How to Register Your Company in UK
Registering a company in the UK involves choosing the appropriate company structure, selecting a compliant name, appointing directors and shareholders, providing a registered office address, identifying people with significant control and submitting the required information to Companies House.
For entrepreneurs planning how to register your company in UK, the process can be completed online for eligible private limited companies. A company receives a certificate of incorporation once the registration is completed, confirming that the company legally exists.
Start With the Right Company Structure
For many commercial activities, a private company limited by shares is the commonly used corporate structure.
A private limited company can have:
• At least one director
• At least one shareholder
• One or more people with significant control, where applicable
• A registered office in the UK
• Share capital divided into shares
• Articles governing how the company operates
A private company does not have to appoint a company secretary.
The director must be at least 16 years old. Directors do not generally have to live in the UK, although the company must have an appropriate UK registered office.
Choose a Suitable Company Name
Company-name selection is an important part of UK company registration.
The proposed name must comply with Companies House requirements and should not create prohibited or misleading associations.
Before filing, founders should consider:
• Whether the proposed name is available
• Whether it is too similar to an existing company name
• Whether restricted words or expressions are being used
• Whether the name accurately represents the company
• Whether the chosen name is appropriate for the intended activities
A company name should also be considered alongside the company's wider branding and intellectual-property position.
Decide Who Will Own and Control the Company
A company needs at least one shareholder if it is a company limited by shares. The shareholder can also be a director.
The registration process also requires information about people with significant control, commonly known as PSCs.
A PSC can include a person who:
• Holds more than 25% of the company's shares
• Controls more than 25% of voting rights
• Has the right to appoint or remove a majority of directors
• Otherwise exercises significant control or influence over the company
Identifying ownership correctly is therefore an important part of the company formation in UK process.
Prepare the Registered Office
Every UK company must have an appropriate registered office address.
The address must:
• Be a physical address in the UK
• Be in the same country in which the company is registered
• Be appropriate for receiving company correspondence
• Allow documents delivered to the company to come to the attention of someone acting for the company
The registered office address appears on the public Companies House register.
A registered email address must also be provided during incorporation. The email address is not published on the public register.
Documents and Information Required
The exact information depends on the company's structure and circumstances.
For a standard private limited company, the incorporation process generally requires:
• Proposed company name
• Registered office address
• Company email address
• Business activities and appropriate SIC code
• Director details
• Shareholder details
• Share structure
• PSC information
• Articles of association
• Memorandum of association
• Required identity-verification information
Where an overseas individual or company is involved, additional identification or corporate documents may be needed depending on the ownership structure.
Identity Verification Is Now Part of Registration
An important recent change to Companies House company registration is mandatory identity verification.
From 18 November 2025, identity verification became a legal requirement for directors and PSCs, with the requirements being introduced through a phased 12-month transition.
When registering a new company, each director must provide the relevant Companies House personal code after completing identity verification.
Verification can be completed through GOV.UK One Login using an accepted form of photo identification, including a biometric passport from any country. Identity verification can also be completed through an Authorised Corporate Service Provider in applicable circumstances.
This requirement is particularly relevant to overseas founders considering UK company registration for foreigners.
How to Register a Company in the UK
The registration process can generally be organised into these stages:
1. Select the company structure
Decide whether a private limited company or another structure is appropriate for the proposed activities.
2. Choose the company name
Check the proposed name against applicable Companies House requirements.
3. Determine ownership
Identify shareholders, shareholdings and PSCs.
4. Appoint directors
Select the company's directors and complete the applicable identity-verification requirements.
5. Arrange the registered office
Provide an appropriate registered office address in the relevant part of the UK.
6. Prepare incorporation information
Complete the required corporate, ownership and business information.
7. Submit the application
File the incorporation application with Companies House through the appropriate registration route.
8. Receive incorporation documents
Once accepted, Companies House issues a certificate of incorporation confirming the company's legal existence and company number.
Can Foreigners Register a UK Company?
A foreign founder can establish a UK company, but the incorporation requirements still need to be satisfied.
A UK private limited company does not generally require its directors to live in the UK. However, the company must have an appropriate UK registered office address.
This means register a company in the UK can be possible for an overseas entrepreneur without automatically relocating to the UK.
Company ownership should also be distinguished from immigration status. Incorporating a company does not itself provide a right to live or work in the UK.
Foreign founders should therefore consider corporate registration, tax obligations and immigration requirements as separate matters.
Tax Registration After Incorporation
When an eligible company is registered online, it will usually be set up for Corporation Tax at the same time unless it is dormant.
Additional registrations may be required depending on the company's activities and circumstances.
These can include:
• PAYE registration when employing staff
• VAT registration where applicable
• Corporation Tax compliance
• Payroll reporting where employees are involved
• Other industry-specific registrations or licences
The appropriate tax treatment depends on the company's activities, turnover, structure and circumstances.
What Happens After Company Registration?
Completing UK company registration does not end the company's responsibilities.
A registered company generally needs to maintain accurate corporate information and comply with ongoing filing requirements.
These can include:
• Filing annual accounts where required
• Filing a confirmation statement
• Keeping director and shareholder information updated
• Maintaining PSC information
• Updating Companies House about relevant company changes
• Meeting Corporation Tax and other HMRC obligations
• Maintaining statutory company records
Directors remain legally responsible for ensuring that the company's accounts and reports are properly prepared.
Why Choose YKG Global?
YKG Global can assist entrepreneurs, Indian founders and international companies planning to set up a limited company UK through a coordinated company-formation process.
Our support can include:
• UK company structure assessment
• Company-name and incorporation coordination
• Director and shareholder documentation
• PSC documentation support
• Identity-verification coordination
• UK registered-office assistance
• Companies House incorporation support
• Tax-registration coordination
• Corporate banking assistance
• Ongoing company compliance support
The objective is to connect incorporation with the practical requirements that arise after the company is established.
Call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation today.
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