How do I register a limited company?

Part of the process of setting up your limited company is registering your business with Companies House. Here we give you a guide to the process.

How do I register a limited company?

You can register your limited company by:

applying online via GOV.UK
Completing form IN01 and popping the form in post. Paper applications should be sent to the address on the form.
You can use a courier to deliver your application to Companies House. There are offices in London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Region	Address
England	Companies House 4 Abbey Orchard Street Westminster London SW1P 2HT
Wales	Companies House Crown Way Cardiff CF14 3UZ DX 33050 Cardiff
Scotland	Companies House 4th Floor Edinburgh Quay 2 139 Fountainbridge Edinburgh EH3 9FF
Northern Ireland	Companies House 2nd Floor The Linenhall 32-38 Linenhall Street Belfast BT2 8BG

Checklist: What information do I need to register a limited company?

To register your business you will need to do the following. Login to save this checklist to your profile for future use – as you work through the list, any checkboxes that are ticked or unticked will be automatically saved to your profile. (To register to join and enjoy the benefits of membership click on the link at the top right of the page. It will only take a few minutes to create your profile).

You must be logged in to use this checklist

Company name

Firstly you must choose a name for your business. There are certain rules that you must follow. The name can’t be exactly the same as another registered company’s name. It cannot contain a ‘sensitive word’, or suggest a connection with government or local authorities or be offensive. To get started you can search the Companies House register to see if a name's been taken.

Company address

Your registered office address is where all your official letters will be sent, such as from Companies House or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). It must be a physical address and in the same country as the company is registered e.g. if the business is registered in Scotland you must have a registered address in Scotland. You can use a PO Box but must also include a physical address and postcode.

Directors

Your business must have at least one director. Directors are legally responsible for running the company and for making sure company accounts and reports are done properly. A director must be aged 16 or over and should not be disqualified from being a director.

Statement of capital

When you register a company you need to make a ‘statement of capital’. This includes the number of shares of each type the business has, and their total value. For example, a business that issues 500 shares at £1 each, has a share capital of £500. You must also include the names and addresses of all shareholders.

Memorandum of association

You will also need to register a ‘Memorandum of association’. This is the legal statement which has been signed by all shareholders and ‘articles of association’ these are the written rules about running the company agreed by the shareholders, directors and the company secretary.

How much does it cost to register a limited company?

There are different costs depending on which method you use to register (these are accurate as of April 2024):

Online applications cost £12, you can pay by debit or credit card.
Postal applications cost £40, this is paid by cheque made out to ‘Companies House’
There is also ‘a same day service’; you must get your application to Companies House by 3pm, the cost for this is £100. Your envelope (and any courier’s envelope) must be marked ‘same day service’ in the top left-hand corner.

How long does it take to register a limited company?

Online applications are usually registered within 24 hours
Postal applications take between 8 – 10 days.

How do I update these details if they change?

You must tell Companies House about any changes to your limited company.

These changes might be:

directors and company secretaries, for example new appointments, resignations or changes to personal details
changing your company name
changing your registered office address
changing your accounting reference date
changing where your company records are kept, if this is different from your registered address
which records you’ll keep at an alternative address
changes to your company’s share structure, for example if you issue new shares.

Check on the Companies House website to see the full list of changes that need to be notified. You can update changes online via Companies House.

You will also need to tell HM Revenue & Customs (HRMC) of any changes.

Do I need to register for Corporation Tax?

You need to register for tax within three months of starting to do business. ‘Doing business’ includes:

buying
selling
employing someone
advertising
renting a property.

If you register late you may incur a penalty.

To register you will need your business 10-digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). This will have been posted to your business address by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This is usually usually within a few days of the company being registered with Companies House.

Read more on registering for Corporation Tax

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