Startup registration checklist

What the startup registration checklist does

Starting a business involves many small registrations, and missing one causes trouble later. List each step, such as the business name, KRA PIN, county permit and bank account, with who will do it and the date. Tick each as it is done and watch the progress.

Who it is for

First-time business owners and the friends or advisers who help them.

How to use the workbook

1. Review the list and add steps for your type of business.
2. Assign each step to a person and a target date.
3. Tick each step when it is done.
4. Check the percentage complete weekly.
5. Save a copy under a new name for each month or year, so earlier records stay as they were.

What is inside

• Steps with owner and target date
• Done or open status
• Percentage complete
• Overdue flag from today's date
• Space to add your own steps

The workbook has these sheets: Instructions, Steps, Summary. The main table has the columns Step; Owner; Target date; Done?; Status. Yellow cells are for you to fill in and grey cells calculate by themselves, so leave the grey cells alone. The example rows show how it works; type over them with your own entries.

Tips for getting it right

• Register the business name or company first.
• Get a KRA PIN and the right tax obligations early.
• Open a separate business bank account.
• Check licences for your sector.

Why keep this record

Running a business on memory works until it grows. Writing the numbers down turns opinions into facts you can compare month to month, and shows early which products, customers or costs deserve attention. Even a simple workbook, used every week, usually beats a sophisticated one that is opened once a year.

Questions people ask

Do I need to know Excel formulas? No. Type into the yellow cells and the rest is worked out for you. The formulas are visible if you want to see how a figure is reached.

Can I add rows or change the layout? You can add your own columns to the right and your own notes. If you insert rows inside a table, copy the grey formula cells down so the new rows calculate too.

Will it work on my phone or in Google Sheets? Yes for viewing and typing, but dropdown lists and the charts look best in desktop Excel or LibreOffice.

Keeping it safe and up to date

A plan is only as good as the numbers you put in. Start with honest estimates, update the workbook as real figures arrive, and compare the two so your next estimate is better. Save a dated copy each month so you can see how your thinking changed.

Read how to build a cash flow forecast for the wider picture. Free calculators that go with it: Vat registration checker. See more business templates or ask us for a custom one.

The workbook works in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets. It is a tool to help you work out and record figures, not tax, legal or accounting advice, and it is not affiliated with the Kenya Revenue Authority. If something does not work as described, contact us and we will put it right.

Related guides, calculators and templates

• Free calculator: VAT Registration Threshold Checker
• Guide: Tax on selling personal items and second-hand goods online
• Guide: Importing clothes and textiles: duty and classification
• Guide: Importing food and beverages: permits, inspections and labelling
• Another template: 12-month cash flow forecast
• Another template: Annual operating budget by department
• Another template: Break-even and pricing calculator

Need something different? Request a custom template, browse all guides or see every Excel template.