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

Find out more and sign up today

Register your own business from £9.99

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