UK company formation
A limited company in the UK is registered at Companies House. An online application costs £100 and registration completes within 24 hours; a postal application costs £124 and takes 8 to 10 days to be registered.
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- The founder's identity is verified.
- A company name is chosen and checked against the register.
- The registered office address is given.
- Directors and persons with significant control are declared.
- The application and fee are submitted to Companies House.
Choosing a structure and registering one are separate decisions, and the second is far quicker than the first. Which structure suits a business is set out at UK business structures.
01
How is a company registered in the UK?
Registration is made through Companies House, and an online application completes within 24 hours in most cases. The process begins with verifying the founder's identity, and the company exists from the moment it is registered.
02
Which documents are prepared at incorporation?
GOV.UK lists four documents for an incorporation application: the memorandum of association, the articles of association, a statement of capital and a statement of compliance. A description of what the company does is given alongside them.
Model articles are available and most new companies adopt them unchanged. Where the articles are altered, the changed version is what governs the company, so the difference is worth reading before it is filed.
03
Who is declared as director and controlling party?
At least one director is appointed at incorporation and a company secretary is not required. A company limited by shares has at least one shareholder, and anyone holding more than 25 per cent of shares or votes is declared.
04
What does registering a company cost?
The registration fee depends on how the application is made. GOV.UK charges £100 for an online application, paid by bank or credit card, and £124 for a postal application, which takes 8 to 10 days rather than 24 hours.
| Route | Fee | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Online | £100 | Within 24 hours |
| By post | £124 | 8–10 days |
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05
When do the obligations begin after incorporation?
Obligations begin at registration rather than when the company starts trading. A company enters the filing calendar immediately: the first confirmation statement period runs from the date of incorporation, whether or not any business has been done.
A dormant company still files. What follows registration, and when, is set out at after registering a UK company.
06
What does British Global do in company formation?
British Global plans the formation from the start: it sets out your plan from the choice of structure to the registration timetable in a written preliminary report, and refers you to a supervised service provider.
Accountancy and tax work is carried out by a professional whose membership is verified on a public register; British Global sets out the position and refers.
07
Frequently asked questions
How long does registration take?
An online application completes within 24 hours in most cases. A postal application takes 8 to 10 days.
Is a company secretary required?
No. At least one director is required at incorporation; appointing a company secretary is optional.
Does a dormant company still file?
Yes. The filing calendar begins at registration rather than at the start of trading, so a company that has not traded still files.
Sources
- GOV.UK — A limited company is registered at Companies House; an online application costs £100 and registers within 24 hours, and a postal application costs £124 and takes 8 to 10 days. — 26 August 2026
- GOV.UK — An incorporation application requires a memorandum of association, articles of association, a statement of capital and a statement of compliance, with at least one director and any person holding more than 25 per cent of shares or votes declared. — 26 August 2026
- GOV.UK — A registered office must be a physical address in the UK, in the country the company is registered in, and must meet the appropriate address test. — 26 August 2026
