Company structure
Clarify whether the proposed organisation should start as a private company limited by shares, a company limited by guarantee or another structure that needs separate assessment.
UK company setup support
UK Business Setup & Company Formation
Set up your UK company with a clear route from initial structure and Companies House information through to registered-office requirements and the post-formation support your business actually needs.
UK and international founders
Companies House-aligned preparation
Formation and post-formation planning
Companies House, HMRC, banks and other third-party providers retain their own eligibility, verification, approval and processing decisions.
£100
Current GOV.UK online incorporation fee. Professional support is separate.
Start with the scope
What UK business setup support can cover
Name, activity and SIC code
Organise the proposed company name, describe what the business will do and identify an appropriate SIC code before the incorporation information is prepared.
Directors, shareholders and control
Prepare the required information for directors, shareholders or guarantors and people with significant control, including the intended ownership structure.
Registered-office arrangements
Confirm that an appropriate registered office is available in the relevant UK jurisdiction before incorporation and understand what information will appear on the public register.
Formation preparation
Coordinate the agreed incorporation information and formation documents and identify the appropriate submission route once the required information is complete.
Post-formation planning
Identify the next actions for company records, accounts, confirmation statements, tax-related requirements, payroll, VAT or banking preparation where they form part of the agreed scope.
Direct filing or managed support?
You can register directly. The question is how much setup support you need.
A straightforward founder who already understands the structure, ownership, registered-office requirements and ongoing responsibilities may choose to register directly with Companies House. Support becomes more useful when several decisions or connected services need to be coordinated.
Direct registration
- You select the structure yourself
- You prepare the registration data
- You manage identity-verification requirements
- You arrange the registered office
- You plan post-formation obligations
Supported setup
- Define the route before filing
- Organise company and ownership information
- Coordinate agreed formation steps
- Connect relevant supporting services
- Separate authority decisions from service scope
Choose the right level of help
Four UK business service routes
Start with the outcome you need rather than assuming every company formation requires the same package.
UK limited company formation
For founders whose immediate goal is preparing and coordinating a private limited company incorporation.
Explore limited-company formationFuller UK business setup
For projects where company formation needs to be coordinated with selected additional setup tasks.
Review full business setupRegistered-office support
For a company that requires an appropriate UK registered-office arrangement in its registered jurisdiction.
Review registered-office supportAnnual accounts support
For companies that need a separately defined scope for ongoing accounts and associated filing responsibilities.
Explore annual-accounts supportPrepare before submission
Information to organise for UK company registration
A complete brief helps expose missing information before filing and makes it easier to separate company-registration requirements from optional or post-formation services.
Company information
- Proposed company name
- Registered UK jurisdiction
- Business activity and SIC code
- Registered office
- Registered email address
- Share or guarantee structure
- Articles or non-standard governance needs
People and control
- Director information
- Shareholder or guarantor information
- People with significant control
- Nature of ownership and control
- Service and residential addresses where required
- Identity-verification information
- Companies House personal codes where applicable
A controlled setup process
How UK company setup support works
The process separates advice, information collection, filing and post-formation work so responsibilities remain clear throughout the setup.
Define the outcome
Explain the proposed activity, founders, ownership and the services you expect to need after registration.
Select the route
Confirm the proposed company structure, jurisdiction, registered-office approach and any specialist requirements.
Collect the information
Gather company, director, shareholder or guarantor and PSC information and identify identity-verification requirements.
Prepare the application
Organise the agreed incorporation data and formation information for review before submission.
Coordinate submission
Use the agreed filing route once the required information is ready. Companies House controls incorporation.
Plan what follows
Move to the agreed next steps for records, address services, accounts, tax-related requirements or banking preparation.
Current Companies House position
Know the registration rules before you rely on a timeline
These points reflect current GOV.UK guidance. Authority fees, procedures and processing statements can change, so they should be checked again when you are ready to file.
Official reference: GOV.UK — register your company .
After incorporation
Company registration is the beginning, not the end
Incorporation creates an ongoing company lifecycle. Advisers can assist with specific work, but directors remain legally responsible for the company and its required records and filings.
Company records
Keep required company and accounting information accurate and report relevant changes when required.
Annual accounts
Prepare the required accounts and meet the applicable Companies House and HMRC filing obligations.
Confirmation statement
Review the company information and file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months.
Tax and employment
Address Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE and employment responsibilities where the company's circumstances require them.
A company does not automatically receive a business bank account.
Incorporation and banking are separate. Banks and payment providers carry out their own identity, ownership, activity, eligibility and risk checks. Banking preparation can be scoped separately where appropriate, but approval remains the provider's decision.
Official UK guidance
Check the rules at source
Use official Companies House and GOV.UK guidance for current authority requirements, particularly where fees, identity procedures or filing rules may change.
Common questions
UK business setup FAQs
Answers to the issues founders most often need to resolve before choosing a formation or post-formation service.
Can a non-UK resident set up a UK limited company?
Yes. Directors do not have to live in the UK. The company must still have an appropriate UK registered office in the relevant registered jurisdiction, and directors and other relevant individuals remain subject to current identity-verification and filing requirements.
How long does UK company registration take?
GOV.UK currently says that standard online company registration is usually processed within 24 hours. This is not a guarantee for every application or for a broader managed setup project. Complex applications, incomplete data, identity requirements and third-party services can affect the overall timeline.
What is included in First Elite Global's UK business setup service?
The scope should be confirmed in writing before work begins. Depending on the service selected, it may cover route selection, company-information preparation, formation coordination and agreed post-formation tasks. Registered-office services, accounts, tax-related work and banking preparation should be treated as included only when specifically listed in the agreed scope.
Do I need a UK registered office?
Yes. A limited company must have an appropriate physical registered-office address in the same UK jurisdiction in which it is registered. The registered-office address is publicly available, so the arrangement should be decided before incorporation.
Does a private limited company need a company secretary?
No. A private limited company does not have to appoint a company secretary, although it may choose to do so. Directors remain legally responsible for the company even when a secretary, accountant or other adviser assists them.
What information is needed to register a UK company?
Typical information includes the proposed company name, registered office, registered email, business activity and SIC code, director details, shareholder or guarantor information, people with significant control and the proposed share or guarantee structure. Identity-verification information and personal codes may also be required.
Is VAT registration automatic when the company is incorporated?
No. VAT is a separate consideration from company incorporation. Whether registration is required or appropriate depends on the company's circumstances and current HMRC rules.
Will forming a UK company automatically give me a business bank account?
No. Banks and payment providers make separate eligibility and risk decisions. They may request information about directors, owners, addresses, the business model, expected transactions and source of funds. Company incorporation does not guarantee banking approval.
What do directors need to do after incorporation?
Directors remain responsible for the company's records and required filings, including annual accounts and confirmation statements. Additional Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE, employment, licence or regulatory responsibilities may apply depending on the company's activities.
Does forming a UK company give me a UK visa or right to work?
No. Company ownership or directorship does not itself create immigration status, residence or permission to work in the UK. Immigration and company-formation requirements are separate processes.
Who decides whether my UK company is incorporated?
Companies House controls incorporation and decides whether an application meets its requirements. First Elite Global can coordinate the agreed preparation and filing route, but it cannot issue a certificate of incorporation or override authority requirements.
Build the right scope first
Plan your UK company setup before you start filing
Tell us who will own and run the company, what it will do and which supporting services you expect to need. The first step is defining the route, required information and practical next actions.
