UK Ltd Company Registration — What you need and what you get

TL;DR

You can register a UK limited company online in as little as 24 hours.

You’ll need: company name, UK registered office address, at least one director, shareholder details, SIC code, statement of capital, and People with Significant Control (PSC) info.

You’ll receive a Certificate of Incorporation, company number, and digital documents from Companies House.

Step 1 — Check your company name

Your company name must be unique, not misleading, and avoid restricted or sensitive words.

Check availability with:

• Companies House name checker
• UK trademark search (to avoid conflicts with registered brands)

💡 Pro tip:
Register a matching domain name at the same time (e.g. via Namecheap or 123 Reg) — consistency builds trust and avoids disputes later.

Step 2 — Choose addresses

⚖️ Legal requirement
Every company must have a UK registered office address. Companies House will reject your application without one. This address is public, so avoid using your home address if you want privacy.

• Registered office (must be in the UK): Appears publicly on Companies House.
• Service address (for directors): Can be different, but also public.
• SAIL address (optional): If you keep records elsewhere.
• Use a virtual office provider if you don’t want to show your home address (examples: Hoxton Mix, Regus, Virtually There).

💡 Pro tip:
Choose a professional-looking address. A London or city centre location can boost credibility with clients and banks.

Step 3 — Appoint people & shares

When you register a limited company, you must appoint at least one director, one shareholder, and record a Person with Significant Control (PSC). You must also issue at least one share.

• Director(s): At least one natural person (aged 16+). This person is legally responsible for running the company.
• Shareholder(s): At least one required. The director and shareholder can be the same person.
• PSC (Person with Significant Control): Usually the main shareholder. By law, every company must keep a PSC register.
• Shares: At least one share must be issued. For most small businesses, this is a single £1 “ordinary share”.

⚖️ Legal requirement
Companies House will not accept your application unless all four elements are included:

• At least 1 director
• At least 1 shareholder
• A PSC registered
• At least 1 share issued

💡 Pro tip:
For first-time entrepreneurs, keep it simple:

• 1 director (you)
• 1 shareholder (also you)
• 1 PSC (you again)
• 1 ordinary share at £1

This setup works for most small businesses. You can always add more directors, shareholders, or change the share structure later as your company grows.

Step 4 — Pick your SIC code

• SIC (Standard Industrial Classification) describes your company’s business activity.
• You can choose multiple if needed.
• Find your SIC code on GOV.UK.

💡 Pro tip:
Don’t stress if none fits perfectly — pick the closest match. You can update it later if your business evolves.

Step 5 — Prepare details & documents

You’ll need to gather the following before you can submit your application:

• Director and shareholder details
  • Full legal name
  • Date of birth (only month/year will be public)
  • Nationality
  • Service address (public)
  • Usual residential address (private, unless used as service/registered office)
• Registered office address (UK, public record)
• Share structure (number of shares, type, nominal value, ownership percentage)
• PSC (Person with Significant Control) information
  • Anyone who owns more than 25% of shares or voting rights, or exercises significant influence.
  • You must record their name, DOB, nationality, service address, and nature of control.
  • In most one-person businesses, the founder will be the director, shareholder, and PSC.
• Memorandum & Articles of Association
  • Use model articles from Companies House if you don’t need custom rules.

⚖️ Legal requirement
Every company must keep a PSC register and file this information with Companies House. Failing to do so is a criminal offence.

💡Pro tip:
Have your ID documents ready (passport, driving licence, proof of address). Non-residents should expect additional checks and longer processing times.

Step 6 — File the application

• File directly with Companies House online, or via a formation agent (they may bundle services like address, bank referrals, tax setup).
• Cost: £34 (direct online); agents charge more depending on package.
• Timeline: same day or next working day in most cases.

💡Pro tip:
Some modern banking providers let you register a company and open a business account at the same time, saving both time and money. Examples include:

• GoSolo
• Tide
• Monzo Buziness
• Starling Bank

Step 7 — After incorporation: what you receive

• Company number (CRN)
• Certificate of Incorporation (PDF)
• Memorandum & Articles of Association
• Your public record on Companies House

💡Pro tip:
Download and save these documents immediately. Banks, HMRC, and clients may request them.

Step 8 — Essential next steps

• Register for Corporation Tax (mandatory)
  Register within 3 months of starting business activity → Register here.
  
  ⚖️ Legal requirement
  HMRC can issue penalties if you miss this deadline.
  
• Open a business bank account (strongly recommended)
  Needed to separate finances, pass AML checks, and receive payments.
  Popular digital-first options include:
  
  • GoSolo
  • Tide
  • Monzo Business
  • Starling Bank

• Set up accounting software (optional but highly recommended)
  Tools like FreeAgent or Xero save time and reduce errors.

• Register for PAYE (if paying salaries) (conditional)
  Only needed if you pay yourself or others a salary.

• Consider VAT registration (optional/conditional)
  Mandatory if turnover exceeds £90,000. Optional if you want to reclaim VAT earlier.

• Arrange insurance (optional but wise)
  Public liability, professional indemnity, or employers’ liability (mandatory if you employ staff).

• Register with the ICO (conditional)
  Required if you process personal data (applies to many service and online businesses).

Mandatory vs Optional Summary

Step	Action	Notes
Corporation Tax registration	Mandatory	Must be done within 3 months
Registered office address	Mandatory	Must be in the UK
Director appointment	Mandatory	At least 1 natural person
Shareholder & shares	Mandatory	At least 1
PSC register	Mandatory	Criminal offence if missing
Identity verification	Mandatory	New Companies House rules
Business bank account	Strongly recommended	Needed for payments & credibility
Accounting software	Optional	Saves time, reduces errors
PAYE registration	Conditional	Only if paying salaries
VAT registration	Conditional	Mandatory if turnover >£90k
Insurance	Optional / Mandatory	Employers’ liability if staff hired
ICO registration	Conditional	Required if processing personal data

Compliance checklist before you submit

Make sure you have all of these covered before filing:

• Unique company name (checked on Companies House + trademarks)
• A UK registered office address
• At least 1 director (a real person, aged 16+)
• At least 1 shareholder
• A recorded PSC
• At least 1 share issued (e.g. £1 ordinary share)
• A chosen SIC code
• Prepared documents (Memorandum & Articles — model version is fine)
• Fee ready (£12 online, more via agent or bundled service)