How to Register a Limited Company with Companies House

You've decided to set up a limited company. Good news: registering one in the UK is more straightforward than most people expect, and you can usually do it yourself online in under an hour, with the company often approved within 24 hours.

This is a plain-English, step-by-step walkthrough of the actual Companies House registration, what each section asks for, what it means, and the bits people most often get stuck on. It's current for 2026, including the recent fee change and the new identity verification rules.

If you're still deciding between a limited company and being a sole trader, read our sole trader vs limited company guide first, because this guide assumes you've chosen the limited company route. And for the wider picture of everything you need in place, see our companion post on the 5 things you need before starting a business.

1 Get Your Details Ready First

Before you start the application, have these to hand so you're not scrambling halfway through:

• A company name (and a backup, in case your first choice is taken)
• A registered office address (a physical UK address, not a PO box)
• A registered email address for the company
• Details of your director(s): name, date of birth, nationality, occupation, and a service address
• Details of your shareholders and how shares are split
• Your SIC code (the code describing what your business does, more on this below)
• A card to pay the £100 fee

Important new step for 2026: identity verification is now mandatory. Since 18 November 2025, all new directors and people with significant control must verify their identity, usually through GOV.UK One Login, when the company is set up. It's a digital process and designed to be quick, but it's no longer optional, so factor it in.

2 Choose and Check Your Company Name

Your company name has to be unique, it can't be the same as, or too similar to, an existing registered company. Use the free company name availability checker on the Companies House website before you commit to anything (like ordering signage or buying a domain).

A few rules to know:

• It must end in "Limited" or "Ltd"
• It can't contain "sensitive" words (like "Royal", "British", "Group") without permission
• It can't be offensive or imply a connection to government

One thing worth knowing: Companies House does not offer name reservation. The name is only yours once the company is actually registered, so don't hang around if you've found the one you want.

3 Sort Your Registered Office and Email

Every company needs a registered office address, the official address for legal post from Companies House and HMRC. As of recent reforms it must be a genuine physical UK address where post can be received and acknowledged, not just a PO box.

This address goes on the public register, so plenty of people use their accountant's or a formation agent's address rather than their home address for privacy. You'll also now need to supply a registered email address at incorporation, which is not made public and is used by Companies House to contact you.

4 Appoint Your Director(s)

A company needs at least one director (who must be 16 or over). The director is legally responsible for running the company and making sure accounts and filings are submitted on time.

For each director you'll provide their name, date of birth, nationality, occupation, and addresses. There are two addresses: a service address (public, where official mail goes, can be the registered office) and a residential address (kept private by Companies House).

This is also where the new identity verification applies, each director appointed will need to have verified their identity. Build in a little time for this rather than assuming it's instant.

5 Set Up Your Shares and Shareholders

Most small companies are "limited by shares". For a simple one-person company, this part is easy: you typically issue one ordinary share worth £1 to yourself, making you the sole shareholder owning 100% of the company.

If there's more than one owner, you split the shares to reflect ownership (for example, two equal partners might have one share each, or 50 shares each). The number and value of shares determines who owns what and how profits (dividends) are shared.

Don't overthink this for a straightforward business, but if ownership is being split between people, it's genuinely worth a quick conversation with an accountant first, because the share structure affects tax and is fiddly to change later.

6 Declare Persons with Significant Control (PSC)

You'll need to identify anyone who is a Person with Significant Control. In plain terms, that's usually anyone who owns more than 25% of the shares, holds more than 25% of the voting rights, or otherwise has significant influence over the company.

For a typical one-person company, that's just you. This information goes on the public register and exists to make company ownership transparent.

7 Choose Your SIC Code

A SIC code (Standard Industrial Classification) is a short code that describes what your business actually does. You'll pick at least one during registration.

You search a list and choose the code (or codes) that best match your activity, for example a code for "management consultancy" or "construction of domestic buildings". It doesn't have to be a perfect match and it doesn't restrict what you can do, so just choose the closest fit. You can have more than one if your business does several things.

8 Submit the Application and Pay

Once everything's filled in, you submit the application online. The digital incorporation fee is £100 (this rose from £50 on 1 February 2026), paid by card. There's a faster same-day service for £156 if you're in a hurry, but the standard service is usually plenty quick.

Most standard online applications are approved within 24 hours, often the same day.

9 What You Get Back

Once approved, Companies House issues your:

• Certificate of Incorporation, official proof the company exists, showing your company name, company number, and date of incorporation
• Company registration number, the unique number you'll use on everything from your bank application to your invoices

Congratulations, the company legally exists. But you're not quite finished, because the steps right after incorporation are the ones people forget.

10 The Steps Right After You Register

Incorporating is the start, not the finish. As soon as the company exists, sort these:

• Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC. You must tell HMRC your company is "active" within 3 months of starting to trade. Miss this and penalties follow.
• Open a business bank account. A limited company's money is legally separate from yours, so this isn't optional. You'll need your company number and Certificate of Incorporation.
• Register for PAYE if you'll be taking a salary as a director or employing anyone.
• Set up your bookkeeping from day one. Choose your software and start recording everything immediately, this is what makes your year-end painless. See our Xero vs QuickBooks comparison to pick one.
• Note your filing deadlines: annual accounts, an annual confirmation statement (now £50), and your Corporation Tax return. Missing these is the most common, and most avoidable, source of penalties.

The Quick Version

To register a limited company with Companies House:

• ✅ Get your details ready (name, addresses, directors, shares, SIC code) and complete identity verification
• ✅ Check and choose a unique company name
• ✅ Provide a registered office address and registered email
• ✅ Appoint your director(s)
• ✅ Set up shares and shareholders
• ✅ Declare persons with significant control
• ✅ Pick your SIC code
• ✅ Submit and pay the £100 fee (usually approved within 24 hours)
• ✅ Then: register for Corporation Tax, open a bank account, set up bookkeeping, and note your deadlines

That's the whole process. None of it is especially hard on its own, it's just a lot of small steps where getting the details right matters. If you'd rather have it done properly without the admin, that's exactly what we're here for.