How to Register a Limited Company in the UK
Registering a limited company takes around 24 hours and costs £100 if you do it yourself through Companies House. The process has changed over the past two years, though: every director now has to verify their identity first, and the registered office and email rules are stricter. Here are the steps in order, what each one costs, and what to sort out once the certificate arrives.
Is a limited company the right choice?
A limited company is a separate legal entity. The business owns its assets and owes its debts, and your personal liability is generally limited to the money you put in as a shareholder. That separation is the main attraction, along with a different tax treatment from sole trading: the company pays corporation tax on its profits, and you take money out as salary, dividends, or both.
It also comes with more admin. Accounts and a confirmation statement have to be filed publicly, directors’ names appear on the register, and you need to keep your own money and the company’s money strictly apart. Whether it works out cheaper in tax depends on how much profit you make and how you draw it, which our sole trader vs limited company guide covers in detail. If you’re still undecided, it’s worth a conversation with an accountant before you register, not after.
What you need before you start
Gather these before opening the online form, because it’s easier to complete in one sitting:
- At least one director, aged 16 or over and not disqualified from acting as a director. A company secretary is optional.
- At least one shareholder. This can be the same person as the director, and many one-person companies are set up exactly that way.
- A registered office address in the UK. This is where official post goes, and it appears on the public register.
- An email address for the company, which Companies House uses to contact you. This one is not published.
- A SIC code describing what the company does. You can choose up to four.
- Details of anyone with significant control, which generally means anyone holding more than 25% of the shares or voting rights.
- Your articles of association. Most small companies use the model articles, which Companies House applies by default.
- A personal code for each director, which you get by verifying identity (see section 4).
Choosing a company name
Your company name has to end in “Limited” or “Ltd” (or the Welsh equivalent), and it can’t be the same as a name already on the register. Beyond that, a few rules catch people out:
- Sensitive words such as “Royal”, “British”, “Bank” or “Chartered” need approval and supporting evidence.
- Names that suggest a connection to government or a public body are refused.
- Offensive names are refused.
A name being available on the register doesn’t mean you’re free to use it. Check the UK Intellectual Property Office’s trade mark database too, because a registered trade mark holder can challenge a company name and force a change. Check that the matching domain name and social handles are free while you’re at it.
You can also trade under a different name from your registered company name, but you’ll need to show the company’s name and registered address on your invoices, website, and letterheads.
Verifying your identity
Identity verification became a legal requirement on 18 November 2025. Every director, and every person with significant control, has to prove who they are. For a new company, each director needs a Companies House personal code before the application can be submitted.
You verify through GOV.UK One Login, using a photo ID such as a biometric passport or a UK photo driving licence. If you don’t have an accepted photo ID and live in the UK, there are alternative routes using bank details, your National Insurance number, or a visit to a Post Office. An accountant or solicitor registered as an authorised corporate service provider can also verify you on your behalf.
Do this first. If you have more than one director, each of them needs to complete the process separately, and the application can’t go through until every personal code is in.
Existing directors have to supply their personal code with the company’s next confirmation statement, so this affects any company you already run as well.
Registering step by step
You’ll be asked to set up a user ID and password for the company itself. It can’t be your personal Government Gateway login, and you’ll use it later to manage corporation tax.
Name, registered office, email address, and SIC code. Check the spelling of the name carefully, because changing it afterwards costs £20.
Names, dates of birth, nationality, and service address for each director, plus each director’s personal code. For shareholders, you’ll set out how many shares each person holds and their value. Many small companies issue 100 shares at £1 each, but the number is up to you.
List anyone holding more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, or otherwise controlling the company. For a company with a single owner-director, that’s usually just you.
Since March 2024, the people forming a company have to state that it is being formed for lawful purposes. You’ll tick this as part of the application.
The fee is £100 by debit or credit card. Most applications are approved within 24 hours, and you receive a certificate of incorporation showing your company number and incorporation date.
If you’d rather use paper, form IN01 costs £124 and takes around 8 to 10 days. The paper route is also the only option if you want a company name that doesn’t include “Limited”. Same-day registration is available through software and agent providers for £156.
Doing it yourself or using an agent
You can register directly with Companies House, or go through a formation agent. Agents typically charge a small fee on top of the Companies House fee, and the cheapest packages are often little more than the basic registration. The extras are where the cost builds up.
| Route | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Companies House directly | £100 online | Simple companies with straightforward ownership, where you’re happy to follow the online form |
| Formation agent | Agent fee plus the £100 filing fee | People who want a registered office address service, bespoke articles, or a share certificate pack included |
| Accountant | Often bundled with an ongoing accounting package | Anyone who already knows they need an accountant for corporation tax, payroll, and year-end accounts |
If you’re going to need an accountant anyway, ask whether they include company formation in their service. Our guide to choosing an accountant has the questions to ask.
What to do once you’re registered
Registering with Companies House is only part of the job. Once the certificate arrives:
- Register for corporation tax. Corporation tax is usually set up as part of the online application, and HMRC sends your 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference by post. You then add corporation tax to the company’s business tax account. If you haven’t registered, you must notify HMRC within three months of starting to trade. Our corporation tax guide covers rates and deadlines.
- Open a business bank account. Keep company money separate from your own from day one. See our guide to business bank accounts.
- Pay in the share capital. If you issued shares at £1 each, the shareholders owe the company that amount, so pay it into the company account.
- Register for VAT if you need to. You must register once your taxable turnover passes the threshold, and you can register earlier if it suits you. Read our VAT registration guide.
- Set up PAYE if you’ll pay yourself a salary or employ anyone. Directors drawing a salary need payroll in place. See our guide to paying yourself as a limited company director.
- Keep your statutory registers. Maintain records of directors, shareholders, and people with significant control. Companies House holds a version, but you’re expected to keep your own.
Each confirmation statement costs £50 online, and it’s filed at least once every 12 months. It confirms that the information Companies House holds about the company is correct, including that the company’s activities are lawful.
Common mistakes
The registered office has to be somewhere post can be received and proven delivered.
The application can’t be submitted without every director’s personal code.
It’s visible to anyone searching the company, and hard to take back once it’s out there.
A challenge from a trade mark holder can force a rebrand after you’ve started trading.
It muddies your accounts and can leave you personally exposed.
The accounts and confirmation statement deadlines are triggered by the incorporation date, not the calendar year.
Useful resources
- Companies House — register a company online — gov.uk/limited-company-formation/register-your-company
- GOV.UK — verify your identity for Companies House — gov.uk/guidance/verify-your-identity-for-companies-house
- GOV.UK — company address and email rules — gov.uk/limited-company-formation/company-address
- Our sole trader vs limited company guide — which structure fits your business
- Our corporation tax guide — rates, deadlines and what counts as taxable profit
- Our guide to paying yourself as a director — salary, dividends and getting the balance right
More guides for UK small business owners
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