How to Register a Company Name with Companies House
Looking to start a limited company? First, you’ll need to register a company name with Companies House.

Having a registered company name will show potential customers that your business is legitimate and trustworthy. It’s pretty simple to register a company name and you should only need to do it once.
Read on for our quick explainer about how to register a company name.
1. Run a Company Name Check
Before you register a company name with Companies House, you need to be sure it hasn’t already been taken.
Choose a name that helps explain what your business does when it’s read in isolation, and avoid names that are difficult to spell. Think about how your name will work as a web address.
To distinguish your business from others offering similar services, consider including your location (i.e. ‘South Leeds Roofers and Joiners’).
Have a name in mind already? With our free online search tool, you can check whether your company name is available with Companies House.
2. Start a Limited Company
Once you’ve chosen your company name, it’s time to register it with Companies House. This process is known as ‘incorporation’.
As well as registering your company name, you’ll need to fill out and return a few standard legal documents:
• Memorandum of Association – a record of your company name, address and the type of business you run.
• Articles of Association – spells out your rights as the director of the company and the rights of any shareholders.
Did you know? With our company formation packages, you can start a limited company quickly and simply. There are four packages to choose from:
• E-Formation (£9.99): perfect if you want to register 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!
3. Register for Corporation Tax
After setting up a limited company with Companies House, you’ll need to register it for Corporation Tax. You should do this within three months.
To register for Corporation Tax, you’ll need your company’s 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). HMRC should send this to you by post within 14 days of registering your company with Companies House.
How to find out your company UTR number?
You can also find your Company Unique Tax Reference (UTR) on any correspondence you receive from your Corporation Tax Office. You can also phone HMRC on 0300 200 3310 to request your UTR number.
4. Register for VAT
You should register for VAT if your business’s annual turnover is more than £85,000. This is something that an accountant or company formation specialist can help you with.
5. Register your Company as an Employer
You must do this even if the only person you’ll be paying is yourself as the company director.
6. Set up a Business Bank Account
Some banks will want to see the documents you provided to Companies House and even a business plan before they’ll give you an account. Don’t forget to check what fees they charge for standard business services like setting up a standing order or clearing a cheque.
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.
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