How to register as a limited company

Forming a company with Companies House costs £50.

Only limited companies need to be registered with Companies House.

If you're a sole trader, or a partnership, you don't need to use this service.

To find out what's right for your company, read more on gov.uk.

Yes. Your company will be registered with Companies House.

Companies House is the government organisation responsible for incorporating limited companies in the UK.

Yes, it does. Companies House requires any company name to end in either ‘Limited’ or ‘Ltd’. There is no difference between the two, so feel free to choose whichever you prefer.

No. Your registered office must be in the UK, and within the same country as your company operates. For example, if your company is in Cardiff, your registered address cannot be in any country other than Wales.

Yes. A limited company must have at least one shareholder, which can be you.

You can add a shareholder when you go through the formation process. There’s no limit to the number of shareholders your company can have.

Shareholders are the people who own the company. A company shareholder can be a person, a group of people, a partnership, another company, or any other kind of organisation or corporate body. Each shareholder must own at least one share in the company.

If you are setting up a business on your own, you can form the company, nominate yourself as the owner of all the shares, and appoint yourself as the director.

Shares represent ownership of a company.

If you own shares, you are a shareholder in the company. This is another way of saying that you own part of the company. As a shareholder, you will be entitled to some of the company’s profits. The amount of profit you’re entitled to will depend on what percentage of the company’s shares you own.

When you form your company, you can register as many shares as you want. If you’re the only shareholder, you’ll only need to register one share and appoint yourself as the shareholder to own 100% of the company. You can add more shares after forming your company by contacting Companies House.

No. You can appoint one during the company formation process if you wish, or you can choose not to. If you decide to appoint one at a later date, you can do so by getting in touch with Companies House.

Yes. Every limited company must have at least one director. If you’re forming a company on your own, the director can be you.

Directors are legally responsible for running your company and reporting to HMRC and Companies House.

As well as running your company, directors must perform other duties, such as filing the annual accounts and the confirmation statement with Companies House every year.

The director must report any changes to the company when they happen. Directors must also keep up to date with any changes to UK company law.

When you form your company, you must appoint at least one director (which can be you), and you can appoint as many as you’d like. 

As a director of a limited company, you have several responsibilities. It's very important to learn these responsibilites, as you may be fined, prosecuted or disqualified if you don't.

For a complete list of your duties as director, go to the gov.uk website to learn more.

Once your new company is fully set up, Companies House will email the following documents to you:

• Certificate of Incorporation

• Memorandum of association

• Model articles of association 

• Share certificates

• Company minutes

• Company register