Business account costs in Kenya come mainly from a monthly maintenance fee, a per entry ledger fee, a minimum balance rule on some accounts, and transaction charges. Some banks publish a flat maintenance fee, while a starter account such as the KCB Entrepreneurs Account is marketed with no monthly maintenance charge, where transaction fees still apply.
- Typical monthly maintenance
- Free to about 1,000 shillings a month
- Ledger fee
- Often charged per entry, for example about 35 shillings
- Zero balance option
- Yes, for example KCB Entrepreneurs Account
- Charged in
- Kenyan shilling (KES)
General information, not financial, legal, or tax advice. Verify current terms and eligibility with the provider before applying.
How business account fees work in Kenya
Fees fall into a few groups. A monthly maintenance fee is the headline cost at many banks. A ledger fee, charged per transaction entry posted to the account, is common in Kenya and can matter more than the maintenance fee for an account with many transactions. A minimum or opening balance requirement applies on some accounts, where the bank asks for a set amount to open and keep the account. On top of these sit transaction costs, such as charges for transfers, currency conversion away from the mid market rate, cheque books, and cash handling. As of 16 March 2026, Co-operative Bank lists a current account monthly maintenance fee of about 300 shillings with a ledger fee of about 35 shillings per entry, and an opening balance of about 10,000 shillings for companies, while KCB markets the Entrepreneurs Account with nil opening balance, nil minimum balance, and no monthly maintenance charge, where transaction and ledger fees still apply. Confirm current pricing with the provider.
Maintenance, ledger, and minimum balance
Many Kenyan banks publish a tariff guide that sets the monthly maintenance fee, the per entry ledger fee, and any opening or minimum balance. A starter business account may show no monthly maintenance charge, yet still apply ledger and transaction fees on each entry, so read the full tariff rather than the headline.
Transaction and currency costs
Many businesses in Kenya pay suppliers abroad or receive money from overseas clients, so transfer and conversion charges can matter more than the maintenance fee. Compare the cost for each transfer, the exchange rate margin, and any charges for mobile money and cash handling, since these vary widely between banks.
What drives the cost
Four things drive what a business account costs in Kenya, as of 16 March 2026. Verify with the provider
- A monthly maintenance fee, charged on many current accounts and waived on some starter accounts.
- A per entry ledger fee, applied to each transaction posted to the account.
- An opening or minimum balance requirement, which on a company account can be several thousand shillings.
- Transaction costs, such as transfers, currency conversion, mobile money charges, cheque books, and cash handling.
Questions about business account fees in Kenya
How much does a business bank account cost in Kenya?
Is there a business account with no monthly fee in Kenya?
What is a ledger fee on a Kenyan business account?
Do Kenyan business accounts charge for foreign transfers?
Fees, features, and eligibility change and vary by region. This page was last reviewed on 16 March 2026. Confirm current terms with the provider before applying.