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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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
