How to Change of a Business Name in Kenya

Procedure BN6. Change of Name. You may change the name of your Business name, also referred to as Sole Proprietorship or partnership, at any time and for whatever purposes. This is How to Change of a Business Name in Kenya

Apply In-Person

1. Visit the Registrar of Companies Department in the Office of the Attorney general to make the application for change in business name.
2. Here you will have to do a name search and reservation for the new business name you want to adopt.
3. You will then be given form BN/6 Notice of Cessation of Business and Form BN/2 Statement of Particulars Registration to fill and submit.
4. Provide the required documents/ Information to the application forms. These include
   (a) Reserved new business name
   (b) Copy of PIN certificate of the Proprietor/s or partner/s.
   (c) Names of the Proprietor/s in Full.
   (d) The nature of Business. One activity the business shall undertake.
   (e) Postal address for the Business Name.
   (f) Proposed Physical address of the Business. Address includes Name of road, Plot number, and town, county.
   (g) Copy of ID or Passport of the Proprietor or Partners.
   (h) Passport photo of the Proprietor/s.
5. Pay the prescribed application fee of Ksh 850 and attach the payment receipt to the application document for submitting.
6. The registrar will access your application and you will be issued with a new business registration certificate reflecting the new name after a period of 10 days.
   

Apply Online

Step 1 Do a Business name search and reserve the new proposed name.

1. This is done online by visiting E-Citizens:Business Registration Service and log in using your e-citizen credentials ( or register if you do not have an account)
2. Click on name search and reservation and click on apply now.
3. Enter proposed name and required information.
4. Pay required fee of Ksh 150 and confirm payment details.
5. Get name and reserve the name.

Step 2 Register Business name

1. Click on Business Name Registration and click on apply now.
2. Enter reserved name and required information.
3. Pay required fee of Ksh 150 and confirm payment details.
4. Print payments acknowledgements and the business registration certificate.

Step 3 Make application for change of particulars – Business Name

1. Visit the E-Citizen:Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice portal.
2. Click on “make application” on the top left hand side of the screen.
3. Click on “business name registration” then select “5. Request for change of particulars BN- Business Name” and click on “Apply Now”
4. Enter the required information
   (i). New Business Name
   (ii). Business registration Number
   (iii). Old Business Name
5. Upload business registration certificate then click “continue” to validate the new business name
6. After validation, verify that the particulars you have entered are correct, proceed to make payment using the provided modes of payment.
7. Enter the short code you receive in your phone to verify your payment.
8. Print the payment invoice and the new certificate of registration with the new business name

Required Documents

1. Proposed Business name for name search reservation.
2. The nature of Business. One activity the business shall undertake.
3. Names of the Proprietor/s in Full.
4. Postal address for the Business Name.
5. Proposed Physical address of the Business. Address includes Name of road, Plot number, and town, county.
6. Copy of ID or Passport of the Proprietor or Partners.
7. Passport photo of the Proprietor/s.
8. Copy of PIN certificate of the Proprietor/s or partner/s.
   

Office Locations & Contacts

Registrar of Companies
Sheria House, Harambee Avenue
P.O. Box 40112-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254-2-2227461/2251355
0711 9445555/0732 529995
E-mail: communications@ag.go.ke

E-Citizen:Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice

Eligibility

• Proprietors of a business above 18 years of age eligible to make a change of name in a business in Kenya.
• For a business to be eligible for a name change its directors should have made a Resolution stating the change desired.
  

Fees

• Name search and reservation Ksh.150
• Business name registration Ksh.150
• Name change application fees KSh. 850
  

Validity

• The business name is valid for ever.
  

Documents to Use

• BN/6 Notice of Cessation of Business
• BN/2 Statement of Particulars Registration

Processing Time

• It takes 10 days to process a change of business name.

Instructions

• Before you make the application to Change business name, make sure you have done a name search and reservation.
  

Required Information

1. New reserved name
2. Old business name
3. The nature of Business.
4. Names of the Proprietor/s in Full.
5. Postal address for the Business Name.
6. Physical address of the Business
7. ID number of proprietors
8. PIN number of proprietors.

Need for the Document

• The Business Name is the simplest business form under which one can operate a business.
• The Business Name is not a legal entity. It simply refers to a person who owns the business and is personally responsible for its debts.
  

Information which might help

Every business name submitted is not always accepted for registration or approved. For a name to be accepted for registration, it must not

1. Appear misleading or confusing regarding the intended nature of business.
2. Appear very close to an already existing business name. if it is registered erroneously, the existing company may file an injunction, and the new business will be forced to change its name. Alternatively, the Registrar-General may order the newly registered business to change its name immediately.
3. Suggest connection with a government department or local authorities.
4. Have names with the words; lnternational, National and Commonwealth, except in special circumstances.
5. Include: Cooperative, Building Society, Bank, Banking or Trust unless valid reasons or circumstances of the business justify it.
6. Include a proper name which is not a surname of the owner or directors, unless for very valid reasons.
7. Include the name of a registered trademark unless with written consent of the trade mark owner.
   

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

• The business name enables one to register a business.
  

External Links

• Registrar of Companies