How to register a company with Companies House: a simple guide

What to take away

Registering a private limited company in England and Wales is done through Companies House, and the online incorporation fee is £50 under the fee schedule that took effect on 1 May 2024.
You need a company name, a registered office address, at least one director, at least one shareholder, a statement of lawful purpose and a SIC code.
Directors and people with significant control must verify their identity, and incorporations filed from 18 November 2025 must meet that requirement.
Incorporation starts an annual cycle of confirmation statements and accounts, plus any licence your activity needs.

What Companies House registration does

Companies House is the UK registrar of companies and keeps the public register that every incorporation feeds into. Filing an application creates a separate legal person, so the company can hold assets, sign contracts and carry its own tax liabilities. Directors keep their statutory duties, and personal guarantees sit outside the limited liability shield.

Choose a structure before you register

Incorporation takes minutes; the choice behind it lasts years. A limited company separates your trading identity from your personal affairs and usually caps liability at unpaid share capital.

A sole trader trades as an individual, keeps no register entry and reports profit through Self Assessment. Records, tax timing and public disclosure differ between the two, so settle the structure before you open the filing screen. Sole trader vs limited company compares liability, tax and admin side by side.

Documents and details to have ready

Companies House asks for the same core facts on every incorporation, and gaps in that set are the usual cause of a rejected filing.

Incorporation document checklist

Company name not identical or too similar
Registered office address in chosen jurisdiction
Director aged 16 or over
Shareholders, share numbers and values
Statement of lawful purpose and SIC code
Memorandum and articles of association
PSC details and identity verification

Step by step: registering with Companies House

Check the name against the register and confirm it does not need approval for a sensitive word.
Verify your identity, and the identity of the other directors and people with significant control.
Gather the registered office, director, shareholder, share and SIC details listed above.
File online through the Companies House service, the route set out in GOV.UK's step-by-step guide to setting up a limited company.
Pay the fee and wait for the certificate of incorporation, usually issued by email within 24 hours.
Register for Corporation Tax with HMRC within three months of starting business activity.

What registration costs

Companies House charges a filing fee rather than a tax, and the figures below come from the schedule that took effect on 1 May 2024.

Fee

Online, Companies House service: £50
Software filing: £50
Paper form IN01: £71
Same-day incorporation: £78

Turnaround

Online, Companies House service: Certificate usually by email within 24 hours
Software filing: Same fee, filed through approved software
Paper form IN01: Posted, slower
Same-day incorporation: Electronic only, before the cut-off

Those are official fees only. Formation agents add a registered office address, mail forwarding and filing reminders, and that is where the price climbs. Best company formation agents compares published fees and service scope, so you can separate the official charge from the add-ons.

After incorporation: filing and licences

A company files a confirmation statement at least once every 12 months and annual accounts for each financial year, even when it has not traded.

Licences sit outside Companies House. A cafe owner, a taxi firm or a waste carrier needs permission from its council or a regulator, and the register entry does not cover it. The licence finder on GOV.UK is the quickest check before you commit to premises.

Common questions

How long does it take to register a limited company?

Online filings are usually accepted within 24 hours and the certificate of incorporation arrives by email. Paper filings take longer, and same-day incorporation costs £78 in the Companies House fee schedule.

Can I register a name another business already uses?

A name must not be the same as an existing registered name, and it should not be too similar to one. Trading names carry no protection on the register, and sensitive words need approval.

Do I need an agent to incorporate?

No. You can file with Companies House directly and adopt the model articles. An agent helps with identity verification, a registered office address and later filings.

What happens if I miss a filing deadline?

Late accounts and confirmation statements attract penalties, and repeated failures can lead to the company being struck off.