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How do I reserve a business name in Kenya?

Author

Mia Moss

Published Feb 21, 2026

How do I reserve a business name in Kenya?

You can apply for business name reservation using your Safaricom registered mobile phone number. To apply via your Safaricom mobile dial *271# for name registration (click here to visit our Learning Centre to find out more).

Also question is, how much does it cost to register a business name in Kenya?

Service Offered	Fees	Time
Registration of Business name	Kshs 950	1 day
Limited Liability Partnership	Kshs 25000	1 day
Private Limited Company	Kshs 10650	3-5 days
Public Limited Company	Kshs 10650	3-5 days

One may also ask, how do I reserve a business name? Go to your state's Secretary of State's website to reserve or register a name. There will probably be a fee for registration.

Considering this, how do I reserve a business name in eCitizen?

Here is what to do:

Go to your browser and search for 'eCitizen log in'.
Once you are in you eCitizen portal, go through the tabs provided on the home page.
A new page will appear.
On the new page, find and click on 'Name Search-Company/Business' option.

Can I reserve a company name without registering a company?

Any company may be registered with or without a company name. If a reserved name is not included in the initial application, the company will be registered with its enterprise number. A name may be added at a later stage through a name amendment.

How long does business name registration take in Kenya?

A Business Name registration will take an average of 3 days to process.

How do I know if a business name is registered?

To do this, simply go down to your county clerk's office and see if the name is registered or on a list of fictitious names for businesses (in a few states, there is a statewide fictitious business names database that your county clerk can find and inform you).

What happens if my business name expires?

If your business name has been cancelled within the last 6 months and you want to use it again, you can make a request to ASIC to restore it, online. If more than 6 months have passed since the cancellation, you won't be able to restore. If you still want the name and it's available, you'll need to register it.

What comes after reserving a company name?

After reserving your business name, you should file your business formation documents (i.e., articles of organization for new LLCs or articles of incorporation for new corporations) with the secretary of state before the expiration of the time period for your name reservation.

What does it mean to reserve a business name?

Reserving the name allows you to protect it for a certain period of time — usually 120 days, although the exact time period does vary a bit depending on your state. During that period, no one else can incorporate under the name you've chosen.

How long does name reservation take?

The Name Reservation application takes 2-3 working days. However, If there is a delay from CIPC due to excessive workload, the process could take longer.

Do you automatically get approval for the business name you've requested?

Q3 Do you automatically get approval for the business name you've requested? Your name reservation does not automatically get approved. If the Secretary of State determines that another business is already using that name, your request will be rejected and you will be directed to select another name.

Can I use the word academy in my business name?

A2A: You should check your state rules, but there do not appear to be any restrictions regarding the use of the word academy in a company, whether for profit or nonprofit. Whether weird or not - depends on what you're doing and how good you are at it. Academies are, theoretically, titles that are earned.

How do I get my business name approved?

An application in the prescribed manner and on payment of applicable fees is to be submitted with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. After reviewing the application for availability of your proposed company name, the Ministry of Corporate Affairs shall either approve or reject the same.

What happens if I don't register my business name?

If you don't register your brands, logos and names as trademarks there are no guarantees that you have the right to use them. By not protecting your business with a registered trademark, another trader can start using a similar name to yours in your industry, and you may have no power to stop them.

How long can you reserve a company name for CIPC?

six months

Can I register a Ltd company and not use it?

There is no way that you can reserve a company name without forming a limited company under that name. Let's take a look at a few steps to take during your planning stages that may help you to put some measures in place to secure the best possible trading name for your new company.

How much does it cost to register a business name?

In most cases, the total cost to register your business will be less than $300, but fees vary depending on your state and business structure. The information you'll need typically includes: Business name.

What is the difference between a company name and a trading name?

A business can opt to have their business name and trade name be the same. A trade name may also be called a doing business as (DBA) name. It's the name the public sees. If you want to operate under a different name than your legal business name, register a trade name for your company.

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