Company Registration in the UK: 5 Simple Steps
To incorporate a private limited company, you’ll need to register the company with Companies House. This involves choosing a company name and formalising how your company will be run. The good news is that you can register your company online. But it’s sensible to seek expert advice before taking that first step.

1. Research the Benefits of Company Registration
Before registering your company, make sure to research the alternatives. If you’re a contractor, it could make more sense to bill customers as a sole trader.
Under this model, you’re in full control of your company. There are no directors, partners or shareholders to consult. And you won’t need to register with Companies House.
But there are major benefits to registering a limited company. For one thing, your personal assets will be protected if the company hits the rocks. This is what’s meant by the phrase ‘limited liability’.
Another upside to running a limited company is that it could be more tax efficient. For many business owners, it’s possible to pay much less in tax by drawing a small taxable income and supplementing that with dividends from the company profits.
Not sure whether company registration is right for you? Give one of our company formation experts a call on 020 7129 8651 (or click ‘feedback’ on the sidebar), Mon-Fri, 9.00-5.30, for some free advice.
2. Pick a Name for Your Limited Company
Before you register a company name with Companies House, you need to be sure it hasn’t already been taken – and that it can’t easily be confused with the name of another business.
Here are some tips for choosing a unique and effective company name:
- Research the market that you’ll be operating in – the names of your competitors should provide inspiration when choosing your own.
- Pick a name that’s meaningful – your company name will be the first thing people learn about your business, so does it explain what you do?
- Avoid company names that are hard to spell – and make sure it rolls easily off the tongue.
- Keep the name short – a punchy company name will be easier to remember and it will look better on marketing material.
Got a company name in mind? With our free online search tool, you can check whether your company name is available with Companies House.
3. Register Your Company with Companies House
Companies House is the government agency that holds the records of all the limited companies in the UK. They’ll want to know the name and address of your company and the name of the company director and shareholders. You will also need to fill in and return some forms.
With our company formation packages, the process of company registration (UK) is quick and simple. There are four packages to choose from:
- E-Formation (£9.99): perfect if you want to secure a company name and don’t need any official printed documents.
- Essential (£19.99): offers you complete confidence that you’re starting a company with the rules and regulations covered.
- Entrepreneur (£59.99): kick-start your next big venture with official compliance and additional documents of incorporation.
- Super (£89.99): the complete secretarial and compliance package to establish your company on a robust footing.
Best of all, when you sign up for one of our company formation packages, we pay the £12 Companies House filing fee for you!
4. Set Up a Business Bank Account
To keep your personal and business finances separate, you should give your new business a bank account.
Remember to shop around to see which banks offer perks for small business owners.
If you don’t have time to shop around, we can save you the hassle and help you set up a business bank account. We have a special relationship with Barclays which means you’ll get a range of great benefits with a Barclays Bank Business Account for Start-ups:
• Free business banking for 12 months (terms and conditions apply)
• Loyalty rewards – the longer you bank, the more money you get back
• Support and guidance from the Barclays Business Banking telephone team
• Manage your account online, by phone, via the Barclays Mobile Banking app or in branch
Register your own business from £9.99
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Registered agent
Included with this bundle
A 3 in 1 service that protects your privacy, all other directors privacy and includes our mail forwarding service.
Registered office address:
On the public register, use our address as the business’s registered office address
Service address:
On the public register, use our address as all the directors service address
Mail forwarding:
Quick and efficient mail forwarding and junk mail filtering. No additional handling or postage fees.
Registered agent
Free for 3 months with this bundle
A 3 in 1 service that protects your privacy, all other directors privacy and includes our mail forwarding service.
Registered office address:
On the public register, use our address as the business’s registered office address
Service address:
On the public register, use our address as all the directors service address
Mail forwarding:
Quick and efficient mail forwarding and junk mail filtering. No additional handling or postage fees.
Registered agent
Free for 12 months with this bundle
A 3 in 1 service that protects your privacy, all other directors privacy and includes our mail forwarding service.
Registered office address:
On the public register, use our address as the business’s registered office address
Service address:
On the public register, use our address as all the directors service address
Mail forwarding:
Quick and efficient mail forwarding and junk mail filtering. No additional handling or postage fees.
Legal and finance
Protect your business legally and financially with:
Company credit checks:
Carry out company credit checks powered by Experian's most comprehensive and current credit data to make sure you're doing business with the right people by picking the right customers and securing your supply chain.
Company credit monitoring:
Monitor all your key customers and suppliers credit statuses and get email alerts of any significant changes. Make sure your customers can pay what they owe and your suppliers can deliver the goods they promise.
Debt recovery Toolkit
Manage all your customers' credit in one place. Download and send different payment chasers, reminders and monthly statements to make sure that invoices are paid on time and in full.
You can send a solicitor final warning letters and even take court action to recover what you're owed!
Legal Documents:
Easily create all the legally enforceable contracts, documents, policies and procedures your business could need to sing the simple, straightforward document creator wizard.
Safely store all your documents online, where you can access them wherever and whenever you want.
Legal Health Check:
Complete the simple question-answer form and discover exactly what documents your limited company needs to be legally protected.
24/7 Legal Advice:
Get legal support and advice when you need it. Access an extensive library of legal how-to guides, news bulletins of all the most recent legal developments and a 24/7 telephone support helpline.
Knowledge hub

The Formations Company and Companies House

What is a Private Limited Company?

How long does it take to register a new company?

When should I change from sole trader to limited company?

Limited Company Vs Sole Trader: Advantages and Disadvantages
