How do I register a limited company?

For people setting up a private limited company with Companies House.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Register online with Companies House; it costs £100 and is usually done within 24 hours. You'll get a certificate of incorporation.

You may need to verify your identity first and use your Companies House personal code.
You'll confirm people with significant control, e.g. anyone with over 25% of shares.
You're usually set up for Corporation Tax at the same time.
By post it costs £124 and takes 8 to 10 days.

Key facts

£100 online
Usually within 24 hours
Identity verification needed

What you need to decide before you register

Registering is the last step. Before you start, have these things ready.

Item	The rule
Company name	It must follow Companies House naming rules
Directors	At least one director, aged 16 or over
Company secretary	Optional for a private limited company
Shareholders	At least one. A director can also be a shareholder
Registered office address	A real physical address in the UK
Registered email address	You must give one and read the emails it gets
Rules for running the company	Your "memorandum" and "articles of association"

Registered office and email rules

Your registered office address must be in the same country your company is registered in. For example, a company registered in Scotland must have its registered office in Scotland.

You can no longer use a Royal Mail PO Box, or a similar service from another company, as your registered office. The address must be somewhere that:

you, or someone acting for the company, will find out about any post sent there
a sender can get proof that their post was delivered

Your registered email address is not shown on the public register.

Who can be a director

Directors do not have to live in the UK. But you need a court's permission to be a director if you are disqualified from being a director, or are an undischarged bankrupt (someone who is still bankrupt and has not yet been freed from their debts).

How to register, step by step

Verify your identity with Companies House using GOV.UK One Login, if you have not already. You only do this once.
Get your Companies House personal code. You get this after verifying your identity. If there is more than one director, each one needs their own code.
Register online with Companies House and pay the fee by debit or credit card.
Get your certificate of incorporation. This shows your company exists in law.

Cost and time

Method	Fee	How long it usually takes
Online	£100	Usually within 24 hours
By post (form IN01)	£124, by cheque to "Companies House"	8 to 10 days

Online is cheaper and much faster for most people.

After you register

You will usually be set up for Corporation Tax at the same time, unless your company is "dormant" (not trading). HMRC will send your 10 digit Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR). You then need to add Corporation Tax services to your business tax account.

Each year your company must also file a confirmation statement and annual accounts with Companies House.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Set up a limited company: register your company, GOV.UK
Set up a limited company: overview, GOV.UK
Registered office and email addresses, GOV.UK
Appoint directors and a company secretary, GOV.UK

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Common questions

Can I set up a limited company on my own?

Yes, you need at least one director and at least one shareholder, and the shareholder can be a director.

How old do you have to be to be a company director?

A director must be 16 or over.

Do directors have to live in the UK?

No, but the company must have a UK registered office address.

Do I need a company secretary?

No, you do not need a company secretary for a private limited company.

Official sources

1.Register your companywww.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/register-your-company
2.Set up a limited companywww.gov.uk/limited-company-formation
3.Appoint directors and company secretarieswww.gov.uk/limited-company-formation/appoint-directors-and-company-secretaries

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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