Notice to clients: Companies House has a backlog of orders and, as of 08-10-2025., is still processing orders received on 06-10-2025.
Our guaranteed same-day service is available, if required, for some packages.

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Register your company for as little as £52.99

To Start, check your company name with Companies House

Fully Authorised

We are approved Companies House Agents

London Address

Registered office & Sole Traders Address Service

Payroll Bureau

We are the first formation company to have its own payroll bureau

Track Record

Our team has been forming companies since 2011

Select the right package to register your limited company

Starter
£52.99

What’s Included:

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    New Limited Company

    Your company can begin trading as soon as Companies House accepts the application. Incorporations usually take 3 hours to one working day, depending on Companies House workload and the accuracy of your submission. Once registered, your company has full legal capacity to trade, hire staff, enter contracts and open a bank account.

    New Limited Company
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    Digital Company Documents

    Your company documents delivered to you by email as soon as your new company is registered, including:

    • Certificate of Incorporation
    • Memorandum and Articles
    • Share Certificates
    • WebFiling Authentication Code
    Digital (PDF) Company Documents
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    Company Administration Portal

    Manage your UK company online at no extra cost. Our secure administration portal connects directly to Companies House, letting you update company details quickly and easily.

    Company Administration Portal
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    Free Business Bank Account

    Choose the account that fits your business. We partner with Barclays and other major UK clearing banks, as well as leading fintech providers. Whether you prefer the stability of a high-street bank or the flexibility of a fintech account, our direct links make opening your business bank account quick and hassle-free.

    Free Business Bank Account
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    Companies House Filing Fee Paid By Us

    Companies House charges £50 to incorporate a company. Our package price includes this fee in full — so there are no hidden extras to pay.

    Companies House Filing Fee
Privacy
£59.99+VAT

What’s Included:

  • cross button

    New Limited Company

    Your company can begin trading as soon as Companies House accepts the application. Incorporations usually take 3 hours to one working day, depending on Companies House workload and the accuracy of your submission. Once registered, your company has full legal capacity to trade, hire staff, enter contracts and open a bank account.

    New Limited Company
  • cross button

    Digital Company Documents

    Your company documents delivered to you by email as soon as your new company is registered, including:

    • Certificate of Incorporation
    • Memorandum and Articles
    • Share Certificates
    • WebFiling Authentication Code
    Digital (PDF) Company Documents
  • cross button

    Company Administration Portal

    Manage your UK company online at no extra cost. Our secure administration portal connects directly to Companies House, letting you update company details quickly and easily.

    Company Administration Portal
  • cross button

    Free Business Bank Account

    Choose the account that fits your business. We partner with Barclays and other major UK clearing banks, as well as leading fintech providers. Whether you prefer the stability of a high-street bank or the flexibility of a fintech account, our direct links make opening your business bank account quick and hassle-free.

    Free Business Bank Account
  • cross button

    Companies House Filing Fee Paid By Us

    Companies House charges £50 to incorporate a company. Our package price includes this fee in full — so there are no hidden extras to pay.

    Companies House Filing Fee
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    Central London Registered Office

    Use our London address at 27 Old Gloucester Street WC1N 3AX as your official registered office for one year. We scan and forward official post (HMRC, Companies House, Court letters) free of charge. Annual renewal is just £39 + VAT. Please note: this is a correspondence address, not a parcel forwarding service.

    Central London Registered Office
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    Central London Service Address

    All directors, shareholders, and PSCs receive a free service address in year one, keeping personal addresses off the public Companies House record. Renewal is only £10 + VAT — and uniquely, this single fee covers all officers and PSCs together, no matter how many.

    Central London Service Address
Directors +
£124.99+VAT
NEW!

What’s Included:

  • cross button

    New Limited Company

    Your company can begin trading as soon as Companies House accepts the application. Incorporations usually take 3 hours to one working day, depending on Companies House workload and the accuracy of your submission. Once registered, your company has full legal capacity to trade, hire staff, enter contracts and open a bank account.

    New Limited Company
  • cross button

    Digital Company Documents

    Your company documents delivered to you by email as soon as your new company is registered, including:

    • Certificate of Incorporation
    • Memorandum and Articles
    • Share Certificates
    • WebFiling Authentication Code
    Digital (PDF) Company Documents
  • cross button

    Company Administration Portal

    Manage your UK company online at no extra cost. Our secure administration portal connects directly to Companies House, letting you update company details quickly and easily.

    Company Administration Portal
  • cross button

    Free Business Bank Account

    Choose the account that fits your business. We partner with Barclays and other major UK clearing banks, as well as leading fintech providers. Whether you prefer the stability of a high-street bank or the flexibility of a fintech account, our direct links make opening your business bank account quick and hassle-free.

    Free Business Bank Account
  • cross button

    Companies House Filing Fee Paid By Us

    Companies House charges £50 to incorporate a company. Our package price includes this fee in full — so there are no hidden extras to pay.

    Companies House Filing Fee
  • cross button

    Central London Registered Office

    Use our London address at 27 Old Gloucester Street WC1N 3AX as your official registered office for one year. We scan and forward official post (HMRC, Companies House, Court letters) free of charge. Annual renewal is just £39 + VAT. Please note: this is a correspondence address, not a parcel forwarding service.

    Central London Registered Office
  • cross button

    Central London Service Address

    All directors, shareholders, and PSCs receive a free service address in year one, keeping personal addresses off the public Companies House record. Renewal is only £10 + VAT — and uniquely, this single fee covers all officers and PSCs together, no matter how many.

    Central London Service Address
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    Director Payroll Service

    We are the only UK formation agent with an in-house payroll bureau dedicated to company directors. Our service helps you protect your state pension entitlement, use your personal allowances efficiently, and take advantage of the £10,500 Employment Allowance where eligible. This unique service makes it easier to balance PAYE and dividends, reduce corporation tax, and stay fully compliant from day one.

    Director Payroll Service
Business +
£171.99+VAT

What’s Included:

  • cross button

    New Limited Company

    Your company can begin trading as soon as Companies House accepts the application. Incorporations usually take 3 hours to one working day, depending on Companies House workload and the accuracy of your submission. Once registered, your company has full legal capacity to trade, hire staff, enter contracts and open a bank account.

    New Limited Company
  • cross button

    Digital Company Documents

    Your company documents delivered to you by email as soon as your new company is registered, including:

    • Certificate of Incorporation
    • Memorandum and Articles
    • Share Certificates
    • WebFiling Authentication Code
    Digital (PDF) Company Documents
  • cross button

    Company Administration Portal

    Manage your UK company online at no extra cost. Our secure administration portal connects directly to Companies House, letting you update company details quickly and easily.

    Company Administration Portal
  • cross button

    Free Business Bank Account

    Choose the account that fits your business. We partner with Barclays and other major UK clearing banks, as well as leading fintech providers. Whether you prefer the stability of a high-street bank or the flexibility of a fintech account, our direct links make opening your business bank account quick and hassle-free.

    Free Business Bank Account
  • cross button

    Companies House Filing Fee Paid By Us

    Companies House charges £50 to incorporate a company. Our package price includes this fee in full — so there are no hidden extras to pay.

    Companies House Filing Fee
  • cross button

    Central London Registered Office

    Use our London address at 27 Old Gloucester Street WC1N 3AX as your official registered office for one year. We scan and forward official post (HMRC, Companies House, Court letters) free of charge. Annual renewal is just £39 + VAT. Please note: this is a correspondence address, not a parcel forwarding service.

    Central London Registered Office
  • cross button

    Central London Service Address

    All directors, shareholders, and PSCs receive a free service address in year one, keeping personal addresses off the public Companies House record. Renewal is only £10 + VAT — and uniquely, this single fee covers all officers and PSCs together, no matter how many.

    Central London Service Address
  • cross button

    Director Payroll Service

    We are the only UK formation agent with an in-house payroll bureau dedicated to company directors. Our service helps you protect your state pension entitlement, use your personal allowances efficiently, and take advantage of the £10,500 Employment Allowance where eligible. This unique service makes it easier to balance PAYE and dividends, reduce corporation tax, and stay fully compliant from day one.

    Director Payroll Service
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    Confirmation Statement

    Every company must file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. Your first confirmation statement filing is included with this package. Future filings can be added as an ongoing service if required.

    Confirmation Statement
Compare All Packages

Looking for a different company structure? We have you covered

Limited Liability Partnerships

Flexible working and profit sharing arrangements together with limited liability protection make LLPs an increasingly popular choice for business partnerships. An LLP can be registered at Companies House within one working day and usually within 6 hours.

READ MORE

Companies Limited by Guarantee

Guarantee companies are typically used by social enterprises for non-commercial activities. User groups, trade associations, social clubs, co-operatives and charities tend to use companies limited by guarantee. Subscribers are given limited liability.

READ MORE

Public Limited Company (PLC)

Public Limited Companies (PLCs) are the best form of limited company if you intend to involve many shareholders. The minimum amount of nominal capital you will have to issue is £50,000, of which £12500 will need to be "paid-up" before the company can start trading.

READ MORE

Our 4 step online company registration process

Select Your Company Name

Select Package

Enter Your Company Details

Make Payment

Why Choose Smart Formations?

Our experience, technical knowledge and professionalism is second to none. Here’s why thousands of director-owners trust us:

  • Exclusive Directors’ Pay Pack

    We’re the first UK formation agent able to offer the services of an in-house payroll bureau. This means that you can protect your state pension entitlements, utilise your personal allowances, reduce corporation tax, and claim the £10,500 Employment Allowance where eligible — even when, like many start-ups, there is little or no cash to spare.

  • Authorised and Experienced

    Our company formation activities are authorised by Companies House and HMRC and we are registered by HMRC as payroll agents. Our team has been forming companies since 2011, and our payroll bureau already supports 300+ businesses, including some with 170+ employees.

  • Central London Address

    Gain instant credibility with a prestigious WC1 registered office. Keep your home address private and project professionalism from day one.

  • Trusted Support

    Rated highly on Trustpilot and accredited by SafeBuy, we combine affordable pricing with reliable service and clear guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a limited company?

A limited company is a legal structure recognised in law as being independent of its owner or owners. It has to be registered at Companies House to exist. It can have one or many owners and has to conduct its business in accordance with the rules set out in the Companies Acts. The main benefit for traders or people in business is that it protects their personal assets by limiting their liability to the amount they have invested in the company via their shareholdings.

A limited company can be dormant, or it can be trading and conducting business. A limited company has the legal capacity to enter into contracts in its own right.

How long does it take to form a company?

Orders are forwarded directly to Companies House. Processing time depends on Companies House’s workload; normally within 1 working day. Occasionally interruptions can take longer, but this is rare.

Do I need to specify what my business is or the objectives of the company?

No requirement to specify objectives in the articles of association. You will be asked to provide a SIC code during the application (choose the closest match from the dropdown list). Only one code is required.

What are the charges?

our standard price for the basic package of £52.99+VAT. There is a selection of packages that are more expensive and there are extra services you can buy. We charge for all the extras, but they are entirely optional, and you are not obliged to buy them. All our prices are clearly stated.

How many people do I need to form a company?

You need a shareholder and a director. These can be the same person, so the minimum is one person. The director must be at least 16.

What documents are required to create a company?

None to start—the entire process is online. Forms IN01, Memorandum and Articles of Association are generated and submitted electronically on your behalf.

What company name can I use?

Any name, subject to rules and availability. The search box is linked to Companies House and will advise if your proposed name is available. SeeChoosing a Company Name.

What happens after I have placed my order?

You’ll receive an automated email acknowledgement. When the company is formed, you’ll be notified by email and will receive PDFs of your certificate of incorporation, share certificates and Memorandum and Articles. Check your email filters. You’ll also get portal access to manage your company, with your web authentication code stored for automatic updates to Companies House.

When can I start trading?

As soon as your company has been formed. Your certificate of incorporation confirms your company's existence; from that instant, the company can enter agreements.

Optional services available with company formation

You can buy these products either as part of a package or as an ‘add-on’ in the ordering process.

Registered Office Address

Our registered office service is an address in the heart of Central London’s (WC1) business and professional district. Any user of the service can also have free address services for all their officers (directors, shareholders, and company secretary) for the first year. Official post will be scanned and uploaded to our secure online.

Business Mail Forwarding

Business post (non-official correspondence) can be managed through an additional subscription. You may choose secure scanning with documents uploaded to your private online portal at no extra charge, or confidential forwarding of unopened mail directly to your UK address. Postage and handling costs for forwarded items are billed to you monthly for complete transparency.

Payroll Management

This is a one year subscription. The service includes payroll registration, monthly payslips, A portal for copy payslips and monthly summaries, Real Time submissions to HMRC (RTI), Pension Auto enrolment (AE) when applicable, monthly PAYE calculations, Tax Year end (5th April) documents and submissions such as P60s, Employment Allowance (EA) claim if applicable.

Confirmation Statement

Company law requires a company to file a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months. The due date is called the ‘confirmation date’, which falls on the anniversary of company formation or the ‘made up’ date of your last annual return. Our support team will prepare and submit that for you on the due date.

Are you ready to register your company?

Get Started

International Packages For Non UK Residents

Thinking about forming a UK company from abroad? It’s entirely possible — you don’t need UK nationals or residents involved, as a single person can act as both shareholder and director. For overseas clients a UK registered office address is required, and our central London location is included in the International package. Directors’ service addresses are provided free of charge. Enhanced AML (anti‑money laundering) checks are required for non‑UK residents, and we provide guidance throughout. Our quick online process makes it simple to set up your company while ensuring full compliance.

Get Started

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