Set Up in Kenya.
Start to Operational.
Company registration, KRA, NSSF, licences, and payroll — all handled.
Two Max Group takes your Kenya business from registration to fully operational — company incorporation, KRA tax registration, NSSF and SHIF setup, business licences, bank account opening, and payroll infrastructure. One partner; one fixed fee; 3–5 weeks.
- Company Incorporation via eCitizen
- KRA, NSSF & SHIF Registration
- Business Licences — all 47 Counties
- Bank Account Opening Support
"Fully operational in Kenya in under four weeks — we didn't have to think about a single form." — Country Director, INGO
A Complete Operational Set Up — From First Filing to First Payroll
Our business set up services in Kenya manage everything required to transform a registered company into a fully compliant, trading entity ready to onboard staff and generate revenue.
KRA Tax Registration
PIN certificate, VAT registration, and iTax account activation for the entity and its directors.
Business Licensing & Permits
Single Business Permit, sector-specific licences (FBO, NEMA, NCA, etc.), and annual renewal management.
Statutory Compliance Set Up
NSSF, SHIF, Housing Levy, and NITA registration — correctly structured before your first employee joins.
Bank Account Opening
Facilitated introductions to Tier-1 Kenyan banks with the correct corporate KYC documentation in order.
Payroll & HR Infrastructure
Employment contracts, payroll system configuration, and compliant offer letters aligned to the Employment Act, Cap 226.
Ongoing Compliance Advisory
Post-setup statutory filing support, labour law guidance, and regulatory change monitoring throughout your first year.
Note: If you require company registration in Kenya — the eCitizen BRS incorporation process, Memorandum & Articles of Association, and CR12 documentation — please visit our dedicated Company Registration Services page. Business set up services pick up where incorporation ends, managing the full operational and compliance journey thereafter.
Three Reasons to Use a Business Set Up Service
Why use a professional business set up service in Kenya? Here is what we bring to every client engagement.
Local Regulatory Expertise
Kenya's business environment is governed by overlapping legislation — the Companies Act (Cap 486), Employment Act (Cap 226), Tax Procedures Act, and sector-specific statutes.
- IHRM-certified compliance advisors
- Real-time KRA and NHIF/SHIF updates
- 14+ years of in-market experience
- All 47 counties covered
Speed & Cost Efficiency
Every week your business is not trading is money lost. We have done this hundreds of times, so we know the shortcuts — the right contacts at each agency, the correct document order, the things that cause delays if you get them wrong.
- Expedited KRA and county licensing
- No penalty exposure from filing errors
- Fixed-fee engagement — no surprise costs
- Parallel-track multi-agency filings
Networks & Strategic Connections
After 14 years we know the right people at KRA, the county licensing offices, and the main banks. When we make an introduction for you it actually moves — rather than starting from scratch with whoever picks up the phone.
- Direct banking introductions
- KRA account manager relationships
- County government office contacts
- Referrals to vetted legal counsel
A Structured Six-Stage Engagement
Six stages from your first conversation to a fully trading business — with clear timelines at each step.
Discovery & Requirements Assessment
We review your business model, ownership structure, sector, and target timeline. Our advisors identify the precise licences, registrations, and statutory obligations relevant to your operations.
KRA & Statutory Registration
We obtain your entity's PIN certificate, activate the iTax account, and complete NSSF, SHIF, and Housing Levy employer registrations — the statutory foundations every Kenyan employer must have in place.
Licensing & Permits
We prepare and submit applications for the Single Business Permit and any sector-specific approvals required by your industry regulator — NEMA, Kenya Bureau of Standards, FBO, or relevant county authority.
Banking & Financial Infrastructure
We facilitate introductions to Tier-1 banks with correctly structured corporate KYC documentation, accelerating account opening timelines that can otherwise take weeks without the right contacts.
Payroll & HR Set Up
We configure your payroll structure, draft compliant employment contracts, and establish the HR policies required under the Employment Act — so you can onboard your first employee with zero statutory exposure.
Operational Compliance Support
We provide first-year compliance monitoring, statutory filing reminders, and regulatory update briefings — ensuring your business stays compliant as it grows and Kenya's labour laws evolve.
How We Helped a Foreign Manufacturer Launch in Nairobi
Foreign Investor — Manufacturing Plant Establishment, Nairobi Industrial Area
A foreign investor sought to establish a manufacturing plant in Nairobi's Industrial Area. Beyond company incorporation, the project required multi-agency engagement: KRA tax registration, NEMA environmental approvals, Single Business Permit from Nairobi City County, NSSF and SHIF employer registration, and the creation of a payroll infrastructure for an initial workforce of 38 staff.
Two Max Group managed the full set up process across all agencies at the same time, using our existing contacts at KRA, the National Environment Management Authority, and the main banks. Because we ran the filings in parallel rather than one after the other, the whole thing moved much faster than if the investor had tried to manage it themselves.
The plant was operational and fully compliant — with its first payroll run successfully processed — within the engagement window, enabling the investor to begin generating revenue substantially ahead of their original forecast.
Kenya's business registration process is more involved than most people expect. These numbers explain why.
Business Set Up in Kenya — FAQ
Answers to the most common questions about our business set up services in Kenya.
Business set up services in Kenya cover everything required to make your entity operational after incorporation — including KRA PIN and VAT registration, NSSF and SHIF employer registration, Housing Levy compliance, Single Business Permit and sector licences, corporate bank account facilitation, employment contract drafting, and payroll infrastructure set up. It is a broader scope than company registration alone, which only covers the legal formation of the entity on eCitizen.
Ready to Launch Your Kenya Business?
Whether you are a foreign investor coming into Kenya, an NGO opening a country office, or a local business owner ready to formalise — our IHRM-certified advisors will take you through every step until you are fully set up and trading.
Related Services
Company Registration
eCitizen BRS incorporation, CR12, and Memorandum & Articles of Association
Work Permits
Class G and Class D permit processing for expatriate staff in Kenya
Tax Consultancy
KRA-registered tax planning, VAT advisory, and compliance management
Payroll Processing
PAYE, NSSF, SHIF & Housing Levy managed payroll from month one
Related Expertise & Solutions
HR, tax, and compliance services for businesses operating in Kenya — from single hires to large regional teams.
EOR Services
Hire staff in Kenya within 48 hours — no local entity required.
Payroll Services
PAYE, NSSF, SHIF & Housing Levy — filed by the 9th, every month.
PEO Services
Co-employment model for companies with a Kenya entity already registered.
Expat Payroll Kenya
Multi-currency payroll for expatriate and mixed local/expat teams.