Setting up a UK limited company is a simple and affordable procedure, even if you are a non-UK resident. The application process and legal requirements are exactly the same for everyone, regardless of where they live. Below, we will walk you through the important steps to forming a UK company online.
To register a UK limited company, you must incorporate a company at Companies House in either England and Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. Different legal systems govern each of these countries, so your company can only be incorporated in one of these jurisdictions. However, you can base your business anywhere and trade throughout all parts of the UK and overseas.
You must have at least one director (‘officer’) and one shareholder (‘member’). The same person can be appointed to both positions, meaning you can register a company on your own. Alternatively, you can register a company with multiple directors and shareholders .
Your company must have a registered office address in its country or incorporation. This will be your official company address and it must be maintained throughout the lifetime of your firm. However, you can change your registered office at any time, as long as it stays in the same part of the UK.
During the incorporation process, Companies House will create a memorandum of association and attach it to the articles of association. The memorandum of association is a legal statement that all members must sign up to. This indicates their agreement to register the company. The articles of association is a constitutional document that sets out the rules and regulations you’ll need to follow when running the company.
The ‘Model’ articles of association are normally provided by company formation agents and Companies House and are suitable for the majority of private limited companies. However, it is possible to alter the Model version or create bespoke articles if your company has more specific requirements not covered in the Model articles.
There are three different ways to incorporate a limited company in the UK:
The quickest and easiest way to register a UK company is to use a formation agent. Typically, applications are approved in under 24 hours because everything is completed online and delivered electronically.
If you register through a company formation agent, there is no need to travel to the UK, post any physical documents, or sign any paperwork in person. You can simply upload and deliver documents electronically and create a unique online ‘signature’ to authorise the registration.
Our Non-Residents Packages have been designed to make registering a UK company as easy as possible for our non-UK resident clients. They are available from just £99.99 (excluding the £100 Companies House fee) and provide the following:
Please note: Our company registration package prices do not include the Companies House filing fee of £100.00.
All clients are automatically registered for our free Online Admin Portal, allowing you to manage your company online. You can view and update company details, report changes to Companies House, file and update your Confirmation Statement, maintain statutory records, and download additional copies of your registration documents anytime.