Registering a limited company is especially easy with our help! The whole process usually only takes a few business days to obtain residency or do business - which means you may be ready to work by the end of the day.
We're here working with Companies House to register your company details - so far, we've helped over 200 companies start all good things with a name Once you decide on your name, we help you check name availability with Companies House - we'll tell you right away if it's available for use.
Once you choose an available name, and check by us within 24 that the name is available.
And everything you need to submit to register your company:
1- Company name:
2- Registered office address:
This must be in those states and not a PO Box.
3- Company directors:
Every company must appoint at least one director. The manager(s) make decisions in the interest of the company in the best interest of the company. You should have at least one - but you can have what you want.
We will need:
Number of shares (we recommend 100) Value of each share (we recommend £1 per share)
4- Shareholders:
Shares are allocated to shareholders in proportion to their ownership. For example, if there is one owner, they will own all the shares, making them 100% shareholders (and owners). Shares can be divided in any way you want to balance ownership. 60/40, 25/75, 50/50. To make your life easier we recommend that you start with a round number!
A limited company is an entity (business) created to be legally separate from its owners or stakeholders (usually shareholders and directors)
A limited company must be registered with the Companies House - This provides a unique registration number for the company and lists the company in the public registry and means that the company must henceforth be subject to regulations in the Companies Act.
A limited company may have only one shareholder or director, or it may have many - but it is considered a distinct legal entity. This means that any liability is borne by the company and not by the individual.
We answer some of the most frequently asked questions:
What is the difference between a limited company and a sole trader?
The main difference is that a limited company is a legal entity of its own, so the liability rests with the company, not the individual—usually limited to the value of the stock. However the only trader is one person who has unlimited personal liability.
A sole trader is essentially a self-employed person, registered through gov.uk, who is the sole owner of their business.
A limited company is a legal entity separate from its owners and shareholders, and it may be only one or more of them.
Why should you register as a limited company?
There are a number of advantages to registering and trading as a limited company - one of the biggest advantages for many is that it enables you to pay less personal taxes because the company will pay corporate tax instead of income tax.
Trading as a limited company is also safer because it is legally separate from its owners which means that their personal assets are not at risk (as a solo trader there is unlimited personal liability). If things go wrong, you're only at risk of losing what you're putting into the company.
Once registered as a limited company, it will appear in the public registry and no other company can use the name. This is why the first step in registering your limited company is to check if the company already exists under that name.
Can you register a limited company outside of London or France and Germany?
You do not need to be a UK citizen or resident to register as a limited company - and there are no restrictions for foreign nationals to be directors, shareholders or trustees of a company. However you will need to provide an address as the registered address of your company to which all official documents will be sent and this will be listed in the public record. This is why we provide services so you can use our prestigious London address, Regent Street W1 as your registered office address.
Companies in those countries can be registered and owned and operated from abroad, regardless of where you live and the industry you trade in. The process is simple, inexpensive and can be regulated quickly and remotely. This makes British companies easily accessible for international trade.
There is no need for anyone to visit the UK, the company registration service only takes a few hours and can all be done online. Simply select your company name - and we'll check availability with Companies House for you.
Upon completion of registration, documents will be produced, some sent by email and then all hard copies sent by DHL and your tracking number by email.
Expand your presence in the UK, France and Germany with our office services
The company's registered office must be in the UK and must be a physical address and not a PO Box. We will provide you with a registered office address in London and mail forwarding services. We will then forward the mail to you.
The company's phone number will be included in those countries, so there is a monthly fee to be paid to our partner company. Calls can be diverted to a number of your choice or answered if you wish.
Taxes, accounts and annual obligations:
The company will have to pay corporate tax on any profit it makes, and VAT must also be taken into account. Annually, accounts must be completed and submitted to both HMRC and Companies House, along with other annual returns.
As part of our packages, we will have an accountant on tap for you to speak with who can complete your legal obligations on your behalf.
Commercial bank accounts (from abroad)
The company must have a business bank account to receive company funds. You can choose where and which bank you prefer. It is not necessary to use a bank account in these countries.
Open a commercial bank account outside London, France or Germany:
If you are going to open a company bank account outside the UK, you will need certified and certified documents. We can provide this.
Allow your customers to pay with a credit or debit card:
Take credit and debit cards over the phone, through the company's website, or with the customer.
For this you need two facilities: 1) a merchant account and 2) a card payment terminal (face-to-face) or a virtual terminal (by phone) or a payment gateway (through a website)
What is a company limited by guarantee?
It is a determined company that has no commercial value. Therefore, it has no shares or shareholders. Any profits remain in the company or society and cannot be shared with the officers in the form of profits.
This type of company is commonly used by: charities, clubs, churches, non-profit organizations and associations.
All other information required is the same as a company limited by shares only without shareholding information. It is possible to drop "Limited" from the end of the company name with a company limited by guarantee, just tell us and we will organize it for you.
If you are looking to register a company limited by warranty, all of our packages are suitable - during the process we will ask if you need to set up the company in this way.
We will email you your company registration number and certificate of incorporation upon successful incorporation, prior to closing the business (usually 17:30).
If you are looking to set up a dormant company, the steps to follow are the same as if you were setting up a trading limited company.
During the registration process for your dormant company, you will need to assign a SIC code - this is the Standard Industrial Classification. The SIC for a dormant company is 99999. This indicates Companies House that you intend to leave this company in hibernation.
Dormant companies must use SIC code 99999
What SIC code should a sleeper company use?
When registering a dormant company with the Companies House, you must use SIC code 99999 - this indicates that you intend to leave the company dormant.
What is a sleeper company?
A dormant company is simply a registered company that is not currently trading - it may have previously traded or was created without the intention of trading.
What is the goal of a sleeper company?
Many people register a company with the intent to remain in hibernation to protect the chosen company name - no other company can use that name once registered. This may be the case if you are currently a solo trader but know in the future that you may want to incorporate your business as it grows.
How long can a company remain dormant?
There is no time limit on how long a company can remain dormant - as long as you file a confirmation statement and annual accounts each year.
If you are setting up your limited company with the intent to remain dormant, we highly recommend our Basic or Prime package - we can provide services to provide your annual accounts and confirmation statement annually.
What is an off-the-shelf company?
An off-the-shelf company is simply a limited company already incorporated with the Companies House - this company then sits "on the shelf" ready to be bought and traded.
Benefits of a company outside of luxury:
Incorporated date before today - this gives an impression of longevity Below is a list of ready-made limited companies available for you to buy right away. If you want to take advantage of the incorporation date before today, you can purchase one of these. Alternatively, we can register one in your name today for you.
Do you need to register your company for VAT?
We have all come across VAT in one form or another. When you have a company it becomes more relevant and it is something to be aware of. If not, being trapped by HMRC can be extremely costly and fatal to your business.
The current minimum VAT is a sales figure of £85,000 in any 12-month period; Once you have access to that, you must be registered for VAT. Before you reach this limit, it is voluntary to be registered for VAT. You can claim a refund of the VAT that has been added to company invoices paid by your company if you are registered but then you need to charge it to all your customers and you will be billed by HMRC for this additional amount.
Once you are registered for VAT, you are required to collect 20% VAT from your customers but you can recover VAT on your company's purchases. There are many VAT accounting systems that you can take advantage of. Your accountant will help you manage the VAT and advise you appropriately.
We can register your company for VAT (6-8 weeks current waiting time for the VAT number) and find an accountant to help you manage your company's finances.