Simple company formation
Over 1 million companies formed in the UK. Experience you can trust.
- Over 20,000 excellent Trustpilot reviews
- Companies House fee included
- Receive your company within hours
New to company formation? Watch our video
Quick guide to our
company formation packages
Explore in detail on our Compare Packages Page.
Digital
- LTD Company
- Digital Company Documents
- Confirmation Statement Service
Privacy
- LTD Company
- Digital Company Documents
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London
Registered Office -
London
Service Address - Confirmation Statement Service
Professional
- LTD Company
- Digital & Printed Company Documents
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London
Registered Office -
London
Service Address - Confirmation Statement Service
Prestige
- LTD Company
- Digital & Printed Company Documents
-
London
Registered Office -
London
Service Address -
London
Business Address - Confirmation Statement Service
- VAT Registration
- PAYE Registration
All Inclusive
- LTD Company
- Digital & Printed Company Documents
-
London
Registered Office -
London
Service Address -
London
Business Address - Confirmation Statement Service
- VAT Registration
- PAYE Registration
- Full Company Secretary Service
The best choice of
business bank accounts
Form your company with 1st Formations and set up your
business bank account in minutes with no paperwork or stress.
Company formation in
4 simple steps
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1. Company Name
Begin by searching for your company name to see if it is available for registration.
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2. Select Package
Select the package that is right for you. We have a range of different options.
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3. Checkout
Proceed to checkout. You will also have the option to add additional services.
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4. Company Details
Quickly fill in your company details and let us take care of the rest.
Everything was in one place, and it was easy to use for somebody who didn’t really know what they were doing.
Liz Fraser, Dot Dot Dash Coaching View customer story
New to company formation?
Created for beginners, this short video will provide you with everything you need to know
about the company formation process - in the simplest of terms. Watch it and register your company today.
Pick up a free business
bank account
Select a business bank account during the company formation process and tick off another task on your ‘to do’ list.
We offer up to 8 banking options for your new company, each with simple online account opening. Select a bank today and get your account up and running in a matter of minutes.
The information you need
to form a company
Here is what you need to register a company limited by shares - the most popular type of UK company
We are a carbon
neutral business
Grow your business with offers
from our partners
We have teamed up with some of the top business brands
in the world to give our customers a range of special offers and discounts.
Our Trustpilot
customer reviews
We have over 19,000 excellent customer reviews on Trustpilot
with a Trustscore of ##data-trustpilot--score# out of 5.0.
Helpful videos
Have a look at our videos for business insights, advice and inspiration.
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The most tax-efficient way to take money from a limited company
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How to set up a dormant company
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How to set up a dormant company
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Do UK companies have Tax Identification Numbers (TINs)?
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A guide to National Insurance contributions for limited companies
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How to claim pre-trading expenses
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Going into business with family or friends – 5 essential tips
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How to create an invoice for your limited company
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Can I borrow money from my limited company
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Do I need to pay the ICO data protection fee?
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8 ways small businesses can fund expansion
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15 reasons why company formations are rejected
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15 money-saving tips for small businesses that you need to know
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What is a company dissolution?
Meet the people
behind the companies
We helped them set up their company with ease, allowing them to do the things they love without the stres.
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“They hold your hand every step of the way which I found incredibly useful, and still find incredibly useful as we grow.”
Mart Abramov Tax Scouts -
“Simple process broken down into easy-to-understand steps. Everything was in one place and easy to use.”
Mark Francis Heron's Ghyll -
“I wanted to make sure that it was the right step that I was taking and 1st Formations gave me that peace of mind.”
Michelle Clark Dogs On The Streets
Frequently asked questions...
Why should I form a limited company?
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.
What is meant by a company limited by shares?
A company limited by shares is the most popular type of limited company. 'Limited by shares' simply means the liability of the owners is limited to the nominal value of the shares issued by the company.
How long does it take to register a company?
It usually takes 3 to 6 working hours to form a company with 1st Formations; however, this is dependent on Companies House workload on the day, and it can take up to 24 hours.
Can I register a company on my own?
Yes. One person can form a limited company in the UK. You will need at least one director, who can also be the company’s shareholder (owner).
What information do I need to set up a company?
- A company name that is not currently registered at Companies House. You can check if your company name is available using our company name checker.
- 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 Prestige Package.
- The details of all directors and shareholders, including full names, residential addresses, occupations, dates of birth and nationalities.
How many shares do I need to issue?
A limited company must issue at least one share. If there is more than one shareholder, it requires 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.
Do I have to be in the UK to form a company?
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 of our company formation packages. Have a look at our Non-Residents Package.
What methods of payment do 1st Formations accept?
We accept all major credit and debit cards including Mastercard, Visa, Maestro, and American Express.
Do I need a business bank account?
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.
When can I start trading with my new company?
You can start trading through your new limited company immediately after it is registered at Companies House.
What are the annual filings?
The annual filing requirements for a limited company are the confirmation statement, annual accounts and Corporation Tax Return.
Do you provide support after I form my company?
Yes, 1st Formations provide full telephone, live chat and email 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 you maintain and develop your company.
The Ultimate Guide to Starting Your Business
Our eBook is available FREE with every company formation package.
Learn how to cultivate a business idea, create a business plan, explore funding strategies, and start your business, with our comprehensive guide. We’ll also show you how to set up a company website, sell online, cope with the stress of running your business – and much more.
What you can expect from us...
1st Formations are authorised Companies House formation agents, and we are also a member of ACRA (the Association of Company Registration Agents) ensuring our company documentation is of the highest quality, always up-to-date and compliant with current regulations and legislation.
We are available and ready to support you every step of the way; from tentative initial enquiries and helping you choose a package, to guiding you through the company formation process.
If you need any assistance, or you would like to form your company by telephone with one of our experts, give us a call on 020 3897 2233.
Once you are ready to start
It’s a simple matter of following our 4 step company formation process: Go to our homepage and find out if your company name is available; choose a package; select any company services you may require, checkout and pay; and complete our 'online company registration form'. This should take you no more than 15 minutes and your new company should be ready to trade in 3 to 6 working hours.
As soon as your new company is incorporated, we will send you a digital copy of your company documents. Printed documents will take between 24 and 48 hours to reach you by post, and if your package included any address services, these will be set up for you within 3 to 5 working hours.
After company formation
Let’s just say our journey together has just started! 1st Formations provides free customer support for the lifetime of your company. So please call or email us if you need help.
We also provide a free Online Company Manager facility for all customers, where you can maintain and update their company records and details, without having to login and navigate the Companies House website. We all include a full range of company services.