There are a few ways you register your new business. Firstly, you can register by yourself at Companies House and do all the filing yourself. Your next option is to go down the more costly route of using an accountant to help. Or, the cheapest and easiest way is or get registered through a formation agent, who’ll do the filing for you for you.
There are a number of formation agents out there, and some offer a better service than others. It’s natural to ask the question – should I get incorporated with the help of a formation agent or go and register directly with Companies house? To help you answer that question, here’s how to register with Companies House:
Registering with Companies House directly
Let’s take the first option: registering your company with Companies House directly. There are two ways to do this, either online or by post. Registering online takes around 15 to 20 minutes and will cost £12; you can expect a response within around 24 hours. Alternatively, you can register by post. In which case, though, the waiting time rises to eight to ten days and will cost £40. There is also a fast-track service which will see you registered on the same day for £100.
Registering with help from a formation agent
For assistance at no extra cost, you can use a Companies House approved formation agent like The Formations Company. The benefit here is that you can choose from a range of packages to deliver a fast and worry-free formation process. To register a company it’s quick, simple and actually less expensive than going directly to Companies House direct.
First, you need to register a company name, and for that, you need to check that your chosen company name is available. If someone has a name which is the same, or too similar, you will have to select a new one. Enter your chosen name into our search bar and we’ll run a check for it on the Companies House register. If it’s available, you’re good to go.
How to register your business with The Formations Company
- Choose a package: We offer a range of packages for different types of formations. These start at the most basic for people wanting to register a dormant company and rise to the most complicated, offering comprehensive ongoing support throughout the life of the company.
- Fill out a form: Once you’ve chosen a package, fill out an application form.
- Let them get on with it: From there, the filing specialists do everything. They’ll file your application with Companies House, notify you when it’s accepted and handle the filing fee.
- Collect your Companies House authentication code and documents: Once you’re up and running, you’ll have access to an online company dashboard where you can see all the official documentation for your new company. This includes your official Companies House authentication code and Certificate of Incorporation.
There are many advantages to using a Formations Company to get on the Companies House register. First of all, we give you the benefit of a prestigious City of London address. We can handle all your incoming mail and send it on to you. We ensure complete legal compliance and handle all the details of setting your company on the road.
Setting up a limited company on the Companies House register needn’t be an administrative nightmare. For peace of mind, regulatory compliance and the benefit of knowing we can be there to offer support throughout the life of your company, visit our packages page, or continue browsing the help centre.