If you need help choosing a package or would like to complete your
order by telephone, call our friendly team who will be happy to assist.
020 3897 2233
Your new company name:
Don’t worry! All mistakes can be fixed after your company is formed, and most of the time it will not cost you anything to rectify matters.
To reduce the risk of errors, we recommend you purchase the pre-submission review service - available at a cost of £4.99 during the ordering process. This will ensure one of our experts reviews your company application and corrects any errors before it is submitted to Companies House.
A dormant company is not a type of company that can be registered at Companies House; however, you can make your new company dormant simply by informing HMRC that you have not started trading, and have no plans to do so in the immediate future.
Therefore, you would like them to classify your company as dormant. This can be done after you receive your company’s UTR (unique tax reference) number, which is sent to the registered office around two to three weeks after the date of company incorporation.
No. If you purchase our service address, one director will be able to use it for one company only. Should you wish to use our address as your service address for another company, a separate purchase is required.
Yes, you can choose a digital package now, and this will provide you with a limited company. If, at a later date, you wish to buy any additional items that are included in more expensive packages, they can be purchased separately from your customer area. However, they will not be available at the discounted rates of the packages.
It will take approximately 5 to 10 minutes to complete our online company application form. We will then send the application to Companies House, which will usually take around 3 to 6 working hours to approve a company - although this time period is dependent on Companies House workload, and sometimes it can take longer.
VAT registration usually takes up to 30 days, but can take longer in some instances.
Our company formation service is 100% online, and there is no need to supply any documentation or signatures. Just follow our simple 4 step company set up process, and your new company will usually be set up within 3 to 6 working hours (subject to Companies House workload).
No. You can very easily form your limited company or LLP from as little as £12.99 plus VAT by using our website, saving you £200 to £300 in solicitor or accountancy fees.
You will need a company name, a registered office address, and the details of the director and shareholder (which can be the same person) - name, date of birth, occupation, nationality, home address. You will also need a SIC code (business activity code) - but don't worry, we provide a list of codes for you to choose from.
See also: Information Required to Set Up a Company.
If you register your company with 1st Formations, your company's authentication code and company documents will be sent to you by email as soon as your application is approved by Companies House. The authentication code will also be available to view in your online customer area on our website.
All new registered companies require supplying 2 official addresses that are placed on the public record - a registered office address and a directors service address. Most people do not want to use their home address as they would like to maintain their privacy.
The best way to do this is by choosing one of our packages that includes a registered office and service address at a discounted rate, for example: The Privacy, Professional, Prestige or All Inclusive.
If you are forming a company with the objective of making a profit, then the standard company type for most commercial business activities is a private company limited by shares (or, in short, a 'limited' or 'ltd' company). You will find our range of limited company packages above.
For those wishing to form a non-profit company, co-operative, association, membership organisation, etc., the company type you should go for is a private company limited by guarantee. Please have a look at our Limited by Guarantee Package for further information.
1st Formations also provides limited liability partnership (LLP) company registration, which is similar to a traditional partnership, but enjoys the same limited liability as a limited company. This type of company is popular with professionals such as solicitors and accountants.
You can set up a limited company that is ready to trade, from as little as £12.99 plus VAT, by choosing our Digital Package. This cost includes the Companies House filing fee, so there is nothing else to pay.
As soon as your new company is registered by Companies House (usually within 3 to 6 working hours), you will receive an email containing your certificate of incorporation, a memorandum and articles of association and a share certificate for each shareholder.
You can, of course, choose one of our more comprehensive packages - which will provide many useful services. For example, our Prestige Package provides high quality printed company documents delivered by post, all 3 address services that will protect your privacy and provide an excellent corporate image, VAT registration and much more.
A package for non-residents who wish to set up a UK limited company, including:
We have partnered with Wise (formerly TransferWise) to offer our non-UK resident customers a UK business account to send, spend, and receive multiple currencies with the real exchange rate.
You will get your own UK account number and sort code, Eurozone IBAN, and US account and routing number in minutes, regardless of where you are in the world.
Also included in the package price is the use of our Covent Garden address for one year. We will provide you with 3 address services; Registered Office, Service Address, and Business Address.
Other benefits include free access to our secure Online Company Manager, where you can view, maintain and change your company details with Companies House for the lifetime of your company.
If you were to buy the items included in this package individually, it would cost a total of £532.99. Therefore, at a discounted price of £124.99, you will enjoy a huge saving of £408.00 plus VAT.
Through our extensive experience in working with non-UK residents, we understand the problems many have obtaining UK business banking facilities. Please find below our best options:
The simplest and quickest business banking solution for non-UK residents, and so we have included this option within our non-UK residents’ package.
It provides international business banking with worldwide coverage, allowing you to send money to 70+ countries, and receive and hold 50+ currencies.
After your company is formed using our website, we will send you a link to create your business account and you will very quickly receive your UK bank sort code and account number.
There is a fixed one-time on-boarding fee of £16.00 (or equivalent in local currency).
Many non-UK residents choose to open a bank account in their own country as opposed to in the UK; however, a bank in another country will normally require you to legalise or ‘apostille’ your UK company documents.
Our Apostilled Documents Service, can be added to any of our company formation packages on our Checkout page.
Your new company will usually be formed within 3 to 6 working hours; however, this timescale is subject to Companies House workload and it may take longer. If it is of great importance that your company is incorporated as soon as possible or on the same day, we always recommend you add the Guaranteed Same Day Service to your order.
Once your new company has been approved by Companies House, you can start trading immediately.
We have partnered with Wise (formerly TransferWise) to provide our Non-UK resident customers with international business banking.
Create an account in minutes and get access to the following bank details to receive money for free and hold money in over 50 currencies – all with zero fees:
A Wise Business Account provides worldwide coverage, allowing you to send money to 70+ countries, and receive and hold 50+ currencies.
There is a fixed one-time fee to obtain access to your international account details of £16.00 (or equivalent in local currency). This is a one-time fee that you pay regardless of how many international account details you open.
What happens next?
As soon as your company is approved by Companies House, we will send you an order fulfilled email, which will include a link to sign up for a new Wise Business Account.
Companies House charge a £12.00 filing fee for company incorporation. This is included in the package price, so what you see is what you pay - there are no hidden costs.
Save money and time by purchasing our cancellation protection.
If you change your mind and decide you no longer need your company, within the first 12 months of forming it, we will close the company for you.
This product includes the Companies House fee, completion and filing of the DS01 form (the application to strike off a company), Board Resolution to approve the dissolution, and continued use of our Registered Office and Service Address until your company is closed down.
Please note: You must claim your cancellation protection within 12 months of the date of incorporation of your company. This product expires after 12 months and cannot be renewed.
Our Online Company Manager system allows you to take full control of your company details from one central login:
We have partnered with one of the UK’s leading domain name providers to offer you a free .co.uk domain name for 1 year, and help establish the online presence of your new business.
How it works: As soon as your company is approved by Companies House, we will send you an order fulfilled email, which will include your exclusive voucher and a link to the Names.co.uk website. You should proceed to order your .com or .co.uk domain name and apply the voucher code at checkout. This code will expire in 30 days so take advantage of the offer and get your .com or .co.uk domain name now.
Please note: The price of a co.uk domain will be £0.00 (Ex VAT) when registered with names.co.uk for 1 year using the voucher code supplied. Discounts apply for the first billing period only and do not apply to renewals. Offer must be redeemed within 30 days and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. This offer may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of Namesco Limited. Standard terms & conditions apply. Limited to 1 per customer.
As soon as your company is registered at Companies House we will deliver a full set of company documents to you by email, including:
A digital version of your company’s statutory registers, including completed initial entries from the date of your company registration. The documents included in the company register are:
As soon as your company is registered at Companies House we will deliver a full set of company documents to you by International Business Tracked Delivery Service, including:
The Registered Office will appear on public record as the official address of your company. With this service, our prestigious Covent Garden address will appear on public record rather than your home address.
We will then scan and email all statutory company mail to you, from all UK government bodies and Court documents, free of charge.
This service is renewable on a 12 monthly basis at the cost of £39.00 +VAT. Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
Please note: The forwarding of official government mail by scan and email is free. Mail will be forwarded on a daily basis.
All company directors, shareholders who are persons with significant control (PSC), and company secretaries, must provide a service address where statutory mail from government bodies such as Companies House and HMRC can be sent to them personally. This address will appear on public record, so most people prefer not to use their home address for this purpose.
With this facility, our London Service Address will show on the public record rather than your home address. This service includes the scanning and emailing of mail addressed to a company officer from all UK government bodies, as well as Court documents, free of charge.
This item provides a service address for 1 person and is renewable on a 12 month basis at a cost of £26.00 +VAT. Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
Please note: Forwarding of service address mail by scan and email is free of charge. Mail will be forwarded on a daily basis.
1st Formations' London business address service allows you to use our prestigious Covent Garden address for your day-to-day business correspondence.
A business address in the heart of London’s West End is an excellent way to enhance the corporate image of your company and establish a business presence in an important area.
All mail addressed to your company will be forwarded to you at an address of your choice by first class post, on a daily basis.
This service is renewable on a 12 monthly basis at the cost of £96.00 +VAT. Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
Mail Delivery
All mail forwarding to you will be charged at Royal Mail postal rates plus 15%.
Alternatively, you can request a digital mail delivery service, where all mail is scanned and emailed to you at a cost of £0.50 per letter. All items of value will continue to be posted to you.
Allow our highly trained staff to handle the formalities of your VAT registration.
If your turnover is expected to exceed £85,000 in the next 12 months, it is a legal requirement to register for VAT, unless the supplies are exempt.
If your turnover is not expected to exceed the £85,000 threshold, there are a number of reasons why many companies choose to register for VAT voluntarily. Here are some examples:
The VAT registration process explained
As soon as your company is incorporated, we will send you a questionnaire by email, asking for some additional information necessary to complete your VAT registration application with HMRC.
We will then apply for your VAT registration online. This process can take up to 30 days.
Once your VAT registration has been approved, we will send your VAT Registration Number to you by email. Your VAT Registration Certificate will be sent to you by post by HMRC.
It is a legal requirement to submit a Confirmation Statement to Companies House at least once each year, keeping them informed and up-to-date with your latest company details.
The Confirmation Statement is basically a snapshot of general information about your company on the date of filing the Statement. It includes details of the company’s principal business activity, directors (and company secretary if applicable), the registered office, share capital, shareholdings and people with significant control.
An experienced member of our staff will prepare and submit your Confirmation Statement to Companies House before the due date, ensuring this will be done on time and with total accuracy.
The Confirmation Statement should not be confused with the annual accounts, which are financial documents, usually prepared by an accountant.
Please note: This service is renewable every 12 months and does not include the Companies House filing fee of £13.00. At the time of filing your first confirmation statement, we will take payment of £13.00 using your payment card details securely stored in your account.
Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
We will provide you with your own unique 020 London or regional telephone number - free for 12 months (excl. call charges).
You can use this number as your new business number on your company stationery, website, advertising, etc., and we will forward all calls to your mobile or landline handset for you to answer.
Call forwarding will be charged at BT Standard Rates.
This service is free (excl. call charges) for the first 12 months, and then will automatically renew every year at a cost of £59.99 plus VAT.
Our exclusive guide to starting your business by our CEO and Founder, Graeme Donnelly, will provide you with the comprehensive guidance you need to give your company the best start possible.
Our book shows you how to cultivate a business idea and turn it into a structured business plan. It explains the funding strategies available, and explores various matters such as, whether you should hire staff to help run it, and the do’s and don’ts of researching company premises.
Learn how to set up a company website, develop a recognisable brand, advertise and market your business, and sell your products online.
Also covered are the skills you will require to become a successful business leader, and how to cope with the stress of running your own business, as well as a number of other insightful business tips.
How do I receive my eBook?
Simply add our free eBook to your basket on the checkout page during the order process. Once your company has been formed, your free eBook will be sent to you via email, in PDF format.
Author: Graeme Donnelly, CEO and Founder of 1st Formations. 70 pages.
International Business Tracked Delivery (or if not available in your country - International Business Signed Delivery) of your printed company documents, to anywhere in the world - free of charge.
* All registered office and service address mail (official government mail) will be scanned and emailed to you free of charge. Business address mail will be forwarded to you at Royal Mail International postal rates plus 15% handling charge.
** Your printed company documents will be sent to you free of charge by International Business Tracked Delivery Service.
If you are not confident forming your company online - call our friendly team and we will complete your order by telephone.
No, you can register a UK limited company from anywhere in the world. The only requirements are that you have one director and one shareholder (the same person can assume both positions) and your company has a registered office address in the UK (included in the Non-Residents Package).
No. You can incorporate a limited company using any of our packages; however, this one is specifically designed for non-UK residents and represents the best value for money.
Yes. You can choose to use another address if you would prefer. Please remember, your Registered Office address must be a UK address. The package cost will remain the same should you choose not to use any of the inclusive address services.
All mail will be forwarded to you, regardless of where in the world you are located. All mail is covered by one of the three address services included in this package: registered office and service address mail will be scanned and emailed to you, free of charge.
General business mail will be forwarded at the cost of the Royal Mail postage plus a 15% handling fee.
This is a facility which allows you to make changes to your company easily. Just file your updates using our website and we will take care of the rest, making sure everything is kept up to date at Companies House.
The confirmation statement is a document that must be filed annually, providing Companies House with up to date information about your company. This package includes the preparation and filing of your first confirmation statement.
This package does not cover the filing of company accounts; however, we have included a free introduction and consultation with an accountant as an optional extra item on the checkout page of this package.
Please note, you should agree all fees directly with the accountancy firm.
Registered office and service address mail (official government mail) will be scanned and emailed to you free of charge. General business correspondence will be forwarded to you at the cost of the Royal Mail postal charge plus a 15% handling fee.
After the first year, address services can be renewed at the standard cost you see today.
All company formation agents, including ourselves, have a legal requirement to check Proof of ID and Address documents. You can read more about our ID requirements here.
This package includes three address services which can be renewed at a total cost of £161.00, and the filing of your confirmation statement which can also be renewed at a cost of £34.99.
Our Limited Liability Partnership formation package, at a cost of £34.99 plus VAT, is ideal for any type of professions that would normally operate as a traditional partnership, but whose members require limited liability.
It provides registration with Companies House in just 3 to 6 working hours (subject to Companies House workload, it may take longer) and includes a free draft LLP Agreement, digital and printed LLP documents, and access to 1st Formations online Company Manager, to maintain and update your LLP details.
As soon as Companies House approves your new LLP registration, we will send your Certificate of Incorporation, LLP documents, and a draft LLP Agreement to your email address.
If you require a formal LLP Agreement, simply email your completed draft to 1st Formations and we will prepare and deliver two printed copies of the document by 1st class post.
If you are not confident forming your company online - call our friendly team and we will complete your order by telephone.
A Limited Liability Partnership offers its members the security of limited financial liability with the more flexible internal structure offered by a traditional partnership.
A Limited Liability Partnership is commonly used by industry professionals who normally work in partnerships, such as solicitors, architects and accountants, but who wish to protect their personal finances by way of limited liability.
It is not a legal requirement to produce a Partnership Agreement, though it is recommended. This can help to prevent any disputes over partners' rights.
A Limited Liability Partnership must have at least 2 members (partners) to be registered with Companies House. There is no upper limit to the number of partners an LLP can have.
Please note:
Our Limited by Guarantee package, at a cost of just £29.99 plus VAT, is ideal for those who wish to set up a limited company for non-profit purposes - i.e. a club, sporting association, community project, workers' cooperative or membership organisation.
This package provides digital and printed company documents, a free client account on our Online Company Manager, allowing you to update company details and report changes to Companies House, and a free .com or .co.uk domain name for one year.
To form these companies or use bespoke articles of association, please call our customer service team at 020 3897 2233, and we will be happy to assist you.
Please note: Company documents are delivered free of charge within the UK. For overseas deliveries, Royal Mail postage rates + 15% will be charged.
If you are not confident forming your company online - call our friendly team and we will complete your order by telephone.
A company limited by guarantee is typically used by non-profit organisations. This type of company has guarantees and guarantors rather than shares and shareholders.
It is ideal for anyone setting up a not for profit company such as a workers’ co-operative, membership organisation, club, or sports association.
A limited by guarantee company structure is very popular for non-profit organisations because it provides limited financial liability to the company owners (guarantors). This means their personal finances are legally protected if the company encounters any financial difficulty or is sued.
The main difference is that a guarantor will not normally take any profits out of the business in the way a shareholder would. Instead, all profits are usually re-invested in the company to aid the fulfilment of its objectives.
No - it is unsuitable for setting up a charity because a charitable company requires a special memorandum and articles of association that details the specific objects of the company. The Model articles provided are unsuitable for this purpose.
A package suitable for those selling via their own ecommerce website, or through Amazon, eBay, Walmart, providing:
We have partnered with Payoneer and Wise to offer our ecommerce customers UK and International business accounts from the market leaders in the ecommerce payments space. For more information - see below.
Also included in the package price is the use of our Covent Garden address for one year. We will provide you with 3 address services; Registered Office, Service Address, and Business Address.
If you were to buy the items included in this package individually, it would cost a total of £328.99. Therefore, at a discounted price of £59.99, you will enjoy a huge saving of £269.00 plus VAT.
We've partnered with Payoneer to help our ecommerce customers get easy access to UK, and international, business bank accounts. Your account will be in your business name and is offered in 10 currencies; including GBP, EUR and USD.
Payoneer accounts are built specifically for eSellers and dropshippers trading globally.
By registering using this offer, you will receive a $50 reward, as well as 25% discount on the cost of converting currency on their platform.
Your account will be issued within 1-2 business days.
A simple and quick business banking solution for customers setting up their own ecommerce and dropshipping businesses.
It provides international business banking with worldwide coverage, allowing you to send money to 70+ countries, and receive and hold 40+ currencies.
After your company is formed using our website, we will send you a link to create your business account and you will very quickly receive your UK bank sort code and account number.
There is a fixed one-time on-boarding fee of £16.00 (or equivalent in local currency).
Your new company will usually be formed within 3 to 6 working hours; however, this timescale is subject to Companies House workload and it may take longer. If it is of great importance that your company is incorporated as soon as possible or on the same day, we always recommend you add the Guaranteed Same Day Service to your order.
Once your new company has been approved by Companies House, you can start trading immediately.
Companies House charge a £12.00 filing fee for company incorporation. This is included in the package price, so what you see is what you pay - there are no hidden costs.
As soon as your company is registered at Companies House we will deliver a full set of company documents to you by email, including:
Save money and time by purchasing our cancellation protection.
If you change your mind and decide you no longer need your company, within the first 12 months of forming it, we will close the company for you.
This product includes the Companies House fee, completion and filing of the DS01 form (the application to strike off a company), Board Resolution to approve the dissolution, and continued use of our Registered Office and Service Address until your company is closed down.
Please note: You must claim your cancellation protection within 12 months of the date of incorporation of your company. This product expires after 12 months and cannot be renewed.
We've partnered with Payoneer to help our eSeller customers get easy access to UK and international business bank accounts. These accounts will be in your business name and are offered in 10 currencies; including GBP, EUR and USD.
As a short summary, you will receive:
Payoneer are the market leader in the ecommerce payments space – handling over $50bn in payments per year. Their product is built specifically for eSellers and dropshippers trading globally.
By registering with Payoneer, you will receive a $50 reward, as well as 25% discount on the cost of converting currency on their platform.
Your account will be issued (subject to approval by Payoneer) within 1-2 business days.
We have partnered with Wise (formerly TransferWise) to provide our Non-UK resident customers with international business banking.
Create an account in minutes and get access to the following bank details to receive money for free and hold money in over 50 currencies – all with zero fees:
A Wise Business Account provides worldwide coverage, allowing you to send money to 70+ countries, and receive and hold 50+ currencies.
There is a fixed one-time fee to obtain access to your international account details of £16.00 (or equivalent in local currency). This is a one-time fee that you pay regardless of how many international account details you open.
What happens next?
As soon as your company is approved by Companies House, we will send you an order fulfilled email, which will include a link to sign up for a new Wise Business Account.
The Registered Office will appear on public record as the official address of your company. With this service, our prestigious Covent Garden address will appear on public record rather than your home address.
We will then scan and email all statutory company mail to you, from all UK government bodies and Court documents, free of charge.
This service is renewable on a 12 monthly basis at the cost of £39.00 +VAT. Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
Please note: The forwarding of official government mail by scan and email is free. Mail will be forwarded on a daily basis.
All company directors, shareholders who are persons with significant control (PSC), and company secretaries, must provide a service address where statutory mail from government bodies such as Companies House and HMRC can be sent to them personally. This address will appear on public record, so most people prefer not to use their home address for this purpose.
With this facility, our London Service Address will show on the public record rather than your home address. This service includes the scanning and emailing of mail addressed to a company officer from all UK government bodies, as well as Court documents, free of charge.
Mail from the following government agencies are covered by this service: Companies House, HMRC, Government Gateway, Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), The Pensions Regulator (TPR), Office for National Statistics, Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Court documents.
This item provides a service address for 1 person and is renewable on a 12 month basis at a cost of £26.00 +VAT. Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
Please note: Forwarding of service address mail by scan and email is free of charge. Mail will be forwarded on a daily basis.
1st Formations' London business address service allows you to use our prestigious Covent Garden address for your day-to-day business correspondence.
A business address in the heart of London’s West End is an excellent way to enhance the corporate image of your company and establish a business presence in an important area.
All mail addressed to your company will be forwarded to you at an address of your choice by first class post, on a daily basis.
This service is renewable on a 12 monthly basis at the cost of £96.00 +VAT. Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
Mail Delivery
All mail forwarding to you will be charged at Royal Mail postal rates plus 15%.
Alternatively, you can request a digital mail delivery service, where all mail is scanned and emailed to you at a cost of £0.50 per letter. All items of value will continue to be posted to you.
We have partnered with one of the UK’s leading domain name providers to offer you a free .co.uk domain name for 1 year, and help establish the online presence of your new business.
How it works: As soon as your company is approved by Companies House, we will send you an order fulfilled email, which will include your exclusive voucher and a link to the Names.co.uk website. You should proceed to order your .com or .co.uk domain name and apply the voucher code at checkout. This code will expire in 30 days so take advantage of the offer and get your .com or .co.uk domain name now.
Please note: The price of a co.uk domain will be £0.00 (Ex VAT) when registered with names.co.uk for 1 year using the voucher code supplied. Discounts apply for the first billing period only and do not apply to renewals. Offer must be redeemed within 30 days and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. This offer may be withdrawn at any time at the discretion of Namesco Limited. Standard terms & conditions apply. Limited to 1 per customer.
It is a legal requirement to submit a Confirmation Statement to Companies House at least once each year, keeping them informed and up-to-date with your latest company details.
The Confirmation Statement is basically a snapshot of general information about your company on the date of filing the Statement. It includes details of the company’s principal business activity, directors (and company secretary if applicable), the registered office, share capital, shareholdings and people with significant control.
An experienced member of our staff will prepare and submit your Confirmation Statement to Companies House before the due date, ensuring this will be done on time and with total accuracy.
The Confirmation Statement should not be confused with the annual accounts, which are financial documents, usually prepared by an accountant.
Please note: This service is renewable every 12 months and does not include the Companies House filing fee of £13.00. At the time of filing your first confirmation statement, we will take payment of £13.00 using your payment card details securely stored in your account.
Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
Our exclusive guide to starting your business by our CEO and Founder, Graeme Donnelly, will provide you with the comprehensive guidance you need to give your company the best start possible.
Our book shows you how to cultivate a business idea and turn it into a structured business plan. It explains the funding strategies available, and explores various matters such as, whether you should hire staff to help run it, and the do’s and don’ts of researching company premises.
Learn how to set up a company website, develop a recognisable brand, advertise and market your business, and sell your products online.
Also covered are the skills you will require to become a successful business leader, and how to cope with the stress of running your own business, as well as a number of other insightful business tips.
How do I receive my eBook?
Simply add our free eBook to your basket on the checkout page during the order process. Once your company has been formed, your free eBook will be sent to you via email, in PDF format.
Author: Graeme Donnelly, CEO and Founder of 1st Formations. 70 pages.
Our Online Company Manager system allows you to take full control of your company details from one central login:
* All registered office and service address mail (official government mail) will be scanned and emailed to you free of charge. Business address mail will be forwarded to you at Royal Mail postal rates plus 15% handling charge.
If you are not confident forming your company online - call our friendly team and we will complete your order by telephone.
No, you can register a UK limited company from anywhere in the world. The only requirements are that you have one director and one shareholder (the same person can assume both positions) and your company has a registered office address in the UK (included in the Non-Residents Package).
No. You can incorporate a limited company using any of our packages; however, this one is specifically designed for eSellers.
Yes. You can choose to use another address if you would prefer. Please remember, your Registered Office address must be a UK address. The package cost will remain the same should you choose not to use any of the inclusive address services.
All mail will be forwarded to you, regardless of where in the world you are located. All mail is covered by one of the three address services included in this package: registered office and service address mail will be scanned and emailed to you, free of charge.
General business mail will be forwarded at the cost of the Royal Mail postage plus a 15% handling fee.
This is a facility which allows you to make changes to your company easily. Just file your updates using our website and we will take care of the rest, making sure everything is kept up to date at Companies House.
The confirmation statement is a document that must be filed annually, providing Companies House with up to date information about your company. This package includes the preparation and filing of your first confirmation statement.
This package does not cover the filing of company accounts, but we will introduce you to an accountant who can help with this. We have included a free consultation with an accountant as an optional extra item on the Checkout page of this package.
Please note, you should agree all fees directly with the accountancy firm.
Registered office and service address mail (official government mail) will be scanned and emailed to you free of charge. General business correspondence will be forwarded to you at the cost of the Royal Mail postal charge plus a 15% handling fee.
After the first year, address services can be renewed at the standard cost you see today.
All company formation agents, including ourselves, have a legal requirement to check Proof of ID and Address documents. You can read more about our ID requirements here.
This package includes three address services which can be renewed at a total cost of £161.00, and the filing of your confirmation statement which can also be renewed at a cost of £34.99.
Our PLC Package, at a cost of just £119.99 plus VAT, is ideal for those who wish to set up a public limited company.
Highlights of this package include:
A public limited company has specific requirements for incorporation and commencing trading - over and above those of a private company.
Unlike a private company where only one director is required, a public limited company requires two directors.
Due to the corporate governance requirements of a public company, a suitably qualified company secretary must be appointed on incorporation, for example a chartered secretary, chartered accountant or solicitor.
A public limited company requires a minimum nominal share capital value of £50,000 on incorporation. At least 25% of the nominal value of allotted shares must be paid up – that being a minimum of £12,500.
A trading certificate for a public company must be obtained from Companies House before a PLC can commence trading. This certificate confirms that at least a quarter of the nominal value of allotted shares have been paid up.
This package includes the provision of a trading certificate.
If you were to buy the items included in this package individually, it would cost a total of £259.99. Therefore, at a package price of £119.99, you will enjoy a saving of £140.00 plus VAT.
Your new company will usually be formed within 3 to 6 working hours; however, this timescale is subject to Companies House workload and it may take longer.
If it is of great importance that your company is incorporated as soon as possible or on the same day, we always recommend you add the Guaranteed Same Day Service to your order.
Companies House charge a £12.00 filing fee for company incorporation. This is included in the package price, so what you see is what you pay - there are no hidden costs.
As soon as your company is registered at Companies House we will deliver a full set of company documents to you by email, including:
A digital version of your company’s statutory registers, including completed initial entries from the date of your company registration. The documents included in the company register are:
As soon as your company is registered at Companies House we will deliver a full set of company documents to you by International Business Tracked Delivery Service, including:
It is a legal requirement for all public limited companies to obtain a trading certificate before starting trading.
We will prepare and submit to Companies House the application form for your trading certificate for a public company. Once it has been issued, we will deliver the certificate to you by Royal Mail post.
It is a legal requirement to submit a Confirmation Statement to Companies House at least once each year, keeping them informed and up-to-date with your latest company details.
The Confirmation Statement is basically a snapshot of general information about your company on the date of filing the Statement. It includes details of the company’s principal business activity, directors (and company secretary if applicable), the registered office, share capital, shareholdings and people with significant control.
An experienced member of our staff will prepare and submit your Confirmation Statement to Companies House before the due date, ensuring this will be done on time and with total accuracy.
The Confirmation Statement should not be confused with the annual accounts, which are financial documents, usually prepared by an accountant.
Please note: This service is renewable every 12 months and does not include the Companies House filing fee of £13.00. At the time of filing your first confirmation statement, we will take payment of £13.00 using your payment card details securely stored in your account.
Notice will always be given in advance of your renewal date and you will be able to cancel the service.
Allow our highly trained staff to handle the formalities of your VAT registration.
If your turnover is expected to exceed £85,000 in the next 12 months, it is a legal requirement to register for VAT, unless the supplies are exempt.
If your turnover is not expected to exceed the £85,000 threshold, there are a number of reasons why many companies choose to register for VAT voluntarily. Here are some examples:
The VAT registration process explained
As soon as your company is incorporated, we will send you a questionnaire by email, asking for some additional information necessary to complete your VAT registration application with HMRC.
We will then apply for your VAT registration online. This process can take up to 30 days.
Once your VAT registration has been approved, we will send your VAT Registration Number to you by email. Your VAT Registration Certificate will be sent to you by post by HMRC.
If there are any employees or directors who will be taking a salary from your company, it is a legal requirement to register your company for PAYE with HMRC. Failure to register for PAYE promptly can result in penalties.
Avoid potential complications by allowing our highly trained staff to take care of the registration on your behalf.
The PAYE registration process explained
As soon as your company is incorporated, we will send you a questionnaire by email, asking for some additional information necessary to complete your PAYE registration application with HMRC.
We will then apply for your PAYE registration online. This process normally takes around 3 weeks, and all of your PAYE information will be sent to you by post directly from HMRC.
If your first payday is less than 3 weeks away, do not be concerned. You should process your salary or salaries on the date of your first payday, and complete your registration information from HMRC. If your first filing is late, HMRC will take into account the timing of your registration so there should be no issues arising from this filing.
We will provide you with your own unique 020 London or regional telephone number - free for 12 months (excl. call charges).
You can use this number as your new business number on your company stationery, website, advertising, etc., and we will forward all calls to your mobile or landline handset for you to answer.
Call forwarding will be charged at BT Standard Rates.
This service is free (excl. call charges) for the first 12 months, and then will automatically renew every year at a cost of £59.99 plus VAT.
Add a business bank account to one of our packages and get up to 25 months’ of free business banking.
Complete a simple online application form for your chosen bank and we will prepare your application and send it directly to your bank, as part of your order. Below is a list of our current banking partners:
Barclays
12 months’ free business banking with this high-street bank. Your bank account will be opened within 5 working days and you will receive your business debit card within 5 working days of your account being opened.
TSB
With 25 months’ worth of business banking from this high-street bank, your bank account will be opened within 5 working days. You will receive your business debit card within 5 working days of your account being opened.
Mettle (by Natwest)
An online business bank account which allows customers to add receipts to transactions and create invoices with company logos via their App. Your account can be opened within minutes.
Cashplus
An online business bank account with no credit checks. Once your company has been formed and Cashplus have verified your details, your account number and sort code will be sent to you by email. Mastercard Business Card available for a small fee.
Tide
Manage all of your company’s financial administration in one place, with accounting and invoicing all taken care of via their business account App.
Countingup
Perfect for small businesses, Countingup’s App automatically categorises your income and expenses with its state-of-the-art accounting software. There’s no need for expensive bookkeeping software – sign up for Countingup’s banking App today. Your contactless bank card will be sent once you activate your account.
CardOne
An online banking solution with no credit check, which provides you with a corporate Mastercard. Your corporate Mastercard will arrive a few working days after your company has been formed.
ANNA
A cutting-edge online banking solution which will create your invoices and chase them for you when overdue – saving you time and money and making sure you get paid. Includes real-time tax calculations for HMRC, ensuring you have enough money available when it comes to paying your tax. Your account can be opened in as little as 3 minutes, and you will receive your business debit card within 5 working days of your account being opened.
Please note: This offer is only available to companies with UK resident directors and shareholders. Companies with overseas or nominee directors and shareholders are not eligible for this offer.
Our Online Company Manager system allows you to take full control of your company details from one central login:
Note: The standard articles included in this package are suitable for an unlisted PLC. We advise using your own bespoke articles if you require a listing on a regulated market, for example the LSE or AIM.
If you are not confident forming your company online - call our friendly team and we will complete your order by telephone.
« 1st Formations had the most useful and competitive packages and their ordering process seemed so much easier than incorporating directly with Companies House. »
Thom Dhar
1ST FORMATIONS CUSTOMER
