What the single business permit is
The single business permit is a county government licence that authorises your business to operate within that county for a year. It replaced multiple separate licences with one consolidated permit, hence single. It is renewed annually, and operating without it can lead to fines or closure, so it is a core part of trading legally.
Almost every business that operates from a premises needs one, from a kiosk to a supermarket. The fee is not fixed nationally: each county sets its own rates, usually banded by the type and size of business (for example by floor area, number of employees, or turnover category), so the cost varies by where you are and how big you are.
The single business permit sits alongside your other compliance, not instead of it. You still need to register the business, have a KRA PIN, and issue eTIMS-compliant invoices on taxable sales. The permit is specifically about your right to operate in the county; the others cover legal existence and tax.
How to get a single business permit, step by step
Apply through your county.
- 1
Step 1: Confirm your county and business category
Identify the county you operate in and how it categorises your business (by type and size), since this determines the fee and requirements.
- 2
Step 2: Gather what you need
Have your business registration details, KRA PIN, premises details and identification ready, as counties typically require these.
- 3
Step 3: Apply through the county
Apply via your county government, increasingly through an online county portal, for the single business permit for your business category.
- 4
Step 4: Pay the applicable fee
Pay the permit fee, which varies by county, business type and size. Check your county's current rates rather than assuming a figure.
- 5
Step 5: Receive and display the permit
Once issued, keep the permit and display it as required at your premises. It proves you are licensed to operate.
- 6
Step 6: Renew annually
Renew the permit each year to stay compliant. Set a reminder so you do not lapse and risk a penalty.
Single business permit mistakes
Operating without one
Trading without a valid permit risks fines or closure. Get the permit before or as you start operating.
Assuming a national fee
Permit fees vary by county and business size; there is no single national figure. Check your county's current rates.
Letting it lapse
The permit is annual. Forgetting to renew leaves you operating illegally and facing penalties. Set a renewal reminder.
Wrong business category
Being categorised incorrectly can mean wrong fees or compliance gaps. Confirm how your county classifies your business.
Treating it as your only compliance
The permit is not a substitute for registration, KRA PIN or eTIMS. You need all of them to trade legally.
An owner stays county-compliant
An owner in Nairobi assumed business registration was enough and did not realise she also needed a county single business permit to operate, until an inspection raised the issue.
She applied through her county for the permit in her business category, paid the county's fee for her size of shop, and displayed it at her premises. She set a reminder to renew it each year.
With the permit in place alongside her registration, KRA PIN and eTIMS, her shop was fully compliant. The annual renewal reminder ensured she would never lapse and risk a penalty again.
Trading without eTIMS-compliant tax invoices risks KRA penalties, blocked VAT input claims for your customers, and receipts a business buyer cannot expense.
Veira signs every sale to KRA eTIMS automatically, so each receipt is compliant the moment it prints, with no separate device to reconcile.
Permits aside, Veira keeps your trading compliant
The single business permit covers your right to operate in the county; Veira covers the compliance that follows every sale, issuing eTIMS-compliant invoices, reconciling M-Pesa, and keeping clean records ready for KRA.
So while you handle the permit with your county each year, Veira keeps your day-to-day trading legal and your books tidy, so compliance is handled on both fronts, from KES 2,999 a month.
Frequently asked questions
What is a single business permit in Kenya?
Who needs a single business permit?
How much does a single business permit cost?
How do I apply for a single business permit?
Is the single business permit the same as business registration?
Do I need to renew the single business permit?
The single business permit is your county licence to operate, annual, fee varying by county and size, and a core part of trading legally. With the permit handled, Veira keeps the rest of your compliance, eTIMS and clean records, effortless, from KES 2,999 a month. See how Veira works and book a free demo.