These are the four legal requirements to start a small business in Nairobi
These are the four legal requirements to start a small business in Nairobi
By Davis Muli
Starting a business in Kenya’s capital comes with its fair share of challenges. However, some of the challenges can be evaded if you do a brief research and strategize accordingly. With the raising entrepreneurial spirit among the youth, it is important to understand the following requirements of setting up a legal business.
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- Registration (Company/Business name)
If you are on a small budget, registering a business name is one of the ideal ways to start your business off. It is a bit cheaper as compared to registering a company. It’s a simple process, go online to the E-Citizen portal, sign up and create a user I.D. and from there you should be able to go to the E-Business portal and do a name search (you check different name options for your business, one at a time) it’s Kshs. 150 per name, this takes at least one day. After the check; the name is held for you for 30 days; this gives you a chance to register the name of your choice and it usually takes at least 5 days and costs Kshs. 850.
- Food/ Health Related Permits
These permits are a must have for people who are in any business that sells consumable goods such as bakery, liquor stores, beverages etc. Even salon operators are required to have a health-related permit. You will require a Health Inspector to visit your place of business and after they have inspected your location, you will be certified.
- Fire Safety Certificate
With the raising number of accidents, especially fire accidents, it is only fair for the county government to ensure that business operators are well equipped to fight such disasters. Therefore, all businesses are required to be Fire safety certified. This requires you to have at least a fire extinguisher and any other fire safety requirements, a Fire safety inspector will advise you on, based on your business. After the inspection, you will be certified and get a Fire Safety Certificate.
- City Council Business Permit
For you to conduct business, you also need an annual business permit from the City Council. The details on the cost depend on the size of your premises and the industry you have chosen to do business in.
