Everything you need to register a company in the UK - explore our packages.
Top Features
Your new limited company registered at Companies House within 24 hours.
As soon as your new company has been approved by Companies House, you can start trading immediately.
The Companies House filing fee of £50 for company incorporation is included in the package price. Registering your new company with 1st Formations incurs no additional costs.
UK Customers
We have partnered with 7 leading UK banks to offer our customers the perfect business banking solution. When you place your new company order, simply choose your preferred bank, and they will contact you after your company has been formed.
Non-Resident Customers
We have partnered with WorldFirst to offer our international customers a business banking solution. We have included a WorldFirst business account referral in our Non-Residents and eSeller Packages.
Please note: Account openings for all banking referral partners are subject to approval.
Your company documents delivered to you by email as soon as your new company is registered, including:
A company expert will prepare and submit your annual confirmation statement to Companies House, ensuring it is filed on time and accurately.
Please note: This service does not include the £34.00 Companies House filing fee. When filing your first confirmation statement, we will take payment of £34.00 using your payment card details securely stored in your account.
Our Confirmation Statement Service is renewable annually at the cost of £59.99 +VAT.
Top Features
Your new limited company registered at Companies House within 24 hours.
As soon as your new company has been approved by Companies House, you can start trading immediately.
The Companies House filing fee of £50 for company incorporation is included in the package price. Registering your new company with 1st Formations incurs no additional costs.
UK Customers
We have partnered with 7 leading UK banks to offer our customers the perfect business banking solution. When you place your new company order, simply choose your preferred bank, and they will contact you after your company has been formed.
Non-Resident Customers
We have partnered with WorldFirst to offer our international customers a business banking solution. We have included a WorldFirst business account referral in our Non-Residents and eSeller Packages.
Please note: Account openings for all banking referral partners are subject to approval.
Your company documents delivered to you by email as soon as your new company is registered, including:
Use our prestigious Covent Garden address as your company’s registered office address and protect the privacy of your home.
All UK government mail and court documents will be scanned and emailed to you daily, free of charge.
This service is renewable on a 12-month basis at the cost of £39.00 +VAT.
Our Service Address Service provides an official address for a company director, shareholder, or PSC to appear on the public record.
All UK government mail and Court documents addressed to the company officer will be scanned and emailed free of charge daily.
This service is renewable on a 12-month basis at the cost of £26.00 +VAT.
A company expert will prepare and submit your annual confirmation statement to Companies House, ensuring it is filed on time and accurately.
Please note: This service does not include the £34.00 Companies House filing fee. When filing your first confirmation statement, we will take payment of £34.00 using your payment card details securely stored in your account.
Our Confirmation Statement Service is renewable annually at the cost of £59.99 +VAT.
Top Features
Your new limited company registered at Companies House within 24 hours.
As soon as your new company has been approved by Companies House, you can start trading immediately.
The Companies House filing fee of £50 for company incorporation is included in the package price. Registering your new company with 1st Formations incurs no additional costs.
UK Customers
We have partnered with 7 leading UK banks to offer our customers the perfect business banking solution. When you place your new company order, simply choose your preferred bank, and they will contact you after your company has been formed.
Non-Resident Customers
We have partnered with WorldFirst to offer our international customers a business banking solution. We have included a WorldFirst business account referral in our Non-Residents and eSeller Packages.
Please note: Account openings for all banking referral partners are subject to approval.
Your company documents will be delivered to you by email and a hardcopy by post as soon as your new company is registered, including:
Use our prestigious Covent Garden address as your company’s registered office address and protect the privacy of your home.
All UK government mail and court documents will be scanned and emailed to you daily, free of charge.
This service is renewable on a 12-month basis at the cost of £39.00 +VAT.
Our Service Address Service provides an official address for a company director, shareholder, or PSC to appear on the public record.
All UK government mail and Court documents addressed to the company officer will be scanned and emailed free of charge daily.
This service is renewable on a 12-month basis at the cost of £26.00 +VAT.
A company expert will prepare and submit your annual confirmation statement to Companies House, ensuring it is filed on time and accurately.
Please note: This service does not include the £34.00 Companies House filing fee. When filing your first confirmation statement, we will take payment of £34.00 using your payment card details securely stored in your account.
Our Confirmation Statement Service is renewable annually at the cost of £59.99 +VAT.
Top Features
Your new limited company registered at Companies House within 24 hours.
As soon as your new company has been approved by Companies House, you can start trading immediately.
The Companies House filing fee of £50 for company incorporation is included in the package price. Registering your new company with 1st Formations incurs no additional costs.
UK Customers
We have partnered with 7 leading UK banks to offer our customers the perfect business banking solution. When you place your new company order, simply choose your preferred bank, and they will contact you after your company has been formed.
Non-Resident Customers
We have partnered with WorldFirst to offer our international customers a business banking solution. We have included a WorldFirst business account referral in our Non-Residents and eSeller Packages.
Please note: Account openings for all banking referral partners are subject to approval.
Your company documents will be delivered to you by email and a hardcopy by post as soon as your new company is registered, including:
Use our prestigious Covent Garden address as your company’s registered office address and protect the privacy of your home.
All UK government mail and court documents will be scanned and emailed to you daily, free of charge.
This service is renewable on a 12-month basis at the cost of £39.00 +VAT.
Our Service Address Service provides an official address for a company director, shareholder, or PSC to appear on the public record.
All UK government mail and Court documents addressed to the company officer will be scanned and emailed free of charge daily.
This service is renewable on a 12-month basis at the cost of £26.00 +VAT.
Our London Business Address Service allows you to use our Covent Garden address for your day-to-day business correspondence, establishing a business presence in Central London.
All mail addressed to your company will be forwarded to you by scan and email on the same day we receive it for £0.50 per item.
This service is renewable annually at the cost of £96.00 +VAT.
A company expert will prepare and submit your annual confirmation statement to Companies House, ensuring it is filed on time and accurately.
Please note: This service does not include the £34.00 Companies House filing fee. When filing your first confirmation statement, we will take payment of £34.00 using your payment card details securely stored in your account.
Our Confirmation Statement Service is renewable annually at the cost of £59.99 +VAT.
Allow our highly trained staff to handle the formalities of your VAT registration.
We will apply for your VAT registration online.
Once your VAT registration has been approved, HMRC will send your VAT Registration Number by post to the business address provided on the application. You will then be able to access your VAT Registration Certificate online on the Government Gateway.
If you would like to pay yourself as a company director or have employees or other directors who will be taking a salary from your company, you must register for PAYE with HMRC.
Our highly trained staff will take care of the registration on your behalf.
The PAYE registration process usually takes around 3 weeks, and your PAYE information will be sent to you by post directly from HMRC.
Top Features
Your new limited company registered at Companies House within 24 hours.
As soon as your new company has been approved by Companies House, you can start trading immediately.
The Companies House filing fee of £50 for company incorporation is included in the package price. Registering your new company with 1st Formations incurs no additional costs.
UK Customers
We have partnered with 7 leading UK banks to offer our customers the perfect business banking solution. When you place your new company order, simply choose your preferred bank, and they will contact you after your company has been formed.
Non-Resident Customers
We have partnered with WorldFirst to offer our international customers a business banking solution. We have included a WorldFirst business account referral in our Non-Residents and eSeller Packages.
Please note: Account openings for all banking referral partners are subject to approval.
Your company documents will be delivered to you by email and a hardcopy by post as soon as your new company is registered, including:
Use our prestigious Covent Garden address as your company’s registered office address and protect the privacy of your home.
All UK government mail and court documents will be scanned and emailed to you daily, free of charge.
This service is renewable on a 12-month basis at the cost of £39.00 +VAT.
Our Service Address Service provides an official address for a company director, shareholder, or PSC to appear on the public record.
All UK government mail and Court documents addressed to the company officer will be scanned and emailed free of charge daily.
This service is renewable on a 12-month basis at the cost of £26.00 +VAT.
Our London Business Address Service allows you to use our Covent Garden address for your day-to-day business correspondence, establishing a business presence in Central London.
All mail addressed to your company will be forwarded to you by scan and email on the same day we receive it for £0.50 per item.
This service is renewable annually at the cost of £96.00 +VAT.
A company expert will prepare and submit your annual confirmation statement to Companies House, ensuring it is filed on time and accurately.
Please note: This service does not include the £34.00 Companies House filing fee. When filing your first confirmation statement, we will take payment of £34.00 using your payment card details securely stored in your account.
Our Confirmation Statement Service is renewable annually at the cost of £59.99 +VAT.
Allow our highly trained staff to handle the formalities of your VAT registration.
We will apply for your VAT registration online.
Once your VAT registration has been approved, HMRC will send your VAT Registration Number by post to the business address provided on the application. You will then be able to access your VAT Registration Certificate online on the Government Gateway.
If you would like to pay yourself as a company director or have employees or other directors who will be taking a salary from your company, you must register for PAYE with HMRC.
Our highly trained staff will take care of the registration on your behalf.
The PAYE registration process usually takes around 3 weeks, and your PAYE information will be sent to you by post directly from HMRC.
Our Full Company Secretary Service is our premium service. It provides up to 15 changes to your company per year to ensure your company stays compliant and offers many other benefits.
What's included?
Renewal Cost
Our Full Company Secretary Service is renewable annually for £149.99 +VAT.
With the UK’s largest company formation agent
Start and grow your UK business from anywhere in the world
This package includes limited company registration, UK business banking, London address services with international mail forwarding, and more. A full list of eligible countries can be found here.
Last Updated: 28 October 2024
We can form companies for customers in most countries in the world; however, there are several that are not
eligible.
Check if your country is eligible below:
Form your company with 1st Formations and set up your
business bank account with no paperwork or stress.
This leading high street bank offers a business bank account with no fees for the first 12 months. Their App allows you to manage your account online, make payments locally and internationally, and create invoices for free.
How to apply
Once your company has been formed, Barclays will contact you with details on how to open your account. Your account will be opened within 6 to 8 weeks, and your business debit card will arrive within 5 days of the account being activated.
Established high street bank NatWest offer a business bank account with no transaction fees for the first 18 months. They also provide a range of borrowing options to help grow your business.
How to apply
NatWest will email you within 1 day of your company's incorporation with instructions for opening your account.
This business bank account offers spending notifications, pots to separate and manage your money, FSCS protection, and instant UK bank transfers. Starting with no monthly fees, it's a great choice for businesses.
How to apply
Monzo will email you within 24 hours of your company's formation to guide you through the account opening process.
This business bank account helps you manage your company's finances with an App that provides categorised spending, mobile cheque deposit, the ability to make in-app payments of up to £25,000 per day and monthly cashflow outlook. There is no monthly account fee for the first 12 months.
How to apply
Once your company has been formed, HSBC will email instructions on downloading their App. Once downloaded, you can apply in minutes, with most accounts being opened within 2 days.
This online business banking solution provides free money transfers and ATM transactions, 1% cashback on business expenses paid with your debit card, and the ability to set up direct debits. ANNA also provide multiple debit cards with customisable spending limits.
How to apply
Once your company is incorporated, you'll receive an email and SMS with a link to start your online application. Most accounts are opened in just 3 minutes, with your company's debit card arriving within 5 working days.
An online business bank account which includes expense cards, a business Mastercard and an award-winning app. You can set up direct debits, make purchases for free and arrange a business overdraft of up to £2,000.
How to apply
Once your company is formed, Zempler will contact you to complete a quick application. With no credit checks required, you'll receive your UK bank account and sort code within 5 minutes. Your business Mastercard will follow in the post within 5 working days of your account being opened.
A straightforward business banking solution for non-UK resident customers. Apply for an account in minutes and gain access to local account numbers and sort codes for over 10 currencies, including USD, GBP, and EUR. Pay staff partners, and suppliers in over 40 currencies and integrate with Xero for simple accounting and reconciliation.
How to apply
A referral is included free with our Non-Residents and eSeller packages. Once your company has been formed, you'll receive an 'Order Fulfilment' email containing a link to sign up for a WorldFirst Business Account. If your application is successful, you'll receive your UK bank sort code and account number shortly after. Account openings are subject to approval.
Business banking with Tide allows you to simplify your company's financial management. Their business account App integrates with tools like Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, and others, so you can take care of accounting and invoicing all in one place.
How to apply
After forming your company, complete a simple online application and your account will be opened within an hour. Once your account is open, your free business Mastercard will be sent to you.
With the support of 1st Formations, Tax Scouts transformed their startup into a global business
Our easy company registration process gets your business up and running in no time.
Begin by searching for your company name to see if it is available for registration.
Select the package that is right for you. We have a range of different options.
Proceed to checkout. You will also have the option to add additional services.
Quickly fill in your company details and let us take care of the rest.
Created for beginners, this short video will provide you with everything you need to know
about the company formation process - in the simplest of terms. Watch it and register your company today.
We have teamed up with some of the top business brands
in the world to give our customers a range of special offers and discounts.
We helped them start their business. Watch their case studies to see how they are growing.
As the UK's leading company formations agents, we recognised
our responsibility to address our impact on the environment.
We calculated and offset our carbon footprint by investing in
environmental projects certified to the most recognised standards.
We are proud of this achievement and committed to maintaining
our carbon neutral status for many years to come.
Take a look at what our customers say after registering a company with us.
“Direct access to the right person. All my questions answered concisely, professionally, comprehensively. An email followed confirming everything discussed and included actions I need to take. Outstanding service.” (22 January 2025)
Heat Pumps Made Easy Ltd
“It was very easy to set up if you watched the video provided for beginners.” (15 January 2025)
Vista-Way Limited
“Great priced packages, excellent fast service, great customer service after purchase. Would highly recommend.” (15 January 2025)
Taps On Point Ltd
“It was my first time ordering a company online. It was dead easy and the helpline was quick and great too.” (13 January 2025)
Amaik Projects Ltd
“I greatly appreciate the assistance of your collaborators and their patience; it reflects a high level of professionalism. Thank you for everything.” (09 January 2025)
McCompany Ltd
“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to 1st Formations for their exceptional support in helping me create my company. Their professionalism, expertise and dedication made the entire process smooth and stress-free. From the initial consultation to the final setup, their guidance was invaluable.” (09 January 2025)
Harmostyle Ltd
“Excellent experience. In truth, I am 'having a go' at creating a small business without any prior experience, thus 1st Formations have been brilliant in helping me navigate the process.” (09 January 2025)
Refit Health LLP
“Excellent customer service. Always top notch.” (07 January 2025)
Sunday Finance School LLP
“Creating my Ltd company was an incredible experience! From choosing the name to completing the registration, every step was smooth and empowering. The process helped me clarify my vision, formalize my goals, and take a big leap toward building my future.” (06 January 2025)
Velena Ltd
“Fantastic service and the company was incorporated in a few hours!” (05 January 2025)
Latitude Leadership Coaching Ltd
The No.1 thing that has made us successful has been our fanatical focus on the customer.
As we have grown we've been able to pass on our economies of scale to the customer.
Our company formation training programme is much-admired within our industry.
Set up a limited company today, and start trading tomorrow
Private limited companies account for over 95% of all companies registered in the UK. An overwhelming majority of these are private companies limited by shares, making this structure the most commonly used company type.
The main benefit of forming a limited company is the protection provided by limited liability. This means if your business runs into financial trouble, your personal assets will not be at risk. Other benefits include enhanced credibility and tax efficiency. Overall, choosing a limited company structure can offer greater security and growth opportunities for your business.
A company limited by shares is the most common type of limited company in the UK. 'Limited by shares' simply means the liability of the owners is limited to the nominal value of the shares issued by the company. Shareholders are only liable for the company's debts up to the amount they have invested, which helps protect their personal finances during company operation.
It usually takes up to 24 hours to form a company with 1st Formations; however, this is dependent on Companies House workload on the day, and it can take longer. To expedite your company registration, ensure you have all necessary information ready for submission.
Yes. One person can form a limited company in the UK. One individual can serve as both the director and the shareholder (owner) of the company.
Having this information prepared in advance will streamline the company formation process.
By law, all private companies registered in the UK are required to appoint at least one director. The director must be a natural person (a human) who is at least 16 years old. There is no need for the director to be based in the UK.
A limited company must issue at least one share. If there is more than one shareholder, it is required to issue at least one share per shareholder. It is often recommended to issue more than the minimum number of shares to avoid the need to issue more in the future.
No. You can form a company as a non UK resident from most locations in the world. However, you will require to have a UK registered office address, which 1st Formations provides in most our company formation packages. Have a look at our Non-Residents Package for more details on how to register your company from abroad.
We accept all major credit and debit cards including Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, and American Express. We ensure secure transactions, giving you peace of mind when setting up your company.
There is no legal obligation for a limited company to open a business bank account; however, in practice it is almost impossible to operate without one. A limited company is a separate legal entity from its owners; therefore you should keep your personal and business finances separate.
You can start trading through your new limited company immediately after it is registered at Companies House.
The annual filing requirements for a limited company in the UK include submitting a confirmation statement, annual accounts and Corporation Tax Return. Staying compliant with these filing requirements is essential for avoiding penalties and maintaining your company's good standing.
All UK company directors must report their home address to Companies House. The home address does not appear on the public record. The only reason a director’s home address would appear publicly is if the director chooses to use it as their service address.
1st Formations offers a Service Address Service which allows directors to use our prestigious Covent Garden address as their service address, helping to protect their privacy.
Once your company has been incorporated, you will receive a digital copy of your Certificate of Incorporation confirming your company has been registered. You will also receive a digital copy of your Memorandum and Articles of Association, and share certificates for your shareholders. If your package includes hard-copy company documents, these will be dispatched to you within 1 working day.
Depending on the package you buy, you may receive a copy of your company’s registers and minutes for your first board meeting.
Yes, 1st Formations provide full telephone, email and online chat support for all customers during the lifetime of their companies. We also provide an Online Company Manager and a full range of company services including London company address services to help maintain and develop your company.
