Jurisdiction guide

Company formation in UK

Structures, requirements, documents and registration steps, sourced from GOV.UK / Companies House guidance.

Sources checked 25 September 2026GOV.UK / Companies House

Direct answer

To set up a UK private limited company, GOV.UK guides you to choose the company type, appoint at least one director, identify shareholders and people with significant control, prepare constitutional documents, choose a name, registered office and SIC code, then register online. The certificate of incorporation confirms the company exists.

Quick facts

From GOV.UK / Companies House guidance. Each value links to the guide that cites it; open items are marked rather than estimated.

Primary authority: GOV.UK / Companies House (opens official site)
Official filing route: Online registration through GOV.UK Source guide: Online Company Registration in UK
Company name step: Name and trademark checks before registering Source guide: Company Name and Trademark Checks in UK
Directors and officers: At least one director; company secretary optional for a private company Source guide: Directors and Company Secretary in UK
Local agent or secretary: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from GOV.UK / Companies House — check the official source
Registered office: Official registered office and SIC code required Source guide: Registered Office and SIC Code in UK
Tax registration: Corporation Tax can be set up during online registration, unless dormant Source guide: Online Company Registration in UK
Visa and residency: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from GOV.UK / Companies House — check the official source
Corporate banking: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from GOV.UK / Companies House — check the official source
Ongoing compliance: GOV.UK lists follow-up steps after incorporation Source guide: Post-Registration Checklist in UK
Government fees: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from GOV.UK / Companies House — check the official source
Processing time: Not yet verified: Not yet verified from GOV.UK / Companies House — check the official source

Overview

GOV.UK provides current guidance on company type, directors, shareholders, PSC information, constitutional documents, company name, registered office, SIC code, registration and post-registration steps.

This guide summarises what GOV.UK / Companies House publishes and links to the official pages. Each statement below links to the in-depth guide that cites it.

Who can register

A UK private company must appoint at least one director; a company secretary is optional for a private company under the GOV.UK formation guidance.
Directors and Company Secretary in UK
GOV.UK explains that a company limited by shares needs at least one shareholder and that a director can also be a shareholder.
Shareholders and Ownership in UK
UK incorporation requires companies to identify people with significant control, including relevant ownership or voting control information.
People With Significant Control (PSC) in UK

Available business structures

GOV.UK explains that the company setup route depends on the chosen company type and whether the company is limited by shares or guarantee.
Choosing a Private Limited Company Type in UK

Requirements

UK registration requires an official registered office and a SIC code that identifies the company’s business activity.
Registered Office and SIC Code in UK
The GOV.UK formation flow separates company-name rules from trademark checks and recommends confirming the proposed name is available.
Company Name and Trademark Checks in UK

Documents

GOV.UK lists constitutional and capital/guarantee documents as part of the formation process, depending on company type.
Memorandum and Articles in UK
The certificate of incorporation confirms that the company legally exists and records the company number and date of formation.
Certificate of Incorporation in UK

Separate the documents the authority asks for from those a service provider or bank asks for. Why it matters.

Registration process

Choose the legal structure
The structure decides which laws, filings and ownership rules apply.
- Choosing a Private Limited Company Type in UK
Confirm the activity and any licences
Classify the activity the way the authority does, then check for extra approvals.
- Registered Office and SIC Code in UK
Choose and check the company name
Check naming rules and availability through the official channel before branding.
- Company Name and Trademark Checks in UK
Prepare directors, owners and officers
Confirm who can act as director, owner, secretary or agent under local rules.
Confirm the address requirement
Check the registered office or business location rule for your structure.
- Registered Office and SIC Code in UK
Register through the official route
File through the authority's channel and keep the evidence of submission.
Prepare for corporate banking
Banks apply their own requirements, separate from the registry's.
- Corporate Banking Readiness
Plan post-registration obligations
Tax registration, annual filings and renewals follow incorporation.
- Post-Registration Checklist in UK

Get a personalised setup path

Government authorities

GOV.UK / Companies House is the primary authority for the guidance on this page. Other authorities can be involved for licensing, tax and immigration, depending on the activity.

Licensing

Verification required

Official guidance on licensing requirements for UK has not yet been confirmed in the INCORPSYS source registry. Check with the competent authority, or ask us to confirm it for your case. See also: Licence and Approval Mapping, Business Activity Mapping.

Verify with Companies House / GOV.UK

Banking

Banks set and apply their own account-opening requirements, separately from the registry. Prepare for corporate banking · Banking support.

Tax considerations

GOV.UK provides an online registration route and may set up Corporation Tax at the same time unless the company is dormant.
Online Company Registration in UK
GOV.UK directs newly incorporated companies to follow-up steps such as adding Corporation Tax services and checking the next statutory actions.
Post-Registration Checklist in UK

Visa and residency

Company formation and immigration are separate processes decided by different authorities.

Verification required

Official guidance on visa and residency routes for UK has not yet been confirmed in the INCORPSYS source registry. Check with the competent authority, or ask us to confirm it for your case. See also: Visa and Residency vs Company Incorporation.

Verify with Companies House / GOV.UK

Compliance after registration

GOV.UK directs newly incorporated companies to follow-up steps such as adding Corporation Tax services and checking the next statutory actions.
Post-Registration Checklist in UK

Costs

Fees vary — verify with the authorityFees vary by authority, activity, structure and selected services. Verify current charges with GOV.UK / Companies House before payment. INCORPSYS shows the official source for every government fee. INCORPSYS service fee: contact for service fee.

Timeline

Processing times are set by GOV.UK / Companies House and depend on the route, the activity and the completeness of the application. We do not estimate timelines the authority has not published. How to verify registration timelines.

Compare with other jurisdictions

See how UK compares on filing route, officers, registered office, tax, visas and compliance.

Common mistakes

Confusing company-name availability with trademark clearance — GOV.UK treats them as separate checks.
Leaving PSC information incomplete at registration.
Assuming a company secretary is mandatory for a private company — GOV.UK treats it as optional.

Frequently asked questions

How many directors does a UK private company need?

At least one. Under the GOV.UK formation guidance, a company secretary is optional for a private company.

What is a PSC?

A person with significant control. UK incorporation requires companies to identify them, including relevant ownership or voting control information.

Does registering set up Corporation Tax?

GOV.UK's online registration route may set up Corporation Tax at the same time, unless the company is dormant.

Official sources

Sources last checked: 25 September 2026. Official pages change; re-check the authority immediately before filing or payment. See our source policy.

Official sourceSources checked 25 September 2026

GOV.UK / Companies House

Set up a private limited company: Register your company

Official pages change. Re-check the authority immediately before filing, payment or relying on a rule.

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