FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

WHAT IS A BUSINESS NAME?
Business Name is the simplest business form under which one can operate a business. A
Business Name is not a legal entity. It costs Kshs. 950 to register. For more information, visit
https://brs.go.ke/entities-registered/

HOW DO I REGISTER A BUSINESS NAME?

Log onto https://brsv2.ecitizen.go.ke/

Select Companies Registry Services

Click on Make Application

Select Registration of a Business Name and click apply

Key in a minimum of three or a maximum of five preferred business names in the

order of priority for review and approval

Proceed to fill the information required.

You will be required to sign the auto-generated registration form, sign, scan and
reupload on the system.

Click submit, you will receive a prompt on your phone to pay Kshs. 950

HOW DO I REGISTER A PRIVATE LIMITED COMPANY?

Log onto https://brs.ecitizen.go.ke/

Select private limited company

Key in a minimum of three or a maximum of five preferred business names in the

order of priority for review and approval

Fill in the general details of the company

Fill details of directors and shareholders and upload recent colored passport
photograph. Directors/shareholders have to be registered on the iTax platform.

Fill shareholding details

Download the auto generated forms, sign, scan and upload

Verify the information provided before submission

Make payment for the service of Kshs. 10,750

For more information, watch this tutorial; https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=TnlY5TTe2vc&t=100s

NEED SUPPORT?

WWW.BRS.GO.KE
011 112 7000
 HOW DO I CHANGE MY COMPANY NAME?
Log in to eCitizen - https://brsv2.ecitizen.go.ke/; click on VIEW under
the 'My Businesses' section of your dashboard and select the company
you would like to change the name.

Click on maintain a company

Select change of name

Key in preferred name in the order of priority

Pay Kshs. 4,050 and submit

Wait for name review

A notification shall be sent via SMS for correction. You will be advised to
upload CR15 & CR19 forms. Please note the forms are system generated
once you follow the steps below.

Click on edit application and provide information on the resolution

passed.

Select one or more director to authenticate that the resolution was

passed in accordance with the law.

The system will generate CR15 and CR 19.

Download, sign, scan and upload the forms.

Submit the application for review

Once approved, the certificate for change of name would be among the
downloads inside the application

HOW DO I CHANGE PARTICULARS FOR A COMPANY?

Log onto https://brs.ecitizen.go.ke/

On the business details of a company, click on Maintain Company link

Choose your preferred drop down button to change any of the

particulars e.g. Officials, Address etc.

Once changes are made click on save & continue

Make payment for the service

NEED SUPPORT?

WWW.BRS.GO.KE
011 112 7000
WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF CONVERTING BUSINESS NAME TO
A PRIVATE COMPANY?
Click maintain Company, make application dropdown button and select
Cessation to Convert option

On the cessation form, select the business type to change to

(partnership/private/limited). Save and continue

Upload signed DN-6 form save and continue

Confirm application details and proceed to make payment

Once the cessation is approved, there will be an option to start conversion

Fill in the details of the new company type, submit and make payment

HOW DO I FILE ANNUAL RETURNS?

Click maintain a company

Choose Annual Returns

Choose submit returns

Select last year of Returns

Fill the return date

Download system generated forms

Fill then re-upload

Submit and make payment

· For more information, watch this tutorial; https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=15oPCXu-MOk

HOW DO I TRANSFER SHARES?

Login eCitizen - https://brs.ecitizen.go.ke/

Click view under “My businesses” and select the business you intend to
make changes

Click maintain company

Select the Director Shareholders option

Choose change particulars

Select change of officials

Attach the duly assessed, Commissioned, Signed/witnessed & Stamped

Share Transfer Form franked at Ministry of Lands, in Portable Document
Format (PDF) with Stamp Duty payment receipts, Form D &/or Bank slip

NEED SUPPORT?

WWW.BRS.GO.KE
011 112 7000
 HOW TO CONDUCT A BACKGROUND CHECK OF A COMPANY?
Login eCitizen - https://brs.ecitizen.go.ke/

Select make application

Choose Official Search ("Cr12") for Private Limited Companies

Click “Apply Now”

Key in the "Registration Name or Number" of the entity

Select the Company and click next

If the Company verification status is “Verified”, you will be required to key in your postal
address and code, email and phone number

Click “Save and Continue”

Confirm by clicking “I hereby confirm that I have provided all the information as
required by the Registrar in regard to this application”

Click finish to pay the applicable prerequisite fee of Ksh. 650

Please note: Before you perform an OFFICIAL SEARCH ("CR12") it is important to note
the following;

The Official Search is a computer-generated certificate

Only Verified companies will generate an automated official search
The Official Search is addressed to the Individual or Business logged in and making the
application.

HOW DO I LINK MY BUSINESS ON BRS ECITIZEN PORTAL?

Login the directors, director-shareholder or appointed company secretaries account on
https://brs.ecitizen.go.ke/ and enter the username and password.

Select Business Registration Service and click "Link Business" where you will be
prompted to enter the name or registration number of the business and click search.

Select the business and click next, and you will see the Edit Details where you will be
required to enter the business details, this includes Business Name, Registration
Number, Registration Type and Registration Date. Click save and continue.

Fill in details of the nature of business and enter the capacity.

Fill in details of the registered office addresses and add all the information as required.

Provide information on shares by adding the Share Category, number of shares and
value of each share.

Fill in details of all Directors/shareholders, personal details and the shares and Beneficial
Ownership Information, then save and continue.

Download the auto-generated Beneficial Ownership Information Form, sign, upload and
submit the application for review.
 WHO IS A BENEFICIAL OWNER?

A beneficial owner of a Company is an individual who falls within any of these

categories, whether individually or jointly;

Has direct or indirect holding of at least 10% of the issued shares of the company

Exercises at least 10% of the voting rights in the company

Has rights to appoint or remove a director of the company; or

Exercises “significant influence or control” over the company

Any person who meets any one or more of the criteria above is a beneficial owner for the
purposes of compliance. For more information;
https://brs.go.ke/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/MPSR-HANDBOOK-1.pdf

WHAT IS LIQUIDATION OF COMPANIES?

Liquidation is the process of winding up a business following an event of insolvency.
Insolvency is defined as the inability of a company to pay its debts of one hundred
thousand shillings (Kshs. 100,000) or more. Once a company is in liquidation, a liquidator is
appointed to realize the company’s assets and make a distribution to creditors. On
appointment of a liquidator, all the powers of directors cease and the affairs of the company
as well as its assets are vested in the liquidator. The Court has the power to appoint or
remove a liquidator.

Liquidation proceedings may be commenced either voluntarily or through Court. Within 7

days of commencement of these proceedings, a notice of appointment of a liquidator is
lodged with both the Official Receiver and the Registrar of Companies. The liquidation
process commences when a Liquidation Order is made or a resolution for liquidation is
passed. Liquidation proceedings operate in favour of all the creditors.

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF LIQUIDATION?

Members’ Voluntary Liquidation (MVL) – initiated by shareholders of the company when

they pass a special resolution to liquidate the company and appoint a liquidator

Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) – initiated by a resolution of the creditors of a

company to appoint a liquidator, passed at a meeting convened by the company

Liquidation by Court – initiated by lodging a Liquidation Petition at the High Court for
issuance of a Liquidation Order against a company.

NEED SUPPORT? 011 112 7000 [email protected]

WWW.BRS.GO.KE