Best company formation agents UK: fees and services compared

What to take away

What the named agents actually do

Every agent submits the same IN01 details to Companies House, so the filing is the same legal event whether you pay an agent or file yourself. The differences sit in preparation, identity checks and address services. Companies House explains the register and its role.

1st Formations has traded since 2012 and sells tiered packages. The entry tier is cheapest and higher tiers add 12 months of registered office and service address. Its registered office renewal is £32 plus VAT per year, and its service address renewal is £32 plus VAT per year.

Rapid Formations, trading since 2001, lists registered office and service address as separate annual products. Its registered office renewal is £32 plus VAT per year, and its service address renewal is £32 plus VAT per year. Compare the renewal price, not the headline figure.

Companies Made Simple, part of the Made Simple Group, advertises an entry package under £10 before the Companies House fee, with address services as annual add-ons. Its registered office renewal is £24 plus VAT per year, and its service address renewal is £24 plus VAT per year.

The Company Warehouse bundles formation with virtual office and mail forwarding. Its registered office renewal is typically £29.99 plus VAT per year, and its service address renewal is typically £29.99 plus VAT per year. Your year-two price depends on which addresses you keep.

Tide advertises free company formation when you open a Tide business account. Formation is not sold standalone, and the plans carry a monthly fee. Plan fees start at around £10 per month.

Crunch, an online accountant, advertises free formation with its monthly accounting plans. Plan fees start at around £25 per month. The plan is the real cost, so compare it with a standalone agent.

If you are still choosing a structure, our guide to sole trader versus limited company sets out the trade-offs.

Compare filing speed and identity checks

Filing speed depends on the Companies House route, not the brand. Online and software filing are processed quickly, and paper filing takes longer. A same-day promise usually means buying same-day processing, which carries a fee of around £78.

Check whether the advertised speed covers incorporation or the agent's own review. Some agents queue work until every director's details are in, so a 24-hour promise can mean 24 hours after their checks.

The Companies Act 2006 sets the framework for formation and directors' duties. Read it for the legal basis rather than a sales page.

Identity verification applies to directors and people with significant control. GOV.UK One Login is free, and the official step-by-step guide sets out the sequence. Agents may bundle the step, but the duty stays with you.

Fees: cheap formation versus total cost

Cheap formation usually means a low first-year price. The headline fee may cover only the filing, with registered office, service address and confirmation statement charged later.

Compare packages like for like. Mark each recurring item as included, optional or charged separately, then check the official fee on GOV.UK.

Where registered office and ID checks change the choice

Your registered office becomes public. A virtual office or an accountant's address keeps your home off the register. Check the agent's terms on mail forwarding and which UK nation the address sits in.

Identity checks add friction. If GOV.UK One Login will not work for you, an agent may offer an alternative route, but the legal requirement does not change.

Our guide to registering a company with Companies House covers the direct route, so you can judge whether an agent adds value.

How to choose an agent in six checks

Named providers make this easier. A published renewal price from Rapid Formations or Companies Made Simple tells you more than a review. Check the review date and the tier reviewed.

Verdict: which agent is best for you

Best overall for most people: 1st Formations. It has a long trading history, clear tiered packages and published renewal prices. Best for low first-year cost: Companies Made Simple, with an entry package under £10 before the Companies House fee. Best if you want a business account: Tide, because formation is free with an account.

Best if you need an accountant: Crunch, because formation is free with a paid plan. Best if you want a bundle of address services: The Company Warehouse.

Common questions

Which UK formation agent is cheapest?

Companies Made Simple is the cheapest on first-year price. Its entry package is under £10 before the Companies House fee, so the total first-year cost is around £60 including the £50 online incorporation fee. Add any address service if you need one.

What does Companies House charge?

£50 to incorporate online, £71 on paper and £34 for an online confirmation statement. Same-day processing costs extra.

Are formation agents faster than filing directly?

Not inherently. Agents use the same Companies House systems. Speed comes from same-day processing or from correct preparation before submission.

Do I need a registered office address when using an agent?

Yes. Every limited company needs one and it becomes public. Many agents sell an address service, but your own address works if it is suitable.

Can an agent verify my identity for Companies House?

Agents can help, but the requirement sits with the individual. Check whether the agent uses GOV.UK One Login or an accredited identity service, and who holds the records.