How do you register a company in the UK?
A UK company is created by registering it with Companies House, which keeps the statutory register of companies. Registration records the company name, the registered office, the directors, the people with significant control and the share structure.
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How it works
The application is filed online or on paper, and the register issues a company number once it is accepted. From that point the company files confirmation statements and annual accounts, and the filed information is public.
Commonly mixed up with
Registering a company is not the same as registering for tax. Corporation tax, VAT and payroll are separate registrations with HMRC.
How do you register a company in the UK?
| Knowledge, London | Business and finance |
|---|---|
| Short answer | A UK company is created by registering it with Companies House, which keeps the statutory register of companies. Registration records the company name, the registered office, the directors, the people with significant control and the share structure. |
| How it works | The application is filed online or on paper, and the register issues a company number once it is accepted. From that point the company files confirmation statements and annual accounts, and the filed information is public. |
| Commonly mixed up with | Registering a company is not the same as registering for tax. Corporation tax, VAT and payroll are separate registrations with HMRC. |
| Last reviewed | 2026-08-08 |
Short questions
- Do directors have to live in the UK?
- Residence is not required, and a UK registered office address is.
- Is the register public?
- Filed company information is published by Companies House.
- How long does it take?
- Online applications are usually processed quickly, and paper filings take longer.
- Can one person own the company?
- A single director and shareholder is permitted.
- Where are the rules?
- Companies House publishes the incorporation guidance.
Sources
More in this track
- Can a foreign founder open a UK business bank account?
- When does a UK business have to register for VAT?
- How does UK corporation tax work?
- What does an employer need before hiring in the UK?
- What decides office costs in London?
- What accounts must a UK company file?
- Why is London a financial centre?
- What is the difference between a business visit and working in the UK?
- Branch or subsidiary: how does a foreign company enter the UK?
These pages explain how the rules work and link the authority that owns them. They are not legal, tax or immigration advice, and amounts and thresholds change, so open the source before you act.
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