Company registration UK
Welcome to CompyCo, your trusted companion for seamless enterprise solutions in the UK.
CompyCo has the experience and skills to coordinate business setup in the UK through its wide network of licensed professionals. This network brings together all solutions in one place — including company registration, banking arrangements, and tax enrollment — tailored to your specific needs.
With our guidance and knowledge of local regulations, you can navigate each stage of the process smoothly. Whether you are launching a new venture or expanding an existing company, CompyCo connects you with the right experts to ensure your success.
Forms Of Companies In The United Kingdom
- PLC—public limited company
- LTD—private limited company by shares
- Company limited by guarantee
- UNLTD—unlimited company
- LLP—limited liability partnership
- Community interest company
- IPS—industrial and provident society
- RC—royal charter
What is the difference between LLC and PLC companies in the UK?
In the UK, LLC and PLC are the most common types of companies started by foreigners.
The minimum share capital for a British LLC is 1 pound. The company must have one director and one shareholder; both of them can be British or foreign citizens. The minimum time frame required to register an LLC in the UK is 2 days after the due diligence documentation has been collected and our application form completed.
A PLC in the UK requires a minimum share deposit of 50, 000 pounds. In some cases, only 25% needs to be paid up. This type of company requires two shareholders, two directors, and one secretary. The PLC must apply for a trading certificate and is best suited for large-scale investors who wish to enter the British stock market.
Fundamentals Of A Limited Liability Company
Corporate Tax in The United Kingdom | VAT in The United Kingdom |
|---|---|
19% | 20% |
Fundamentals of limited liability companies in The United Kingdom
| Limited liability company | LLC |
| Minimum Share capital | Any. Doesn't have to be paid up |
| Registered office required | Yes |
| Physical office required | No |
| Min. number of Shareholders | 1 |
| Min. number of Directors | 1 |
| Local directors required | No |
| Other requirements | No |
| Bank signatory must travel | Yes, but it is not mandatory to have a bank account in the UK. |
| Timescale for company formation | 2 days |
| Timescale for bank account opening | 14 days |
| Timescale for obtaining VAT number | up to 3 weeks |
| Statutory audit requirements | No |
| Shelf companies available | Yes |
How can I set up my company in The United Kingdom?
Company registration in the UK is one of the cheapest and most straightforward in the world.
To begin, clients provide due diligence documentation along with a completed CompyCo application form. The required documents are then submitted to the Register, and the company can be formed within just 2 days.
After incorporation, CompyCo coordinates support for opening a company bank account. Depending on your preferences, arrangements can be made for remote account opening or a meeting with a High Street bank. However, for foreign residents, High Street accounts are generally limited to larger companies.
As a final step, LLC founders may apply for a VAT number and other taxation-related permits and certificates, if required.
With its experience and network of licensed professionals, CompyCo ensures that the UK’s quick and simple registration process is carried out smoothly, helping you make the right decisions in line with your business needs and activities.
CompyCo has the experience and skills to coordinate company formation in the UK for foreign investors. Our network of licensed professionals ensures that the varying processes — depending on the type of business — are managed efficiently so your company can be up and running quickly.
For investors venturing outside their jurisdiction, navigating foreign regulations and laws can be confusing. CompyCo’s role is to streamline the process by connecting you with trusted experts, ensuring that each step is handled in a straightforward and complication-free manner.
As UK law allows foreigners to register companies online in most cases, CompyCo coordinates the necessary registrations, licensing, documentation, and representation so that you can avoid unnecessary travel while staying compliant.
Bank Account Opening
Opening a bank account is not mandatory for UK companies to be located in the UK itself. High street banks generally require at least one UK-resident director, but accounts can also be opened elsewhere in Europe or remotely with certain online banks, including those operating in the UK.
CompyCo has the experience and skills to coordinate banking solutions for foreign-owned UK companies. Through our network of licensed professionals and international banking contacts, we ensure you have access to the right institutions — whether online or traditional — that align with your company’s needs.
Foreign entities can open accounts with international or local financial institutions, provided they submit the required documentation, which typically includes proof of identification, shareholder or director addresses, business address, and company registration details. CompyCo connects you with the right experts to help streamline this process and identify banks most likely to approve your application.
Accounting & Taxation
The requirements related to accounting and taxation to keep in mind are:
- The tax year is the calendar year in the UK.
- All businesses are supposed to keep accounting books.
- The taxable profits include investments, trading profits, and any assets sold for more than their original cost.
- The UK corporate tax rate of 25% on taxable profits over £250,000. A smaller profits rate of 19% applies to companies with profits of £50,000 or less, with a marginal relief mechanism for profits in between.
- British companies are issued VAT numbers with the format of the country code UK followed by a 9-digit number which ends with a letter.
- The current VAT rate is 20% on most goods and services with some exceptions. In those cases, depending on the products or services you offer, a 5% VAT rate applies.
How can you employ staff in the United Kingdom?
Diverse job sectors, lucrative employment opportunities, and a skilled, highly educated workforce make the UK an attractive destination for foreign investors.
Navigating the region’s employment laws, however, can be complex for non-resident companies. CompyCo has the experience and skills to coordinate employment and payroll solutions through its network of licensed HR professionals in the UK. This ensures your company can remain compliant with local regulations while accessing the talent it needs.
Through this coordinated network, foreign business owners can access tailored HR support — from recruiting and drafting employment agreements to ongoing payroll administration and statutory benefits. In cases where only one UK-based employee is required, our experts can advise on structuring employment without requiring full local company registration.
Do you have any queries? Take a look at our HR services page for more information about our International HR services!
Next: Find out how can CompyCo help you set up a company in Iceland, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein