10,000 |
Application fee | 200 |
How to apply for business permits in Kenya
- Determine the type of permit needed: Based on your business activities.
- Visit the relevant county office: Each county has its own procedures for issuing permits.
- Submit the necessary documents: These typically include your business registration certificate, ID or passport, and premises lease agreement.
- Pay the applicable fees: As per the rates mentioned above.
- Wait for the inspection: Some permits require an inspection of your business premises.
- Receive your permit: Once all conditions are met, you will be issued your business permit.
Conclusion
Obtaining the necessary business permits is essential for legal compliance and the smooth operation of your business in the country.
It is advisable to budget for these permits in your initial business setup costs and renew them annually to avoid any legal issues.
For more information on specific permit requirements and application processes, you can visit the Kenya Business Licensing Portal.