How to Register a Business with Companies House

Have you decided to register a business with Companies House? In this article, we show you how to go about it in 7 simple steps.

1. Choose a Business Structure

The most common form of business in the UK is what’s called a ‘private company limited by shares’.

This is popular with entrepreneurs because it can help you be more tax efficient and provide financial protection for the directors should the company get into financial trouble.

2. Pick a Unique Company Name

Before you register a business with Companies House, you need to check that your business’s name is available.

See if your name is available.

3. Pick a Company Formation Package

With our company formation packages, you can register a business with Companies House quickly and simply. 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. Enter Your Company Information

Much of the information you enter at this stage will appear on the public register with Companies House.

• Registered office – this is the address where Companies House and HMRC will send mail. It must be in the UK and it must be possible to reach the company directors at the address.
• Company directors – every company must have at least one director. Companies House will want to know their name, date of birth and residential address.
• Shareholders – every company must have at least one shareholder, but it can be the same person as the director. Companies House will want to know their name, date of birth and residential address.

If you don’t have a separate address for your business, you should use your home address to register a business with Companies House. But if you aren’t comfortable with your home address being made public, we offer a Registered Agent Service which lets you register your business at our Central London location.

5. Allocate Shares

When you register a business with Companies House, you will need to allocate shares to your shareholder(s). The simplest way is to allocate one share to each shareholder where an individual share is worth £1.

6. Complete the Memorandum and Articles of Association

These documents formalise how your company will be run. They need to be agreed on and signed by the company director(s), shareholder(s) and secretary.

We’ve drawn up templates to meet the needs of most new businesses. You can access these if you sign up for one of our company formation packages.

7. Submit Everything to Companies House

For same-day registration, submit your application by 3pm. Good luck with your new business!

Register your own business from £9.99

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