By
August 27, 2026
How Much Does It Cost to Incorporate a UK Limited Company?
The standard Companies House fee to incorporate a UK limited company online is currently £100.
A paper incorporation application costs £124, while a same-day application submitted through compatible company formation software costs £156.
However, the Companies House fee may not be the only cost. Your total setup expense will depend on whether you use a formation agent, need a registered office service, adopt customised Articles or obtain professional advice.
The current Companies House fees are:
The same-day service is generally available only through suitable company formation software. Applications must meet the relevant submission deadline and requirements.
Companies House fees can change, so applicants should check the current incorporation fee schedule before applying.
Yes. For a straightforward private limited company, applying online is usually the least expensive option.
The standard online service may be suitable if the company:
More complex companies may need to use formation software, a professional adviser or a paper application.
No. The Companies House fee covers the processing of the incorporation application and registration of the company.
It does not normally include:
These services are optional in many cases, but they may be valuable where the ownership or management structure is complicated.
Company formation agents normally charge their own service fee in addition to, or as part of a package containing, the Companies House fee.
The price depends on what is included.
A basic package may provide:
More expensive packages may include:
Always check whether the advertised price includes the Companies House filing fee, VAT and renewal charges.
A low initial price can become more expensive if address services or compliance packages renew automatically.
Individuals can normally verify their identity directly through the official Companies House service without paying a Companies House verification fee.
Alternatively, a director or person with significant control may use an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. The provider may charge for completing the identity checks.
New directors must obtain a Companies House personal code and provide it as part of the incorporation filing.
People with significant control must also comply with the applicable identity-verification requirements.
A company does not need to pay for a registered office if it already has an appropriate physical address in its registered jurisdiction.
For example, a business owner may use:
Professional address services normally charge a monthly or annual fee. The cost varies according to the location and whether mail forwarding, scanning or collection is included.
Remember that the registered office appears on the public Companies House register. Owners who do not want their home address published may consider paying for an address service.
The address provider should confirm that the service meets the legal requirements for an appropriate registered office.
Directors must provide a service address, which is displayed publicly.
A director can use the company’s registered office as their service address if appropriate. This may avoid an additional fee.
Some address providers charge separately for:
Check the number of directors and PSCs covered before purchasing a package.
They can.
Many simple companies adopt the standard model Articles without paying a separate drafting fee.
Customised Articles may be useful if the company has:
A solicitor or company law specialist may charge to prepare or review customised Articles.
The cost will depend on the complexity of the company and whether a shareholders’ agreement is also required.
Share capital is different from the Companies House filing fee.
A company limited by shares must issue at least one share to at least one shareholder. A simple company might issue one ordinary share with a nominal value of £1.
The shareholder becomes responsible for paying the nominal value of their shares. This money belongs to the company and is not a fee paid to Companies House.
Issuing a large number of shares does not normally increase the standard incorporation fee. However, a more complex share structure may create additional legal, tax and administrative costs.
Registering the company for Corporation Tax does not normally involve a government registration fee.
The company must tell HMRC when it becomes active for Corporation Tax purposes. It may also need to register separately for:
Government tax registrations are normally free, but an accountant or adviser may charge for handling them.
Yes. Incorporation creates an active legal entity with ongoing filing and record-keeping responsibilities.
Possible ongoing expenses include:
The current fee for filing a confirmation statement is £50 online or £110 on paper. The fee is generally payable with the first confirmation statement filed during each 12-month payment period.
The confirmation statement fee is separate from the original incorporation fee.
A dormant company may have few transactions, but it still has legal and filing responsibilities.
It will normally need to:
A dormant company may also pay for an address service or professional assistance.
Incorporating a company before it is needed can therefore create ongoing costs even if the business has not started trading.
The Companies House incorporation fee is generally the same regardless of where the directors or shareholders live.
However, a non-UK resident may face additional costs for:
Incorporating a UK company does not automatically provide a UK business bank account, immigration permission or UK tax residence.
A simple company formed directly online may cost only the £100 Companies House fee, provided the owners have an appropriate address and do not require additional services.
The total cost will be higher if the company needs:
Business owners should consider both the initial incorporation cost and the company’s ongoing annual expenses.
Before registering the company:
Choosing an unsuitable structure simply to reduce the initial cost may result in more expensive changes later.
It currently costs £100 to incorporate a UK limited company online, £124 using a paper application or £156 for same-day incorporation through compatible software.
A straightforward company may have no other formation costs. However, registered office services, professional advice, customised Articles, identity checks through an authorised provider and company administration can increase the total price.
The cost of maintaining the company after incorporation should also be considered before registering.
This article provides general information and does not constitute legal, tax or financial advice. Companies House fees may change.
