Freedom Isn’t Free UK Personal Finance
Self-Employed
How to Set Up a Limited Company UK (Step by Step)
You set up a limited company by registering it with Companies House online, which costs GBP 100 and usually takes under 24 hours. You need a company name, at least one director, a shareholder, a SIC code and a registered office address, plus identity verification. You can do it yourself; a formation agent is optional.
What you need to set up a limited company (2026/27)
| What you need | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company name | Must be unique, end in "Limited" or "Ltd", and not be too similar to an existing name or a trademark |
| At least one director | A real person aged 16 or over who runs the company and is legally responsible for it |
| At least one shareholder | Can be the same person as the director; a company limited by guarantee has guarantors instead |
| Share capital | A statement of capital; many companies start with a single GBP 1 ordinary share |
| SIC code | A code that describes what your company does (you can list more than one) |
| Registered office address | An "appropriate address" in the UK that goes on the public register; it must not be a PO box alone |
| People with Significant Control (PSC) | Anyone owning more than 25% of shares or voting rights, listed on the public register |
| Identity verification | Directors and PSCs must verify their identity and supply a Companies House personal code (mandatory since 18 November 2025) |
| Online registration fee | GBP 100, paid by debit or credit card (rose from GBP 50 on 1 February 2026) |