Registering a UK company is fast and cheap once you know the current rules. The catch is that fees, identity verification, and registered office rules all changed recently, and most guides still quote outdated numbers. Here is the current answer: you register a private company limited by shares (Ltd) online with Companies House for £100, and it is usually approved within 24 hours, per GOV.UK’s company registration guidance.
Three things changed that older posts miss. Companies House fees rose again on 1 February 2026. A registered email address and an “appropriate address” for your registered office became mandatory in March 2024. Identity verification is now phasing in for directors and owners. This guide gives you the current costs, timelines, legal requirements, and steps.
What does it mean to incorporate in the UK?
Incorporating in the UK means registering a company with Companies House, the UK registrar of companies, under the Companies Act 2006. Incorporation creates a separate legal person that can sign contracts, own property, and sue or be sued independently of its owners. The default vehicle is a private company limited by shares (Ltd), which limits each owner’s liability to the value of their unpaid shares.
Companies House is the government body that maintains the public register of companies. You can read its role on the Companies House organisation page. Once registered, your company exists in its own right and continues regardless of who owns it.
How do you incorporate in the UK? Step-by-step guide
You incorporate a UK company in six steps: choose a structure, check and register your name, prepare your company details, file the application online, receive your certificate, then register for tax and banking. Filing online with Companies House takes minutes and is usually approved within 24 hours. Most founders complete the whole process without a lawyer.
1. Choose your business structure
Decide between an Ltd, a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP), or operating as a sole trader. The Ltd is the standard choice for founders who want limited liability and outside investment.
2. Check and register your company name
Your name must be unique, not “same as” an existing name, and free of sensitive or restricted words. Use the free Companies House name availability checker, or run Commenda’s company name checker before you file.
3. Prepare your company details
Gather your registered office address, registered email address, director and shareholder details, Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code, statement of capital, and People with Significant Control (PSC) details for anyone owning over 25%.
4. File the memorandum and articles with the IN01 application
Submit the IN01 application online with your memorandum of association and articles of association. Most companies adopt the default model articles rather than drafting bespoke ones.
5. Receive your certificate of incorporation and company number
Companies House issues your certificate of incorporation and a Company Registration Number (CRN) once approved, usually within 24 hours online.
6. Register for Corporation Tax and open a business bank account
Register for Corporation Tax with His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) within three months of starting to trade, then open a business bank account. Any industry-specific licences are separate and depend on your sector.
How much does it cost to register a company in the UK?
It costs £100 to register a UK company online, £124 by post, or £156 for same-day incorporation, per the Companies House fees that took effect on 1 February 2026. These figures replace the £50 online rate set in May 2024, which older guides still quote.
| Item | Cost | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Online (digital) registration | £100 | Companies House / GOV.UK |
| Postal registration (paper IN01) | £124 | Companies House / GOV.UK |
| Same-day digital registration | £156 | Companies House / GOV.UK |
| Confirmation statement (online) | £50/year | Companies House / GOV.UK |
| Confirmation statement (paper) | £110/year | Companies House / GOV.UK |
| Voluntary strike-off (online, DS01) | £13 | Companies House / GOV.UK |
| Voluntary strike-off (paper, DS01) | £18 | Companies House / GOV.UK |
Beyond the filing fee, budget for the running costs of an active company.
| Ongoing cost | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation Tax, small profits under £50,000 | 19% | GOV.UK Corporation Tax rates |
| Corporation Tax, main rate over £250,000 | 25% | GOV.UK Corporation Tax rates |
| VAT registration threshold | £90,000 turnover | GOV.UK |
| Accountancy for a small company | £500–£2,000+/year | Typical market rate |
| Registered office address service | ~£29–£40/year | Formation agent pricing |
Formation agents bundle these into packages that range from a few pounds to around £100 or more.
How long does it take to register a UK company?
Online registration is usually approved within 24 hours, often the same day, per GOV.UK. Same-day incorporation (£156) requires submitting before 3pm. Postal applications on form IN01 take 8 to 10 days. New identity verification checks may add time while the regime beds in.
| Method | Timeline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Online (digital) | Usually within 24 hours | GOV.UK |
| Same-day service | Same day if filed before 3pm | GOV.UK |
| Postal (IN01) | 8 to 10 days | GOV.UK |
What are the legal requirements for UK incorporation?
A UK private limited company needs at least one director aged 16 or over, with at least one director being a natural person, and at least one shareholder with no residency requirement. You also need a physical UK registered office, a registered email address, a SIC code, a statement of capital, articles of association, and a PSC register for anyone controlling over 25%.
A company secretary is optional for private companies and has been since 2008. Since March 2024, every company must supply a registered email address and hold an “appropriate address” as its registered office, meaning post must reliably reach someone acting for the company. A Royal Mail PO Box alone no longer qualifies. You can read the detail on the Companies House blog on the 2024 company law changes.
What are the memorandum and articles of association?
Under the Companies Act 2006, the memorandum of association is a short standard document confirming that the subscribers wish to form the company. The articles of association are the substantive governing document that sets out how the company is run. Most companies adopt the default model articles rather than drafting bespoke ones.
The memorandum is largely historical and is generated automatically when you register online. The articles do the real work, covering shares, directors’ powers, and decision-making. Use bespoke articles only if you need provisions the model set does not cover.
What types of business entities can you form in the UK?
The UK has seven main business structures, and the private company limited by shares (Ltd) is the most common incorporated form, per GOV.UK. The UK has no LLC, and there is no minimum share capital for an Ltd, so a single £1 share is enough to incorporate.
| Entity | Key characteristics |
|---|---|
| Sole trader | Not incorporated; individual and business are legally the same; unlimited personal liability; registers with HMRC, not Companies House |
| Ordinary partnership | Two or more people share profits and liability; not a separate legal entity; unlimited liability |
| Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) | Separate legal entity; partners have limited liability; registered at Companies House; common for professional services |
| Private company limited by shares (Ltd) | Most common incorporated form; liability limited to unpaid share value; separate legal personality |
| Private company limited by guarantee | No shares; members guarantee a set amount; used by charities, clubs, and non-profits |
| Public limited company (PLC) | Can offer shares to the public; minimum issued share capital of £50,000 with at least 25% paid up (GOV.UK) |
| Scottish Limited Partnership (SLP) | Has separate legal personality, unlike English limited partnerships; used in fund structures |
Can non-UK residents incorporate a UK company?
Yes. The UK has no residency or citizenship requirement for directors or shareholders, so you can form and own a UK company entirely from abroad. You still need a UK registered office (agent address services cost roughly £29 to £40 a year), you must complete identity verification, and UK business banking is the main practical hurdle for non-residents.
High-street banks often want a director to be UK-resident or to visit in person. Fintech business accounts are the common workaround for overseas founders. A UK-incorporated company is UK tax resident by default, so take advice if management and control sit abroad. Founders comparing jurisdictions by business type can review Commenda’s guide to the best country to incorporate for SaaS.
What is the new Companies House identity verification requirement?
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA) makes identity verification mandatory for directors, people with significant control, and anyone filing on behalf of a company. Companies House is phasing this in across 2024 and 2025, so verify your identity early and keep photo ID ready.
Verification aims to cut fraud and improve the accuracy of the public register. You can verify directly through Companies House or through an authorised agent. Build a few extra days into your timeline while the regime is still bedding in.
What are the benefits of incorporating in the UK?
Incorporating in the UK gives you limited liability, a separate legal identity, 100% foreign ownership, no minimum share capital, low formation cost (£100 online), and fast registration (usually within 24 hours). These make the UK one of the easiest common-law jurisdictions in which to start a company.
Limited liability protects your personal assets if the business fails. “Ltd” status also signals credibility to customers and suppliers. The UK’s common-law system is predictable, English-language, and widely respected, which matters for founders raising capital or contracting across borders.
UK incorporation checklist
Use this checklist to confirm you have everything before you file. Each item maps to a Companies House requirement covered above.
- Company name checked for availability and sensitive words
- Entity type chosen (Ltd for most founders)
- Registered office (appropriate address) and registered email secured
- Director and shareholder details, plus service addresses
- Share allocation and statement of capital
- SIC code selected
- PSC information for anyone controlling over 25%
- Articles of association (model or bespoke)
- Identity documents ready for verification
- £100 online filing fee
How Commenda helps you incorporate in the UK
Commenda’s incorporation service handles UK company formation end to end, from choosing the right structure to filing with Companies House and completing identity verification. After formation, Commenda’s entity management platform keeps your company compliant, tracking confirmation statements, director changes, and filing deadlines so nothing slips.
That means you get certainty on cost, timeline, and every recurring filing, whether you incorporate from the UK or from abroad. Book a demo to get your UK incorporation plan and timeline.
