You can set up a limited company online with Companies House in about 24 hours for a £100 fee — the registration itself is quick. The work that actually matters is getting the details right before and after you register: choosing the right structure, registering for the right taxes, and not missing the deadlines that follow. This guide walks through the whole process in plain English, so you start your company on solid ground rather than fixing avoidable mistakes later.
Figures are current for 2026 and sourced to gov.uk. The Companies House digital incorporation fee rose to £100 on 1 February 2026; the annual confirmation statement is £50 (gov.uk). Rules and fees change — check gov.uk before you file.
Before you register: what to decide
A few decisions are easier to make up front than to change later:
Company name — it must be unique and not too similar to an existing one; you can check availability on the Companies House register.
Director(s) — at least one is required. Directors are legally responsible for running the company and filing on time.
Shareholders and shares — at least one shareholder (often the same person as the director in a small company). The share split decides who owns what.
A registered office address — a UK address that becomes public on the register (many people use their accountant's or a service address rather than their home).
SIC code — a short code describing what your company does.
People with significant control (PSC) — anyone owning or controlling more than 25%.
The actual incorporation runs through Companies House:
Check your company name is available and allowed.
Choose your directors, shareholders and PSCs, and decide the share structure.
Prepare your memorandum and articles of association — the standard ("model") articles are fine for most small companies.
Register online with Companies House and pay the £100 digital fee. Most companies are registered within 24 hours (gov.uk).
You'll receive your certificate of incorporation with the company number — your company now legally exists.
There's also a faster, pre-built route some directors prefer: buying an off-the-shelf (ready-made) company that's already registered, so you can start trading almost immediately — see our guide on whether an off-the-shelf company is worth it.
What to do straight after incorporation
Registering the company is the start, not the finish. Within the first weeks you'll usually need to:
Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC (normally within 3 months of starting to trade) (gov.uk).
Open a business bank account — a limited company's money must be kept separate from your own.
Set up PAYE if you'll pay yourself or anyone else a salary.
Consider VAT — you must register once taxable turnover passes £90,000 in a rolling 12 months, and you can register voluntarily below that (gov.uk).
Set up bookkeeping so your accounts and returns are straightforward at year end.
Here are the recurring obligations to diarise from day one:
Filing
Who to
Rough timing
Confirmation statement (£50)
Companies House
Every 12 months
Annual accounts
Companies House
9 months after year end
Corporation Tax return + payment
HMRC
12 months / 9 months + 1 day after year end
Common mistakes new directors make
The avoidable ones we see most: mixing personal and company money (always use the business account), missing the Corporation Tax registration window, forgetting the confirmation statement, and using a home address as the registered office without realising it becomes public. None is hard to get right — but each is easier to set up correctly than to unpick.
The registration is the easy 24 hours; the value is in the choices around it — share structure, the right tax registrations, and a clean bookkeeping setup — and in not missing the deadlines that follow. Go Limited can take the guesswork out of it and connect you with a partner accountant who'll set the company up correctly and keep the filings on track, so you can get on with trading. Start with our accountancy page to see how it works.
How much does it cost to set up a limited company?
Registering online with Companies House costs £100 from 1 February 2026, and your company is usually registered within 24 hours. After that, the main ongoing cost is accountancy plus the £50 annual confirmation statement. Formation agents and accountants may bundle the fee into a wider setup package.
How long does it take to set up a limited company?
Online registration with Companies House is typically completed within 24 hours. A ready-made (off-the-shelf) company can be quicker still, as it's already registered.
What do I need to register a limited company?
A unique company name, at least one director, at least one shareholder, a UK registered office address, a SIC code describing your activity, and details of anyone with significant control. Most small companies use the standard model articles of association.
Do I need an accountant to set up a limited company?
No — you can register the company yourself with Companies House. But an accountant helps you get the share structure, tax registrations and bookkeeping right from the start, and keeps you on top of the filing deadlines, which is where new directors most often slip up.
What do I have to do after setting up a limited company?
Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC, open a business bank account, set up PAYE if you're paying a salary, register for VAT if your turnover requires it, and diarise your confirmation statement, annual accounts and Corporation Tax deadlines.
You can set up a limited company online with Companies House in about 24 hours for a £100 fee — the registration itself is quick. The work that actually matters is getting the details right before and after you register: choosing the right structure, registering for the right taxes, and not missing the deadlines that follow. This guide walks through the whole process in plain English, so you start your company on solid ground rather than fixing avoidable mistakes later.
Figures are current for 2026 and sourced to gov.uk. The Companies House digital incorporation fee rose to £100 on 1 February 2026; the annual confirmation statement is £50 (gov.uk). Rules and fees change — check gov.uk before you file.
Before you register: what to decide
A few decisions are easier to make up front than to change later:
Company name — it must be unique and not too similar to an existing one; you can check availability on the Companies House register.
Director(s) — at least one is required. Directors are legally responsible for running the company and filing on time.
Shareholders and shares — at least one shareholder (often the same person as the director in a small company). The share split decides who owns what.
A registered office address — a UK address that becomes public on the register (many people use their accountant's or a service address rather than their home).
SIC code — a short code describing what your company does.
People with significant control (PSC) — anyone owning or controlling more than 25%.
The actual incorporation runs through Companies House:
Check your company name is available and allowed.
Choose your directors, shareholders and PSCs, and decide the share structure.
Prepare your memorandum and articles of association — the standard ("model") articles are fine for most small companies.
Register online with Companies House and pay the £100 digital fee. Most companies are registered within 24 hours (gov.uk).
You'll receive your certificate of incorporation with the company number — your company now legally exists.
There's also a faster, pre-built route some directors prefer: buying an off-the-shelf (ready-made) company that's already registered, so you can start trading almost immediately — see our guide on whether an off-the-shelf company is worth it.
What to do straight after incorporation
Registering the company is the start, not the finish. Within the first weeks you'll usually need to:
Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC (normally within 3 months of starting to trade) (gov.uk).
Open a business bank account — a limited company's money must be kept separate from your own.
Set up PAYE if you'll pay yourself or anyone else a salary.
Consider VAT — you must register once taxable turnover passes £90,000 in a rolling 12 months, and you can register voluntarily below that (gov.uk).
Set up bookkeeping so your accounts and returns are straightforward at year end.
Here are the recurring obligations to diarise from day one:
Filing
Who to
Rough timing
Confirmation statement (£50)
Companies House
Every 12 months
Annual accounts
Companies House
9 months after year end
Corporation Tax return + payment
HMRC
12 months / 9 months + 1 day after year end
Common mistakes new directors make
The avoidable ones we see most: mixing personal and company money (always use the business account), missing the Corporation Tax registration window, forgetting the confirmation statement, and using a home address as the registered office without realising it becomes public. None is hard to get right — but each is easier to set up correctly than to unpick.
The registration is the easy 24 hours; the value is in the choices around it — share structure, the right tax registrations, and a clean bookkeeping setup — and in not missing the deadlines that follow. Go Limited can take the guesswork out of it and connect you with a partner accountant who'll set the company up correctly and keep the filings on track, so you can get on with trading. Start with our accountancy page to see how it works.
How much does it cost to set up a limited company?
Registering online with Companies House costs £100 from 1 February 2026, and your company is usually registered within 24 hours. After that, the main ongoing cost is accountancy plus the £50 annual confirmation statement. Formation agents and accountants may bundle the fee into a wider setup package.
How long does it take to set up a limited company?
Online registration with Companies House is typically completed within 24 hours. A ready-made (off-the-shelf) company can be quicker still, as it's already registered.
What do I need to register a limited company?
A unique company name, at least one director, at least one shareholder, a UK registered office address, a SIC code describing your activity, and details of anyone with significant control. Most small companies use the standard model articles of association.
Do I need an accountant to set up a limited company?
No — you can register the company yourself with Companies House. But an accountant helps you get the share structure, tax registrations and bookkeeping right from the start, and keeps you on top of the filing deadlines, which is where new directors most often slip up.
What do I have to do after setting up a limited company?
Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC, open a business bank account, set up PAYE if you're paying a salary, register for VAT if your turnover requires it, and diarise your confirmation statement, annual accounts and Corporation Tax deadlines.
