Founder's Story
What began as a costly misstep became the catalyst for one of the UK's leading company formation services.
Through trial, failure, and reinvention, I transformed a struggling business into a thriving platform, empowering over 1 million entrepreneurs.
My journey is a reminder that great businesses are born from persistence and purpose. Read on to follow my journey.
Graeme Donnelly
CEO & Founder
The start of my entrepreneurial journey
In 2000, I launched my first business – a boutique office space. I had vision, but I made costly mistakes: overspending on renovations, underestimating demand, and choosing the wrong location. The numbers didn't stack up, and the model quickly unravelled.
The fallout hit fast. Unpaid bills. Supplier pressure. Sleepless nights. But from that chaos came clarity and an understanding that this wasn't a failure, but a lesson taking shape.
A strategic shift
My first business failed from lack of planning and research. But that failure led to a smarter, more sustainable path forward.
Shifting to virtual offices was a breakthrough. I studied the market, applied what I learned, and launched a lean, scalable model without overheads.
Within five years, I'd backed 2,000 startups with a thriving virtual office solution, built for modern entrepreneurs and a digital-first world.
Looking back, the key takeaways for me are:
Stay calm under pressure
Be ready to pivot and adapt
Validate your idea before investing money
Commit fully
Move fast
Never stop learning
Know your numbers
Understand your market
The founding of 1st Formations
- Entrepreneurs weren't just looking for office space. They needed accessible, reliable guidance to launch with confidence. I saw growing demand for smarter startup solutions, and a bigger opportunity to help founders do more than just get started.
- In 2014, I launched 1st Formations to close that gap. Today, it's the UK's leading company formation service, helping over 1 million people start their business journeys.
- Our goal? Empower entrepreneurs with the tools, mindset, and support to shape their future. From day one, we've built trust through exceptional service and founder-first thinking.
- We're proud to be one of the UK's highest-rated companies for customer satisfaction — with 46,000+ five-star reviews. It's proof that when we care, and invest in technology and people, the results speak for themselves.
Our social impact and commitment to customers
People, planet, purpose
We believe success starts with people. That's why we foster an inclusive culture, pay the Real Living Wage, and operate from a carbon-neutral HQ in Covent Garden.
As a Certified B Corp, our parent company – BSG Group – is part of a global movement of purpose-driven businesses. Together, we're meeting high standards for social and environmental impact.
Guided by the B Corp framework, we're building a more equitable, accountable, and sustainable future for our customers, team, and community.
Our impact so far
25k+
Excellent reviews
on Google & Trustpilot
330
Hours spent volunteering
by our team
845
Children & families supported through our donations
Leadership and vision
Sharing my experience
I'm passionate about using my insights from 35+ years of launching and growing businesses to help others turn their ideas into impact.
Empowering entrepreneurs
Driven by a commitment to practical support, my focus is on equipping founders with the mindset, tools, and confidence they need to launch their business and turn it into something lasting.
Making the startup journey simpler
I share step-by-step resources that take the guesswork out of starting a business, so founders can spend less time stuck in admin and more time building something they believe in.
