How to start a salon in Kenya (2026 guide)

1. Register the business Most Kenyan salon owners start as a **Sole Proprietorship** through eCitizen (Business Registration Service). It costs around KES 1,000 and takes 24-48 hours. Larger studios register a **Limited Company** via BRS for liability protection.

2. Get a KRA PIN and iTax You need a KRA PIN for the business. If you bring in over KES 5M/year you must register for VAT.

3. Single Business Permit Apply at your **County Government** (Nairobi City County, Mombasa County, etc.). Cost varies by county and shop size — typically **KES 10,000–25,000/year** for a small Nairobi salon.

4. Public health clearance Mandatory. The county Public Health Office inspects your premises (water, drainage, sterilisation, waste disposal). Expect KES 3,000–6,000.

5. Fire safety certificate Required in Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu — you'll need an extinguisher and clear exits.

6. Payments: M-Pesa Till vs Pochi A **Buy Goods Till Number** (Lipa na M-Pesa) is the standard. **Pochi La Biashara** is simpler for solo braiders but caps daily transactions lower. Most established salons run both plus a POS card reader.

7. Launch online from day one Walk-ins alone won't fill an empty book. Get listed on Beautifyx, share your booking link on Instagram and WhatsApp Status, and you'll start getting bookings within days.