Register a Company Online

We have streamlined the process to make it as easy as possible. Our online platform allows you to register a company quickly and efficiently. Simply follow our steps to register a company online by providing us with the necessary information. We will handle the rest, submitting your application electronically to Companies House.

The following information is required to allow us to set up a limited company on your behalf. Let us take the hassle out of company formation so you can focus on what truly matters – growing your business.

1: Choose a Company Name

A crucial part of registering a company is choosing a name that is memorable, relevant to your brand and compliant with UK regulations. Our team of experts is here to guide you through the intricacies of company naming and ensure your chosen name adheres to all legal requirements.

Your company name is more than just an identifier; it represents your brand and plays a vital role in your marketing strategy. When selecting a name, consider its connection to your industry, products or services, and target audience. A well-crafted name can enhance your brand identity, attract customers, and differentiate you from competitors.

Choosing a name that can evolve with your business is also essential. Consider whether your chosen name will remain relevant as your company grows and expands. A flexible name will save you the time and expense of rebranding in the future.

It is crucial to ensure your chosen name is available and doesn't infringe on existing trademarks to avoid any setbacks during the company registration process. Our platform will help you check for name availability and guide you through the necessary steps if you wish to use sensitive words or expressions.

Specific terms, such as those related to professional bodies or government departments, may require additional authorisation. We will assist you in navigating these regulations to ensure your company name is fully compliant.

By following these guidelines and using our expertise, you can confidently select a company name that will set the stage for your business's success.

2: Registered Office Address: Your Company's Official Home

When you register a company in the UK, you must provide a registered office address. This is the official address where Companies House and HMRC will send all statutory mail and legal notices. It is crucial to choose an address that meets the requirements and reflects your business's professional image.

Key Considerations for Your Registered Office Address:

• Physical Address: The address must be a full UK postal address, not a PO Box.
• Location: It should be in the same part of the UK where your company is registered (England and Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland).
• Public Record: The registered office address will be publicly available on the Companies House website.
• Business Address Option: You can choose to use the same address as your business trading address.

If you don't have a suitable physical address or prefer to keep your home address private, our London Virtual Office Registered Office Address service solution offers a professional and convenient solution. You can use our prestigious central London address as your registered office, enhancing your company's image and providing a secure location for your official mail.

Timely access to your business mail is vital, and our dedicated post team in our secure London office processes all mail daily. This ensures rapid turnaround times, so you never miss important correspondence—no more waiting days or weeks for essential letters or packages.

Our Registered Office service provides peace of mind and a professional edge, representing your company with a clear and professional address format:

Your Company Name / Your Name,
124 City Road
London
EC1V 2NX

3: Share Particulars: Defining Your Company's Ownership

When you register a company, you will need to define its share structure. This involves specifying the types of shares, their value, and their associated rights. It is crucial as it outlines your company's ownership and control.

Key Points About Shares:

• Irredeemable Shares: Every limited company needs at least one class of ordinary shares that cannot be redeemed (repurchased by the company).
• Multiple Share Classes: While many companies start with a single class of ordinary shares, you can create multiple classes (e.g. ordinary A, ordinary B) with varying rights and values.
• Flexibility: Our online company formation platform allows you to register your company with different share classes, whether fully paid, partly paid or unpaid. We also support multiple currencies.

Share Details Required During Registration:

• Share class description: Most companies start with ordinary shares.
• The nominal value of each share class is the minimum price at which shares can be issued. While many companies set it at £1, it can be as low as £0.000001 per share.
• Prescribed particulars: These outline the specific rights associated with each share class, such as voting rights, dividend entitlements, and rights to wind up the company.

Understanding share structures can be complex. Our team is here to provide guidance and ensure you make informed decisions about your company's share particulars. If this is the first time you are issuing company shares and you feel overwhelmed by the process, we will help you navigate it seamlessly.

4: Select Your SIC Code: Classifying Your Business Activity

Every UK company must identify its primary business activity and select the relevant Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code. This code categorises your business and helps government agencies understand your industry and operations.

Our online company formation platform includes a SIC code search feature to assist you. However, we recommend that you familiarise yourself with the official SIC code list beforehand to ensure accurate classification.

Why is Choosing the Right SIC Code Important?

• Accurate Representation: The SIC code you choose will be publicly available on the Companies House register, so selecting one that accurately reflects your business activities is crucial.
• Statistical Purposes: Government agencies use SIC codes to collect and analyse economic data.
• Potential Impact on Insurance and Lending: Some insurers and lenders may use SIC codes to assess risk and determine premiums or interest rates.

We understand that navigating SIC codes can be confusing. Our team is here to provide guidance and support should you need it. We will help you identify your business's most appropriate SIC code, ensuring compliance and accuracy.

5: Appointing Company Directors: Key Requirements and Information

Every UK limited company needs at least one director to manage its affairs and make key decisions. It is essential to ensure that the individuals you appoint as directors meet the legal requirements and are prepared to take on the role's responsibilities.

To serve as a director of a UK limited company, you must:

• Be at least 16 years old.
• Not be an undischarged bankrupt.
• Not have been disqualified from acting as a company director.

When registering your company, you will need to provide us with the following information for each director:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Residential address
• Service address (this can be a virtual address to protect your home address as it will be publicly available on the Companies House register. We offer a Directors Privacy Address service that is perfect for this need)
• Nationality
• Occupation

Our online company formation platform makes gathering and submitting the necessary director information easy. We will guide you through each step of the process, ensuring that all details are accurate and complete.

6: Identifying Persons with Significant Control (PSC): Transparency and Compliance

When registering a company in the UK, you must identify individuals or entities with significant control over your company. These are known as Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) or beneficial owners. Understanding PSC requirements is crucial for transparency and compliance with UK company law.

A PSC is someone who:

• Holds more than 25% of shares in the company.
• Holds more than 25% of voting rights in the company.
• Has the right to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors.
• Exercises significant influence or control over the company.

Key Points to Consider:

• Joint Ownership: If multiple individuals or entities jointly meet any of the above conditions, each is considered a PSC.
• Indirect Control: A PSC can hold shares or voting rights directly or indirectly through another company, trust, or entity.
• Significant Influence: Even without shareholding or directorship, an individual can be a PSC if they exert significant influence or control over the company.
• Nominee Shares: Shares held by a nominee on behalf of another person are considered owned by that person.

For each PSC who is not already registered as a director, shareholder, or secretary, you will need to provide:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Residential address
• Service address (publicly available on the Companies House register. As your residential address becomes publicly available when listed as a service address, most people opt for a non-residential option to maintain their privacy, such as our Directors Privacy Address)
• Nationality
• Nature of control (e.g., "Holds more than 25% but not more than 50% of the shares")

An individual meeting one or more of the PSC conditions is a 'registrable person.' A UK company meeting the conditions is a 'registrable relevant legal entity' (RLE) and must file its own PSC information.

An overseas company is not an RLE unless it opens a UK establishment or is listed on a recognised exchange. In such cases, if an individual has majority control over the overseas company, they are a registrable person in relation to the UK company.

Identifying and registering PSCs can be confusing if this is your first company registration. Our team is well-versed in PSC regulations and can guide you through the process, ensuring your company remains compliant.

7: Shareholder Details and Persons with Significant Control (PSC)

When registering a limited company, it is essential to provide information about your shareholders, particularly those who are also considered Persons with Significant Control (PSCs). This ensures transparency and compliance with UK company law.

Every limited company needs at least one shareholder, who can also be a director. You will own 100% of the company if you are the sole shareholder.

A shareholder is considered a PSC if they meet any of the following criteria:

• They hold more than 25% of the company's shares.
• They hold more than 25% of the company's voting rights.
• They can appoint or remove most of the company's board of directors.

For shareholders who are also PSCs, you will need to provide the following details to us for your company registration:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Residential address
• Service address (this can be a virtual address such as our Directors Privacy Address, as it will be publicly available on the Companies House register)
• Nationality
• Nature of control (e.g., "Holds more than 50% to 75% of shares")

Our online company formation platform simplifies the process of gathering and submitting shareholder information. We will guide you through each step, ensuring accuracy and compliance with Companies House requirements.

8: Shareholder Details for Non-PSCs: Ensuring Transparency & Compliance

While identifying Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) is crucial, you will also need to provide details for shareholders who don't meet the PSC criteria. This ensures complete transparency regarding your company's ownership structure.

A shareholder is not considered a PSC if they hold less than 25% of the company's shares or voting rights and don't have the power to appoint or remove the majority of the board of directors.

For shareholders who are not PSCs, you will need to provide the following details during company registration:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Residential address
• Service address (this can be a virtual address such as our Directors Privacy Address, as it will be publicly available on the Companies House register)
• Nationality

In addition to the above, non-PSC shareholders will also need to provide three security details to act as an online signature:

• The first three letters of the mother's maiden name
• The first three letters of the father's forename
• First three letters of town of birth

Our online company formation platform simplifies the process of gathering and submitting shareholder information, whether they are PSCs or not. We will guide you through each step, ensuring accuracy and legal compliance.

9: Company Secretary: Optional but Valuable Support

While appointing a company secretary isn't mandatory for private limited companies in the UK, it can be a strategic move for businesses seeking administrative efficiency. A company secretary's primary role is to assist directors with legal and compliance matters, ensuring smooth operations and adherence to regulations.

Should you choose to appoint a company secretary during your company registration, you will need to provide the following information:

• Full legal name
• Date of birth (must be at least 16 years old)
• Residential address (this remains confidential and won't be published on the public register)
• Service address (this can be the same as the residential address or a different one, and it will be publicly available on the Companies House register)
• Nationality
• Occupation

Online signatures and security questions are essential for legal UK company formations to verify appointment consent. Companies House uses security questions to confirm an individual's identity and agreement.

While Companies House accepts answers to any three of the seven security questions, we have streamlined the process further.

You will only need to provide the following three details for each appointed director and secretary:

• Initial three letters of mother's maiden name
• Initial three letters of father's forename
• Initial three letters of the town of birth

Our user-friendly company registration platform is designed with your convenience in mind. When an individual holds multiple roles within the company (e.g., director and shareholder), you only need to input their information once. Simply check the relevant boxes to apply the information to each applicable role.

We understand that the company registration process can feel overwhelming, especially if this is your first time registering a business. Our team of experts is here to provide support and answer any questions you may have.

10: Memorandum and Articles of Association: Your Company's Constitution

The Memorandum and Articles of Association form the constitutional foundation of your limited company. They outline the company's purpose, internal rules, and its shareholders' and directors' rights and responsibilities.

We offer several options to suit your needs:

• Adopt the Model Articles: For a straightforward and efficient company registration process, you can choose to adopt the model articles provided by Companies House. Our system will tailor these articles to fit your specific company structure.
• Modify the Model Articles: If you require some customisation, you can download the model articles, make necessary modifications, and then upload them during the registration process.
• Bespoke Articles: For greater control and flexibility, you can create and upload your own entirely new Memorandum and Articles of Association.

Important Note: Your company's articles will be publicly available on the Companies House register.

Understanding the legal implications of your company's constitution is vital. Our team is available to provide guidance and answer any questions you may have about the Memorandum and Articles of Association.

11: Seamless Submission & Swift Registration

Once you have completed all the necessary steps to register a company, our system will perform a final check to ensure all details are accurate and complete. We will alert you to any missing or potentially problematic information, helping you avoid delays in the registration process.

Upon submission, our experienced company formation specialists will personally review your application to ensure everything is in order. We will then securely transmit your application to Companies House for final approval.

Once your company is successfully registered, you will receive digital copies of your incorporation documents, allowing you to start trading immediately. You can also expect to receive your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) within ten days.

Additional Considerations:

• VAT Registration: You must make a separate application if you wish to register for VAT voluntarily.
• Privacy: Remember that certain information, such as your registered office address and service address, will be publicly available on the Companies House register. To protect your privacy, consider using our address services, including a registered office address and director's privacy address, or consider our central London Complete Virtual Office service to save your business a lot of time and money and boost efficiency.

Our virtual office service allows you to receive your company's correspondence at our prestigious central London location, providing a professional image and maintaining your privacy.