Starting a UK company is quick and straightforward. Register your business with us in 2 – 5 working days. Here’s a quick overview of the most popular business structures.
Select company type
All packages include Companies House & HMRC government fees
Standard
Launch
Set up your UK Limited Company with everything you legally need to start trading. Government fees, registered address and company secretary included.
Register a UK LLP with all required documents, registered address and secretary for 12 months. All government fees included.
Annual
Best value · 5 working days
Annual
Best value · 5 working days
- LTD incorporation
- LLP / LP registration
- Private limited company (Ltd) formation
- Limited liability partnership (LLP) formation
- Name uniqueness check & reservation
- Document preparation & registration form
- Government fee + filing with Companies House
- HMRC UTR (tax reference) obtained
- Standard Memorandum & Articles of Association
- Standard LLP Agreement
- Complete digital corporate documents pack
- Address & compliance
- Registered office for the company
- Correspondence address for Directors / Members
- British company secretary — 1 year
- Annual Confirmation Statement
- Deadline & obligation reminders
- Official government correspondence (electronic)
- Free initial consultation
- Email support
Standard Plus
Growth
A complete London Ltd presence — correspondence address, telephone, mail handling and enhanced admin for international founders.
A complete London LLP presence — correspondence address, mail handling and call answering for international partnerships.
Annual
Best value · saves vs monthly
Monthly
Flexible · cancel anytime
Annual
Best value · saves vs monthly
Monthly
Flexible · cancel anytime
All Launch features included
- Company incorporation + full digital documents pack
- Registered office & correspondence address (12 months)
- British Secretary + Annual Confirmation Statement
- HMRC UTR, reminders & free initial legal advice
- Growth additions:
- Postage / mail address (12 months)
- Mail handling & worldwide forwarding
- Telephone answering & call handling
- UK business telephone number
- Opening a Payoneer account
- Advice on payment systems for account opening
- Enhanced company secretarial support
- Meeting room access London (on request)
- Limited legal & business guidance
- Priority email support
Imperial
Imperial
A legal-led Ltd solution — VAT, UK bank account, visa support and ongoing cross-border guidance for serious market entry.
Full LLP market-entry support — VAT, business banking, partner visa assistance and expert tax-transparent structuring guidance.
Annual
First year · renewal from £2,500
Monthly
Flexible · cancel anytime
Annual
First year · renewal from £2,500
Monthly
Flexible · cancel anytime
All Growth features included
- Everything in Launch + postage & mail address
- Telephone answering & UK business number
- Payoneer account + payment systems advice
- Enhanced secretarial + limited legal guidance
- Imperial additions:
- Full business address for banks, PAYE, VAT
- VAT registration (HMRC)
- UK / European bank account opening assistance
- Certificate of Good Standing (preparation & design)
- One change to Companies House included
- Operational business advice
- Standard Visitor visa support for up to 2 people
- Use of office equipment (print, copy)
- Ongoing legal & business guidance · Priority handling
Choosing your package
Which package is right for you?
Launch
For founders starting out
For professional practices
You want a UK Ltd registered cleanly and legally without extra overhead. Perfect for securing a name, dormant companies, or lean remote operations that need a registered address and company secretary.
You need a UK LLP for a practice or joint venture. Two or more partners want tax transparency without entity-level corporation tax, plus a registered UK address.
Growth
For international founders
For international partnerships
You're based abroad but need clients, banks and suppliers to see a professional London presence — a real address, telephone line and mail service, without being physically present.
Your LLP operates internationally but needs a credible London address, call handling and mail — so partners appear professionally present in the UK without relocating.
Imperial
For serious UK market entry
For LLP full market entry
You're entering the UK seriously: bank accounts, VAT, staff visas and legal guidance. One expert team handles the full lifecycle from incorporation through compliance and growth.
Your LLP needs full UK entry: banking, VAT, member visas and expert guidance on tax-transparent cross-border structuring. One team handles everything.
Feature comparison
Everything included — at a glance
| Feature | LaunchStandard LTDStandard LLP | GrowthStandard Plus LTDStandard Plus LLP | ImperialPremium support |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | |||
| Annual price | £480 | £1,490 | £3,990 |
| Monthly price | — | £149 | £349 |
| Annual price | £880 | £1,890 | £3,990 |
| Monthly price | — | £189 | £349 |
| All government fees included | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Processing speed | 5 working days | 5 working days | Priority · 1 day |
| Incorporation | |||
| Name uniqueness check & reservation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Document preparation & registration form | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Application to Companies House | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Company registration with HMRC | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Articles of Association (Memorandum & Arts) | Standard | Standard | Bespoke avail. |
| LLP Agreement | Standard | Standard | Bespoke avail. |
| Complete digital corporate documents pack | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| HMRC Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Minimum structure | 1 Director + 1 Shareholder (can be same person) | ||
| Minimum structure | 2 Designated Members required | ||
| Secretarial & compliance | |||
| British Secretary as 1-year officer | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Annual Confirmation Statement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reminders on timing & obligations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Correspondence from public authorities (electronic) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Company structure report | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Company secretarial support | Basic | Enhanced | Priority |
| Free initial business & legal advice | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Address & presence | |||
| Registered office for the company | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Correspondence address for Directors / Members | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Postage / mail address (12 months) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Director / Member service address | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Full business address for banks, PAYE, VAT | — | — | ✓ |
| Meeting room London (on request) | — | On request | On request |
| Communication & admin | |||
| Mail handling & forwarding | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Telephone answering | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| UK business telephone number | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Use of office equipment (print, copy) | — | — | ✓ |
| Financial services | |||
| Opening a Payoneer account | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advice on payment systems (account opening) | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| VAT registration (HMRC) | — | — | ✓ |
| UK / European bank account opening assistance | — | — | ✓ |
| Certificate of Good Standing (preparation) | — | — | ✓ |
| One change to Companies House | — | — | ✓ |
| Operational business advice | — | — | ✓ |
| Legal & guidance | |||
| Ongoing legal & business guidance | — | Limited | ✓ |
| Additional bank accounts & payment processing | — | — | ✓ |
| Immigration | |||
| Standard Visitor visa support | — | — | Up to 2 people |
| Additional services (available for extra fee on all packages) | |||
| Preparing & filing financial accounts | On request | On request | On request |
| Director / shareholder changes & company name change | On request | On request | On request |
| Legal support & contract preparation | On request | On request | On request |
| Corporate stamp ordering | On request | On request | On request |
| Business plan drafting | On request | On request | On request |
| Certificate of Good Standing (Standard / Plus only) | On request | On request | — |
Custom solutions
Need a tailored solution?
We build bespoke packages for groups of companies, regulated activities, higher‑volume compliance needs, or clients requiring immigration, accounting and cross‑border structuring support. Over 20 years of London‑based expertise.
Request a custom quote →Why doing business in the UK is a good idea
The United Kingdom is one of the world’s business, financial and cultural hubs. It is prestigious to have a company here as it translates into more trustworthy relationships with partners and suppliers.
The United Kingdom consists of four jurisdictions: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our company offers incorporation services in England/Wales and Scotland. If, however, you need a business in Northern Ireland, get in touch to discuss options. There are several company types, each with its own unique advantages. It is common to register a company in England due to significant opportunities offered to business owners.
It is a common misconception to think of England as an offshore. Nevertheless, corporate and taxation laws allow partnerships to reduce their tax burden on income received outside the country of incorporation. Businessmen can also benefit from special tax regimes and government support for small and medium-size companies.
5 key benefits of registering a company in the UK
- Convenience of registering an English company. The process does not take long, it is transparent and can be carried out online.
- Access to highly skilled labour force and developed infrastructure.
- One of the lowest corporate income taxes in Europe. The peculiarities of the English legislation allow to use numerous tax incentives and deductions.
- The UK’s borderless and highly competitive markets for goods and services create unique opportunities to grow your business.
- Minimal government intervention and ease of doing business. In some cases, you can get government support.
Besides, British companies can receive financing, set up dormant companies and much more. UK market is thriving, especially in construction, financial services and banking; it is a source of new clients, partners and suppliers.
UK company registration with Imperial & Legal
Imperial & Legal is an incorporation agent with headquarters in London. Our qualified specialists will help you choose the right type of company, understand the requirements and documents for opening a company in the UK.
We practice a one-stop-shop approach. We offer three incorporation packages and additional services to support your business.
How to register a company in the UK
UK company registration is a process with its nuances and pitfalls. To save time and money, use an incorporation expert to set up your UK business.
UK corporate law offers many business structures for your company such as a private or public limited liability company and different types of partnerships. All of them can cover basic business needs.
To open a company in the UK, log on to the Companies House website, fill in a form and pay an incorporation fee. You will be offered to use model articles of association or you can choose to tailor them with the help of our lawyers.
The articles include business goals, share capital and shareholders’ commitment to incorporate a company. They also stipulate rules to run the company which must be followed by shareholders, directors and a company secretary to make managerial decisions.
Additional services from Imperial & Legal
Once your company starts trading and grows, its needs would stretch outside the scope of package solutions. You might require additional services such as nominees, requesting a certificate of good standing, legalising documents or preparing annual accounts. You can find more information about business support services on our website page Corporate Services.
Our consultants at Imperial & Legal have years of experience in facilitating communication between private businesses and UK authorities. They will help you optimise day-to-day tasks of running a business so that you have more time to focus on growing your company. Here are some of the corporate services that we offer.
Company Secretary
We provide a comprehensive administrative support in the UK. It is not a legal requirement to have a company secretary, but we strongly recommend using this service. We will make sure your company is not stroked off/ shut down at the most inopportune moment because you were not aware of or failed to fulfil your legal obligations related to the company’s activities and accounts.
Moreover, it is easier for a company secretary to obtain and legalise necessary documents and statements, make requests, etc. on your behalf, because they are based in the UK. Bear in mind that basic services of a company secretary such as filing of an annual Confirmation Statement are already included in our incorporation packages.
Get in touch for one of the following:
- To customise company documents (resolution to set up a company, Articles and Memorandum of Association).
- To change a company director.
- To add or remove a shareholder.
- To report changes about directors and/or shareholders.
- To increase or decrease share capital.
- To change registered address.
- To change SIC codes, etc.
ID verification for Companies House
As of November 2025, Companies House introduced new mandatory regulations for verifying PCS’s, members and company director’s identities. We will be happy to guide you through this process and verify your identity on your behalf as a Companies House authorized agent. The cost of this procedure is included in our service package or can be acquired separately.
Please note, if you are (or were) a company member without verifying after it becomes a legal requirement, you may be committing an offense.
Company restoration
We provide a professional UK company restoration service, guiding directors and stakeholders through each stage of reinstating a company that has been struck off the register. Our service includes assessing eligibility, preparing and submitting the required applications, coordinating with Companies House, and, where necessary, managing the court restoration process. We ensure all outstanding statutory filings and compliance matters are addressed to achieve a smooth, accurate, and fully compliant restoration.
Company dissolution
We offer a professional and fully compliant UK company dissolution service, supporting directors through the formal closure of limited companies, whether the company is dormant or no longer trading. Our experienced team manages the entire process with Companies House, ensuring all statutory obligations are met accurately and efficiently. We provide clear guidance, attention to detail, and a structured approach to ensure a smooth and orderly dissolution.
Accounting
UK companies are legally required to submit their annual accounts and tax reports to the Companies House and HMRC. Our team will prepare and submit your accounts and reports, including VAT reports and Payroll.
You can find more information on our website on the Accounting Services page.
Nominee Services
Nominee director
It is a common practice in the UK to appoint a nominee director if you are not in the country and require a nominee director to perform basic administrative functions in your company.
Imperial and Legal offers nominee directors that are UK citizens and residents. Depending on your needs, they can be signatories on a bank account, sign contracts and even represent you during business meetings.
It is not illegal to have a nominee director. According to the current legislation, the Companies House keeps records of all directors, shareholders and persons with significant control, including nominee persons.
The cost of a nominee director service from Imperial & Legal is from £3,000 per annum.
Nominee shareholder
Nominee shareholder usually comes hand in hand with a nominee director. By using both of these services, your presence will not be required in the UK, even in dealings with banks.
The cost of a nominee shareholder service is from £3,000 per annum.
Bank account management
If your company trades in Great Britain but you are not here full-time, you might want to appoint a representative to manage your business bank account in your name, to make payments as and when instructed by you.
We offer this service to business owners – talk to our consultants to discuss full details and costs. Bear in mind that the bank account management service is sometimes included in another service offered by Imperial & Legal, e.g. nominee director.
Certificate of Good Standing
When you are asked to show a company is operational and active in the UK to the authorities in another country, you need to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing. Our specialists will help you request, obtain and legalise such certificate.
The cost of obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing without an Apostille is from £150.
EORI number
If your company trades outside the UK, importing and/or exporting goods across the EU border, you must have an EORI number. You might be required to obtain an EORI number even when you receive small courier packages from outside the EEA.
EORI stands for Economic Operator Registration and Identification. It is 17-digit number directly linked to your company’s VAT number.
The cost of obtaining an EORI number from our specialists is from £180.
Why register a UK company with Imperial & Legal?
- London registered address
- The possibility of remote processing
- Packaged offers and customised solutions
- Comprehensive corporate services
- Professional translation of documents
- Legal support and consultations at all stagesLegal support and consultations at all stages
- Opening a company in England – from 1 day
- Full confidentiality
Types of companies
Choose an incorporation structure depending on your personal preferences and company’s activities. Experienced dedicated team at Imperial & Legal will help you make a right choice, open a company in the UK and support your business.
Sole trader
Sole trader is a self-employed entrepreneur. In other words, their activities generate more than £1,000 a year and cannot be classed as the work of an employee.
Individual entrepreneurs in the UK are inseparable from their business. The businessman is fully liable for all debts incurred in the course of business activity, i.e. all his assets. The Sole Trader must make social security contributions and pay tax at a progressive rate as an individual.
In Great Britain only those who have the right of permanent residence in the country, i.e. citizens or holders of a residence permit, can run their business as sole traders.
What are the advantages of being a sole trader in the UK? Although Sole Traders are required to document all their transactions, the overall paperwork and reporting is much simpler than in corporate structures.
In addition, English sole traders are often part of government programmes to support small businesses. In certain circumstances, they may be eligible for social benefits.
Private Limited Company (Limited, LTD)
A limited liability company is fully independent of its owners. It is responsible for its own activities, finances and obligations. It can sign contracts and borrow money in its own right. The owners’ liability is limited, i.e. they are only responsible for the company’s debts up to the sum of their investments or guarantee.
A limited liability company must be registered with the Companies House as limited by shares or by guarantee.
The same person can be both an owner and a director of a UK company. Citizenship or residence of shareholders and directors do not matter.
Company limited by shares
A company limited by shares is the most common type of company, especially for small and medium-sized businesses. It is designed for people who want to run a profitable business and distribute profits to themselves.
Shares received in return for investment determine the percentage of ownership and how much dividends you are paid on distribution. It is also common to reinvest a portion of income back in the company. Every shareholder is financially protected. If the company is unable to pay its bills, owners are only asked to contribute the nominal value of their shares.
Shareholders can appoint other people to manage day-to-day business on their behalf or become directors themselves.
Company limited by guarantee
This type of company is most commonly used when a not-for-profit company or charitable organisation needs to be registered.
Such companies are owned by guarantors, as they have no shareholders. The owners usually prefer to reinvest the profits made in the business rather than withdraw them for themselves. The personal liability of the guarantor is limited to a fixed amount of money called a guarantee. The sum guaranteed must be paid to the company if the company cannot pay its own bills.
The guarantors appoint themselves or others as directors to manage the company.
Public Limited Company (PLC)
It is a limited liability company that can trade its shares on a stock exchange; it is not obligatory, however, and the company can be fully owned by private individuals. PLC at the end of a company name generates more prestige, trust and respect.
PLCs can be ready-made or tailored to your needs. Former are fast and easy to set up but might not reflect all your requirements. Latter are produced entirely to your requirements, normally taking just 24 hours to set up.
How to register a PLC
The company must have a unique name and a minimum of £50,000 worth of issued shares, of which at least 25% must be paid up for the company to start operating.
There must be two or more shareholders, not less than two directors (one of them must be 16 years of age or older) and a company secretary. Owners can be directors or have somebody else running the business. The owners are only responsible for the company’s debts up to the value of the shares they have bought.
PLC’s financial statements must be audited and filed with the Registry Office for public access within 6 months after the end of the financial year. An annual declaration with the current registration details of the PLC is also sent to the Chamber of Registration.
What to do after registration
The company secretary is required to comply with all requirements such as keeping minutes of annual meetings, registering shareholders and directors, issuing share certificates, etc.
The Companies House must be notified of the accounting date and of any changes in ownership, directors or change of address of the PLC. The primary accounting records and accounts, as well as staff records, must always be kept up to date.
The company must be PAYE and VAT registered.
Taxation
A PLC is obliged to pay corporation tax on all taxable profits. Profits may be distributed to shareholders in the form of dividends, on which shareholders will pay tax, but the company does not have to contribute anything to social security. Company directors are usually on the payroll and pay tax under the PAYE system (tax automatically deducted from their salaries).
Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)
This business structure combines features of a traditional partnership and a limited liability company. LLPs are fully independent of its partners and can enter into contractual relationships and own assets, e.g. real estate. At the same time, LLPs don’t have to pay corporation tax; instead, each of their partners must declare income from the LLP.
Partners’ liability is limited by the amount they paid on registration. A partnership agreement is not mandatory but recommended.
Any LLP registered in England or Wales is required to submit its financial accounts at the end of tax year as well as tax returns of its partners to the HMRC. If an LLP operates and receives profit in the UK, partners must pay income tax in the UK.
How to register an LLP
A partnership must have a unique name and not less than two partners who can be either individuals or legal entities. There are no requirements for citizenship/ jurisdiction and residence of partners.
At least two partners or all partners must become Designated Partners. They have legal and criminal responsibility for the corporate reports being correct and in the right order.
LLP tax liabilities
Taxes must be paid by partners and not the partnership itself. If an LLP is not active in the UK and its partners are not UK tax residents, then tax liability exists only in the country of their tax residency.
Moreover, there is no stamp duty on LLP related real estate.
Scottish Limited Partnership (SLP)
This structure is very similar to a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). An SLP also has a legal identity and is completely independent of its partners, allowing it to enter into contractual relationships, borrow money and own assets such as real estate.
There are two types of partners in an SLP: responsible partners, who are responsible for the management of the SLP and are liable for the debts and obligations of the partnership, and limited partners, whose liability is limited to the value of their investment in the partnership. Limited partners cannot participate in the management of the SLP.
There are few reporting requirements for SLPs. Unlike limited liability partnerships, SLPs do not need to file annual accounts if there is no business in the UK.
How to register an SLP
Partnership registration takes place at Companies House in Edinburgh under a unique name and with a minimum of one responsible partner and one limited partner – partners can be either individuals or legal entities (e.g. a company). There are no nationality/jurisdiction or country of residence requirements for partners.
It is not obligatory to draw up a partnership agreement, but it is recommended that the terms of joint work between the partners be spelt out.
SLP taxation
The SLP does not pay income tax and the tax liability passes to the partners, where each of them must account for their partnership income. Therefore, if the SLP does not carry on business in the UK and the partners are not tax resident in the UK, tax will only be payable by the partners in their country of tax residence.
In addition, Stamp Duty is not normally payable on the entry of a property into or out of a partnership.
Branch
A branch is an integral part of a foreign company. All liability for debts incurred as a result of its activities in the UK is borne by the head office abroad. By registering a UK branch at Companies House, an overseas business organisation officially registers its presence in the UK.
Branch prepares and submits an annual report to Companies House, even if it does not carry on business in the UK but carries out market research or promotes the parent company’s products and services.
Corporate taxation in England
Corporate tax
- If the firm earned less in the accounting period, the income tax rate of 19% applies;
- Corporate tax in the range of 19-25% is imposed on the income of commercial organisations whose profits in the accounting period were greater than the minimum £50,000 but did not exceed £250,000. The exact percentage of tax is calculated using a complex formula;
- If your company earns more than £250,000 a year, the standard rate, currently 25% in England, will apply to calculate corporation tax.
- There are some industries in the United Kingdom that are subject to a special tax regime when calculating corporation tax. These include, for example, oil and gas extraction, insurance and banking.
- If a corporation earns income from patents it owns, that income is taxed at a reduced rate of 10%.
VAT and other taxes
The standard value added tax in the UK is 20%. A number of product groups are subject to a reduced VAT rate of 5% on sales. Some services and product groups (e.g. socially important goods) are not subject to VAT in the UK,
A company in the UK pays stamp duty when it acquires ownership of securities or property. The amount of this payment varies considerably depending on the area of the country, as well as the parameters of the property being purchased.
Some businesses in Britain pay sectoral taxes. Virtually all companies operating directly within the UK face the need to pay local taxes, payroll tax and monthly social security contributions.
It can be difficult for a foreign entrepreneur to formulate the best tax optimisation strategy for a business in the UK. To find out how to save on taxes by taking advantage of the peculiarities of UK tax and corporate law, make an appointment for a consultation with our experts.
Full business support in the UK
Comprehensive Business Support in the UK: From Setup to Growth
Success Stories on Registering a UK company
Registering Company in UK: Entrepreneur from Asia Planning to Expand Business
A land of opportunities, the UK has always been attractive to active and resourceful people from all over the world. It is prestigious to register a...
Opening a Subsidiary in the United Kingdom: Two Friends Expand Their Business to the UK
The United Kingdom is a perfect country for business development for several reasons: centuries-old entrepreneurial culture, a unique location at the...
Obtaining UK Innovator Founder Visa and Registering UK Company for Owner of IT Company from India
Our Client Harif is a 34-year-old from Mysore. Since he was a child, computers have been his...
Company registration in the UK for an entrepreneur from Pakistan
Karima and Farhad are originally from Pakistan. They had been looking for a way to move to England for a long time. They were looking for a way to move...
