Set Up a Limited Company in 4 Easy Steps

1. Check the availability of your company name

Start by checking the availability of the name you have chosen for your new company by using our name check tool. Our system will compare any name you enter against the index of all names currently registered with Companies House. It’s best to choose one that reflects your business activities or the core values you wish to demonstrate.

You will have to include the preferred ending to your name - limited company names must end in ‘Ltd’ or ‘Limited’; LLPs must end in ‘LLP’ or ‘Limited Liability Partnership’.

If your proposed name is available, proceed to the next step. If it is unavailable, make small adjustments until you find a suitable alternative. You will be notified at this stage if it contains any sensitive words or expressions that require special permission for use.

2. Choose a package

Our selection of packages provides a number of different options for those wishing to form a company limited by shares, and also the facility to form a company limited by guarantee or an LLP:

• Four different packages for companies limited by shares.
• Two packages for companies limited by guarantee.
• A Charity company package.
• A Right to Manage company package.
• A limited liability partnership package.

3. Checkout and pay

At this stage, you can choose from a number of additional services, checkout and pay. Available additional services include the following:

• VAT and PAYE registration
• Company seal
• Free business bank account

You can pay for your company package and any additional services using a credit or debit card on our secure payment page. You will receive confirmation of your purchase via email, along with login details to gain instant access to our online client admin portal. A receipted VAT invoice will be sent to you upon completion of your order, with your order fulfilment email.

4. Complete the application form

You will need to spend around five minutes completing your online company registration form. Please be prepared to provide details of your registered office address and all company officers. Our Company Formation Checklist will help ensure you have everything to hand.

What happens next....

We will carry out a free pre-submission review of your company application, before sending it to Companies House. You will receive an order confirmation email with login details to your customer area on our website.

It will usually take up to 24 hours for Companies House to approve your registration, although sometimes it does take longer. Once we’ve been notified of your successful application, we’ll send by email: your digital company documents, VAT invoice, details of your free domain name.

Some of our packages also include printed company documents, which will be sent to you within 24 hours by first class post. Company seals will be issued within 48 hours.

If you included a business bank account within your order, once your company is formed we will send you an email containing a link to apply for your chosen business bank account. Your account should be opened within minutes or up to 5 days depending on which bank you choose.