1st Formations vs Companies MadeSimple
1st Formations and Companies MadeSimple are both long-established, Companies House-authorised formation agents offering company formation, address services and support after incorporation. The difference is cost and depth. 1st Formations packages start at £39.99, include a full compliance service and accounting by ACCA-qualified accountants, and are backed by over 28,000 reviews, 90%+ verified. Companies MadeSimple starts at £104.99 and offers no accounting service, but may suit you if you want a self-service experience and already have an accountant. Here's an honest, side-by-side look at both.
1st Formations vs Companies MadeSimple
A side-by-side look at what each provider includes.
Starting price
£39.99
when you take our accounting service
(includes the £100 Companies House Fee)
£104.99
for the cheapest package
(includes the £100 Companies House Fee)
Formation-only package available
Company formation specialist
Choice of banking referrals
Telephone support
Live chat with UK team
AI Responses only
Mobile app
Business startup resource hub
B Corp certified
Same day incorporation service available
Free ID verification and personal code
Non-resident support available
Accepts multiple shareholders
Accepts multiple directors
Printed company documents
Business document templates
Address services
In-house digital mailroom
Business telephone number
Various company types supported
Limited by shares
Limited by guarantee
Limited by guarantee (for charities)
Limited liability partnerships
Multiple share class
Public limited company
Compliance services
Confirmation statement
Director appointments and resignations
Issue of shares
Transfer of shares
Persons with significant control filings
Change of company address
Company name change
ICO registration
Company dissolution
Certificate of Good Standing
Apostilled documents
Accounting services
Support from real accountants
Year-end accounts
Corporation tax return
VAT registration and returns
VAT Registration only
PAYE registration and payroll
PAYE Registration only
Self assessments
Tax efficiency reviews
Accounting software
Dormant accounts
Which should you choose?
Choose 1st Formations if you:
- Want a company formation package from £39.99, including 12 months of address services and one month of accounting
- Want a full compliance service after incorporation, with a Business Document Template Library to run your business day to day
- Want accounting managed by ACCA-qualified accountants
- Want live chat with a real person, as well as phone and email, from a UK-based team
- Are a non-UK resident and want VAT registration and compliance support included
- Prefer a Covent Garden address over Hackney
- Want to work with a certified B Corp and certified carbon-neutral business
Consider Companies MadeSimple if you:
- Are forming a public limited company (PLC)
- Are comfortable with AI-powered live chat, with human support by phone and email
- Already have an accountant handling your accounts and compliance
- Are happy to pay more upfront for a well-known brand
How do real customers rate 1st Formations and Companies MadeSimple?
Both are rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot. 1st Formations' score is based on over 23,800 reviews, with over 90% of reviews verified by Trustpilot; Companies MadeSimple has much fewer reviews, around 5,100, and only 75% are verified. On Google, 1st Formations is rated 4.9 out of 5 from nearly 5,000 reviews. Companies MadeSimple is rated 4.1 from around 300.
We'd always encourage you to read reviews for any service before you commit. Customer experience can tell you more than any comparison table.
A deeper dive
What does each company specialise in?
Both are UK company formation agents serving UK and international customers. Since 2014, 1st Formations has formed over one million companies and built a full compliance and accounting service around formation. Companies MadeSimple is a well-known formation brand that stops short of accounting.
UK's top company formation specialist since 2014
Over one million companies formed
Rated 4.9 / 5 on Google and 4.8 / 5 on Trustpilot (90%+ verified, fewer than 1% of reviews are 1-star) from over 28,000 reviews
Packages for most company structures and types
Full compliance service beyond incorporation, keeping your company compliant and supporting you day to day with our Business Document Template Library
Full accounting service managed by ACCA-qualified accountants, including tax efficiency advice, corporation tax returns and annual accounts
Well-known UK formation provider
Range of formation packages, including non-residents and PLCs
Rated 4.1 / 5 on Google and 4.8 / 5 on Trustpilot from over 5,000 reviews
Address and mail services managed through an online portal
Compliance filings and company changes available as individual add-ons, but no overarching compliance service
No accounting service
Which offers the best customer support and resources?
Both offer support by live chat, telephone and email, and both have a Help Centre answering the questions customers ask most. The difference is in live chat – many founders, particularly those based overseas, prefer it for immediate answers. 1st Formations' live chat starts with an AI assistant and hands over to a member of our UK-based team when you need one. Companies MadeSimple's live chat is AI-only, with human advisers available by phone, email and web form. 1st Formations also has a more extensive library of blogs and video guides.
Support by live chat, telephone and email
Live chat is AI-first, with handover to a real person from our UK-based team
Dedicated Help Centre answering the questions customers ask most
Extensive resource hub of blogs and video guides, written by leading company formation experts with credentials listed on-site
Support by live chat, telephone, email and web form
Live chat is AI-only – human advisers by phone and email
Help Centre
Company formation resource hub
Which is best for non-UK residents?
Both offer a dedicated non-resident package at £199.99. The difference is what's included. 1st Formations' Non-Residents Package includes VAT registration, full compliance support and a choice of three international banking referrals. Companies MadeSimple's includes one banking referral, no VAT registration, and limited compliance support.
Dedicated Non-Residents Package, £199.99
Choice of three international banking referrals
VAT registration and compliance support included
Certificate of Good Standing and Apostilled Document Service available
Dedicated non-resident package, £199.99
One international banking referral
No VAT registration
Compliance support limited to filing of confirmation statement
Apostilled Document Service available
Which provides the best address services?
Both offer a registered office, service address and business address, standalone or in a package. 1st Formations includes all three in formation packages from £39.99 for 12 months, at a Covent Garden address, and scans and emails all mail the same day – statutory mail free, business mail at 50p per item. Companies MadeSimple's cheapest package with all three is £199.99, at a Hackney address, with the business address capped at 10 letters a month.
Three address services: Registered Office, Service Address and Business Address
All three included in formation packages from £39.99 for 12 months
Prestigious Covent Garden address at 71-75 Shelton Street
All mail scanned and emailed the same day by our in-house digital mailroom – statutory mail free, business mail 50p per item, no monthly limit
Three address services: Registered Office with Service Address, and Business Address
All three included in the Ultimate Package, £199.99
Hackney address at 20 Wenlock Road
Business Address £29 a month (£348 a year), limited to 10 letters a month
Price comparison
1st Formations' cheapest package is £39.99. Companies MadeSimple's is £104.99. For £39.99, our All Inclusive with Accounting Package includes company formation, 12 months of address services, our full compliance service and the first month of accounting. Companies MadeSimple's equivalent is its Ultimate Package at £199.99, which includes all three addresses and filing of your first confirmation statement, but no accounting. Even on formation only, our Digital Package at £102.99 is £2 cheaper than their entry package.
Company registration starting price
£39.99
The All Inclusive with Accounting Package includes the £100 Companies House fee, 12 months of address services, compliance service and first month of accounting.
Formation only: £102.99 (Digital Package).
£104.99
Company formation only, including the £100 Companies House fee.
Address services
Included from £39.99
All three – Registered Office, Service Address and Business Address – included for 12 months in the Privacy, All Inclusive, All Inclusive with Accounting and Non-Residents Packages. Renews at £161/year.
Standalone: Registered Office £39, Service Address £26, Business Address £96.
Included from £199.99
All three – Registered Office, Service Address and Business Address – included for 12 months in their "Ultimate Package". Registered office and Service Address renew at £179/year, while Business Address is £348/year.
Standalone: Registered Office with Service Address £99.99, Business Address £348/year.
Compliance services
£149.99/year
Includes Business Document Template Library, discounted company changes, expert support and your confirmation statement filed.
No compliance service
Individual filings such as confirmation statements available as add-ons or included in higher value packages.
Accounting services
£49/month
Full accounting service, including year-end accounts, Corporation Tax and Self Assessment returns, VAT registration and returns, and expert support from ACCA-qualified accountants. Free Xero (worth up to £600/year).
Not available
All information regarding pricing, services, and ratings was accurate when last reviewed on 9th October 2026.
1st Formations is more than a
company formation agent
Compliance support
Stay compliant with Companies House all year with our Hassle-Free Compliance Service - your confirmation statement prepared and filed, 50% off company changes, expert support, and 460+ legally reviewed business document templates to run your business day to day.
Hassle-Free Compliance ServiceFull accounting service
A full accounting service by ACCA-qualified accountants - annual accounts, Corporation Tax returns, VAT, payroll and tax efficiency advice, at a fraction of the cost of a traditional accountant. Delivered by BSQ Accounting, our sister company in the BSQ Group.
BSQ AccountingSocial impact
We're a certified B Corporation and certified carbon neutral business. We partner with the Wonder Foundation, LSE and Imperial College to open doors for young people, and give 3,000 sq ft of our Covent Garden HQ to seven local charities, completely free of charge.
Impact HubFrequently Asked Questions
How does 1st Formations' pricing compare to Companies MadeSimple?
1st Formations' cheapest package is £39.99, including the Companies House fee. Companies MadeSimple's start at £104.99, also including the fee.
Do 1st Formations and Companies MadeSimple support non-UK residents?
Yes. Both offer a dedicated non-resident package at £199.99. 1st Formations' includes VAT registration, compliance support and a choice of three banking referrals; Companies MadeSimple's includes one referral.
Does Companies MadeSimple offer customer service support?
Yes, by live chat, telephone, email and web form. Live chat is AI-only; human advisers are available by phone and email. 1st Formations’ live chat starts with an AI assistant and hands over to its UK-based team when needed, with phone and email support also available.
Is Companies MadeSimple the top-rated company formation agent?
Both score around 4.8 on Trustpilot. 1st Formations' score is based on over 23,800 reviews, more than 90% verified, against around 5,100 for Companies MadeSimple, with around 75% verified. On Google, 1st Formations is rated 4.9 from nearly 5,000 reviews; Companies MadeSimple 4.1 from around 300.
Does Companies MadeSimple provide international bank account options for non-residents?
One referral. 1st Formations offers a choice of three.
Is Companies MadeSimple the cheapest company formation agent?
No. Its packages start at £104.99. 1st Formations' start at £39.99.
Is Companies MadeSimple a certified B Corporation?
No. 1st Formations is the only UK company formation agent that is B Corp certified, and is also certified carbon neutral.
Does Companies MadeSimple provide any accounting services?
No. 1st Formations does, with ACCA-qualified accountants, from £49 a month.
What is the best alternative to Companies MadeSimple for company formation?
1st Formations, if you want live chat with a real person, a full compliance service and accounting under one roof, from £39.99.