Company Formation

Private limited companies account for over 95% of all companies registered in the UK. An overwhelming majority of these are private companies limited by shares, making this structure the most commonly used company type.

The main benefit of forming a limited company is the protection provided by limited liability. This means if your business runs into financial trouble, your personal assets will not be at risk. Other benefits include enhanced credibility and tax efficiency. Overall, choosing a limited company structure can offer greater security and growth opportunities for your business.

A company limited by shares is the most common type of limited company in the UK. 'Limited by shares' simply means the liability of the owners is limited to the nominal value of the shares issued by the company. Shareholders are only liable for the company's debts up to the amount they have invested, which helps protect their personal finances during company operation.

It usually takes up to 24 hours to form a company with 1st Formations; however, this is dependent on Companies House workload on the day, and it can take longer. To expedite your company registration, ensure you have all necessary information ready for submission.

Yes. One person can form a limited company in the UK. One individual can serve as both the director and the shareholder (owner) of the company.

1. A unique company name that is not currently registered at Companies House. You can check if your company name is available using our company name checker.
2. A physical address in the UK to use as your registered office address. Most 1st Formations packages include a registered office address service, for example, our Privacy Package.
3. The details of all directors and shareholders, including full names, residential addresses, occupations, dates of birth and nationalities.

Having this information prepared in advance will streamline the company formation process.

By law, all private companies registered in the UK are required to appoint at least one director. The director must be a natural person (a human) who is at least 16 years old. There is no need for the director to be based in the UK.

A limited company must issue at least one share. If there is more than one shareholder, it is required to issue at least one share per shareholder. It is often recommended to issue more than the minimum number of shares to avoid the need to issue more in the future.

No. You can form a company as a non UK resident from most locations in the world. However, you will require to have a UK registered office address, which 1st Formations provides in most our company formation packages. Have a look at our Non-Residents Package for more details on how to register your company from abroad.

We accept all major credit and debit cards including Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, and American Express. We ensure secure transactions, giving you peace of mind when setting up your company.

There is no legal obligation for a limited company to open a business bank account; however, in practice it is almost impossible to operate without one. A limited company is a separate legal entity from its owners; therefore you should keep your personal and business finances separate.

You can start trading through your new limited company immediately after it is registered at Companies House.

The annual filing requirements for a limited company in the UK include submitting a confirmation statement, annual accounts and Corporation Tax Return. Staying compliant with these filing requirements is essential for avoiding penalties and maintaining your company's good standing.

All UK company directors must report their home address to Companies House. The home address does not appear on the public record.  The only reason a director’s home address would appear publicly is if the director chooses to use it as their service address.

1st Formations offers a Service Address Service which allows directors to use our prestigious Covent Garden address as their service address, helping to protect their privacy.

Once your company has been incorporated, you will receive a digital copy of your Certificate of Incorporation confirming your company has been registered. You will also receive a digital copy of your Memorandum and Articles of Association, and share certificates for your shareholders. If your package includes hard-copy company documents, these will be dispatched to you within 1 working day.

Depending on the package you buy, you may receive  a copy of your company’s registers and minutes for your first board meeting.

Yes, 1st Formations provide full telephone, email and online chat support for all customers during the lifetime of their companies. We also provide an Online Company Manager and a full range of  company services including London company address services to help maintain and develop your company.