Companies House charges £100 to register a private limited company online in the UK, and successful applications are usually processed within 24 hours. The process is still fairly short, but UK Ltd company registration now includes identity checks that older setup guides may not mention.
The limited company structure behind Ltd matters before you file anything. Incorporation creates a company that is legally separate from its owners, so setting up a Ltd company is not just reserving a business name or opening another bank account.
Companies House identity verification is now part of the formation process for new directors. Since November 18, 2025, a new director must verify their identity before incorporating or being appointed. The Companies House identity verification process can be completed directly through GOV.UK One Login or through an authorized corporate service provider, and the resulting personal code is used for company roles.
A private company limited by shares also needs at least one shareholder. The shareholder can be the same person as the director. UK Ltd company registration requirements also include identifying people with significant control, commonly anyone holding more than 25 percent of the shares or voting rights or having certain other control over the board.
Before you create a Ltd company, check company name availability in the UK register and check trademarks separately. A name cannot simply duplicate an existing registered company name, and names considered too similar can create problems later. Most private limited company names end in Limited or Ltd.
For a company limited by shares, you also provide the shareholders, number and value of shares, and the rights attached to them through the statement of capital. The articles of association for a limited company set the internal rules for running it. You can normally use the standard model articles or provide your own.
Online incorporation automatically creates the memorandum of association from the information supplied by the initial shareholders. All this paperwork has a legal effect, not just an admin purpose. Incorporation creates a separate legal entity, so the certificate of incorporation marks the point when the company legally exists rather than merely documenting a business idea.
You also choose a SIC code describing what the company does. If you set up a Ltd company online, getting the code, ownership percentages, director details, PSC information, registered office, and share structure straight beforehand makes the filing much less fiddly.
UK Ltd company registration in 2026 also means treating identity verification as a real compliance step rather than something to fix later. New directors need verification for incorporation, while PSCs have separate verification and personal-code obligations. A formation agent can handle parts of the submission, but paying an agent does not remove the legal responsibilities attached to directors.
Once Companies House accepts the application, it issues a certificate of incorporation showing the company name, number, and formation date. The standard online service will usually set the company up for Corporation Tax at the same time unless it is dormant. PAYE registration can also be added when appropriate.
Anyone working out how to register a limited company in the UK should also budget for what comes after formation. Companies must maintain records, file annual accounts when required, submit confirmation statements, keep company information current, and meet tax obligations. The current digital confirmation statement fee is £50 for the 12-month payment period.
Creating a Ltd company in the UK is therefore cheap compared with many professional services built around formation, but the £100 filing is only the entrance ticket. The company becomes a separate legal person with directors, ownership records, public filings, and continuing duties. Getting those details right at incorporation saves far more hassle than shaving a few minutes off the application.
The limited company structure behind Ltd matters before you file anything. Incorporation creates a company that is legally separate from its owners, so setting up a Ltd company is not just reserving a business name or opening another bank account.
Get the people, name, and addresses sorted first
Every private limited company needs at least one director aged 16 or over. The director does not have to live in the UK, but the company needs an appropriate registered office address in the UK and in the same jurisdiction where it is registered. A company formed in Scotland, for example, needs its registered office in Scotland.Companies House identity verification is now part of the formation process for new directors. Since November 18, 2025, a new director must verify their identity before incorporating or being appointed. The Companies House identity verification process can be completed directly through GOV.UK One Login or through an authorized corporate service provider, and the resulting personal code is used for company roles.
A private company limited by shares also needs at least one shareholder. The shareholder can be the same person as the director. UK Ltd company registration requirements also include identifying people with significant control, commonly anyone holding more than 25 percent of the shares or voting rights or having certain other control over the board.
Before you create a Ltd company, check company name availability in the UK register and check trademarks separately. A name cannot simply duplicate an existing registered company name, and names considered too similar can create problems later. Most private limited company names end in Limited or Ltd.
Prepare the company details before filing
A limited company setup in the UK needs more than names and addresses. You must provide a registered email address, although Companies House does not publish that email on the public register. The registered office address is public, so using a home address there means putting it on the public record.For a company limited by shares, you also provide the shareholders, number and value of shares, and the rights attached to them through the statement of capital. The articles of association for a limited company set the internal rules for running it. You can normally use the standard model articles or provide your own.
Online incorporation automatically creates the memorandum of association from the information supplied by the initial shareholders. All this paperwork has a legal effect, not just an admin purpose. Incorporation creates a separate legal entity, so the certificate of incorporation marks the point when the company legally exists rather than merely documenting a business idea.
You also choose a SIC code describing what the company does. If you set up a Ltd company online, getting the code, ownership percentages, director details, PSC information, registered office, and share structure straight beforehand makes the filing much less fiddly.
Filing is only the start of the company
To register a company with Companies House through the standard online service, the current digital Companies House registration fee is £100. Paper incorporation costs £124, while eligible software filings can use a £156 same-day service. The ordinary online route is usually completed within 24 hours, although complicated applications can take longer.UK Ltd company registration in 2026 also means treating identity verification as a real compliance step rather than something to fix later. New directors need verification for incorporation, while PSCs have separate verification and personal-code obligations. A formation agent can handle parts of the submission, but paying an agent does not remove the legal responsibilities attached to directors.
Once Companies House accepts the application, it issues a certificate of incorporation showing the company name, number, and formation date. The standard online service will usually set the company up for Corporation Tax at the same time unless it is dormant. PAYE registration can also be added when appropriate.
Anyone working out how to register a limited company in the UK should also budget for what comes after formation. Companies must maintain records, file annual accounts when required, submit confirmation statements, keep company information current, and meet tax obligations. The current digital confirmation statement fee is £50 for the 12-month payment period.
Creating a Ltd company in the UK is therefore cheap compared with many professional services built around formation, but the £100 filing is only the entrance ticket. The company becomes a separate legal person with directors, ownership records, public filings, and continuing duties. Getting those details right at incorporation saves far more hassle than shaving a few minutes off the application.
