Business & SME Advisory

Overview

Starting and growing a business in Kenya involves navigating a layered set of legal and regulatory obligations. Our Business & SME Advisory department provides founders, entrepreneurs, and established businesses with the structural and contractual foundation they need to operate lawfully, protect their interests, and scale without unnecessary risk.

What We Do

• ›Business Formation & Registration \u2014 We advise on the most appropriate legal structure for your business — sole proprietorship, private limited company, partnership, or branch of a foreign company — and handle registration with the Business Registration Service (BRS) via the eCitizen portal under the Companies Act, 2015.
• ›Post-Incorporation Compliance \u2014 We manage your mandatory KRA PIN registration, VAT registration (required when annual taxable turnover exceeds KES 5 million), PAYE setup, NSSF and SHIF registration, and annual returns filing with the Registrar of Companies (Form CR29).
• ›Beneficial Ownership Disclosures \u2014 The Companies (Beneficial Ownership Information) Regulations, 2020 require all companies to maintain and file a Register of Beneficial Owners. Any person holding 10% or more of shares or exercising significant influence is a reportable beneficial owner.
• ›Commercial Contracts \u2014 We draft, review, and negotiate supply agreements, service contracts, distributor agreements, shareholder agreements, and employment contracts.
• ›Tax Structuring & Advisory \u2014 We advise on legal tax structuring for businesses at all stages, including choice of entity, dividend versus salary optimisation, and sector-specific tax reliefs.
• ›Business Licensing & Sector Compliance \u2014 We identify the applicable regulatory bodies and guide businesses through licensing requirements at both national and county level.

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