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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Formation bundles
- £9.99
E-Formation
- Set up a basic Limited Company that’s ready to trade and choose anything else you need as extra.
- £19.99
Essential
- An easy way to set up a company that’s ready to trade. Plus, your official printed certificates.
- £59.99
Entrepreneur
- Your official certificates & company register. Plus, a registered business address, FREE for 3 months.
- £99.99
Super
- Your official documents, and confirmation statement. Plus, a registered business address, FREE for a year.
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What is a company formation agent?
Formation agents perform company registrations in partnership with Companies House. We’re one of the largest, and also the cheapest. We don’t just get your company registered then leave you to it – we use our experience to help you start your business properly. There are plenty of reasons to use a formation agent rather than go directly to Companies House. If you ask us, though, the best thing is that we go through the whole process with you, and get your application submitted securely online. We provide expert advice on the legal hurdles while you incorporate, and recommend good quality solutions that you might need after you’ve formed.
What’s the difference between sole trader and limited company?
Think of it this way: when you form a limited company, you put a protective shield between you and your business. Being a sole trader is the opposite – you have no protection. As a sole trader, you are responsible for any debt you might come into while you’re in business. When you register and become the director of your own limited company, you have less personal responsibility. The benefits are that you can claim back expenses, and add to your salary with dividend payments at the end of the year. For more information, see our Help Centre article about limited companies and sole traders.
How do I register a company?
Easy, we’ll do it for you. Check out our formation bundles to learn more about our different products. They start at £9.99, and go all the way up to our Super bundle. Limited company formation is a straightforward business if you’re as well-versed with the process as we are. If you’re not sure where to start, check out our company formation guides for an introduction and some insider tips.
Why The Formations Company?
We’re dedicated to British business, and love nothing more than seeing new companies flourish. 750,000 UK companies have trusted us to help them register, and we have thousands of happy customers who’ve seen how simple the formations process can be. We’re cheaper than going to Companies House directly, and cost less than most accountants. Our online application is incredibly simple, and if you’ve got all your documents handy it shouldn’t take more than 10 minutes to complete. So what are you waiting for? Start your business today.