How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Limited Company?
It costs £100 to set up a UK limited company online (£124 by post). Add verification, address and agent fees: totals, first-year costs and worked examples.
It costs £100 to set up a limited company online with Companies House, or £124 by post. Most founders also pay for identity verification, a registered office address or a formation agent, which takes the usual total to about £150–£500. This guide breaks down how much it costs to set up a limited company in the UK in 2026, what you pay in the first year, and worked totals for three common situations.
How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Limited Company?
The only compulsory fee is the Companies House registration fee:
| How you register | Companies House fee | Usual time |
|---|---|---|
| Online (directly or through an agent) | £100 | Usually within 24 hours |
| Same-day service (through approved software, by the daily cut-off) | Higher fee (see GOV.UK) | Same working day |
| By post (form IN01) | £124 | 8 to 10 days |
Fees from GOV.UK Companies House fees. Everything else depends on how you set the company up and what you need around it.
Cost by Setup Route
| Route | Typical cost | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself on GOV.UK | £100 | Registration with standard articles; you verify identity and supply the address yourself |
| Formation agent | About £115–£250 | The agent prepares and files the application; the fee is often included, with addresses and extras on top |
| Accountant | About £200–£500 | Registration plus advice on shares and tax |
| CorpAssist | £159.99–£249.99 | £100 fee included; addresses in Privacy and International; identity verification arranged in the same order |
Agent and accountant ranges are typical figures shown in Google results on 27 October 2026. Compare agents in our guide to the best company formation agents in the UK.
The Costs People Forget
Identity verification
Every director and person with significant control must verify their identity with Companies House before the company is registered. The GOV.UK One Login route is free but needs a chip-enabled ID the app accepts and a phone that can read it; it does not suit everyone, especially directors outside the UK. Through CorpAssist, verification is submitted through our Companies House-registered ACSP partner and costs £35.99 per person, or is included for one director in the International package. More in identity verification for company formation.
Registered office and service address
The company’s registered office and each director’s service address are public. If you use your home, it goes on the register. Address services typically cost about £50–£150 a year (Google results, 27 October 2026). CorpAssist’s registered office and director service address is £59.99 a year, and both are included for the first 12 months in the Privacy and International packages.
Business bank account
A limited company should keep its money separate from yours. Digital business accounts are often free, while high-street banks may charge a monthly fee of up to about £12.50 (Google results, 27 October 2026).
What a Limited Company Costs in the First Year
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Confirmation statement | £50 a year online |
| Accounting software or accountant | About £600–£1,500+ a year |
| ICO data protection fee (if you handle personal data) | About £40–£60 a year |
| Address service renewal (if used) | CorpAssist: £59.99 (office + director) or £99.99 (all three) a year |
Accounting and ICO ranges are as shown in Google results on 27 October 2026; check current fees with your provider.
Worked Examples: Total Setup Cost
| Founder | Do it yourself | With CorpAssist |
|---|---|---|
| UK resident, uses own home address, one director | £100 if GOV.UK verification works for you; home address public | £195.98 (Essential + verification) |
| UK resident, wants home address kept private | £100 + an address service of about £50–£150 a year | £235.98 (Privacy + verification, all three addresses for 12 months) |
| Lives outside the UK, one director | £100 + verification + UK address; GOV.UK route often not possible without a UK-compatible ID | £249.99 (International, verification and addresses included) |
Each extra director or PSC who still needs to verify adds £35.99. For the full process, see how to set up a limited company, and if you live abroad, UK company formation for non-residents.
One Price for Formation, Verification and Addresses
CorpAssist keeps the setup cost predictable:
- The £100 Companies House fee is included in every package, from £159.99
- Identity verification arranged in the same order (£35.99 per person, included for one director in International)
- Registered office, director service address and business address for 12 months in Privacy (£199.99) and International (£249.99)
- Passports from 190+ countries accepted, and no UK visit, bank account or phone number needed to form the company
- Every application checked by a person before it is filed
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to set up a company in the UK?
The Companies House fee is £100 to register online, or £124 by post. On top of that you may pay for identity verification, a registered office address and a formation agent. With CorpAssist, the total for one UK-resident director starts at £195.98, including the £100 fee and identity verification.
What is the cheapest way to register a company?
Registering directly with Companies House online for £100, using your own address and verifying your identity free through GOV.UK One Login. That works if you have a chip-enabled ID the app accepts, a phone that can read it, and you are happy for your address to be public. If any of those is missing, the cheapest route can become the slowest.
How long does it take to set up a limited company in the UK?
Online registrations are usually completed within 24 hours, and postal applications take 8 to 10 days. Each director has to verify their identity first (PSCs can verify at incorporation or within 14 days after), so allow a few business days in total if anyone still needs to verify.
Are there yearly costs after setting up a limited company?
Yes. Every company files a confirmation statement each year (£50 online), and annual accounts and a Corporation Tax return. Most owners pay for accounting software or an accountant, and an address service if they use one. Many businesses that handle personal data also pay the ICO data protection fee.
How much tax will I pay as a limited company?
That depends on your profits and how you pay yourself, so ask an accountant before you start trading. The company pays Corporation Tax on its profits and must register for it with HMRC within 3 months of starting to trade.
See all company formation packages.
Companies House fees checked against GOV.UK; third-party price ranges as shown in Google on 27 October 2026. CorpAssist is an independent commercial service and is not Companies House or GOV.UK.
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