9 Ways to Register a Company for FREE in the UK [2025]

9 Ways for Free Limited Company Registration

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Ways to Register Limited Company for Free

1. GoForma Community Account

You can create a free GoForma community account, and we'll help you register your company for free.

We offer a select number of free company registrations each month, and do it on an application process - we really want to help young startup founders, BAME founders and women in business.

If you are eligible, and are selected for a free company registration, we'll help walk you through the process. You can then complete the application in your dashboard. We'll then submit to Companies House, handle official communications, and pay your filing fee.

Alongside your free community account, we provide a free accounting consultation, hundreds of free guides on small business accounting, limited companies, tax and optimizing a virtual office in London.

We'll then introduce you to different partners for insurance, banking partners, and more depending on your needs as a small business.

It's easy to get started and takes about 30 seconds to create an account!

2. GoForma Virtual Office

When you register a limited company, personal information such as your registered office address will be publicly available on Companies House.

As an example, here's Gordon Ramsay's Director profile.

You can see his "correspondence address". If this was your home address, then anyone would be able to see it. Of course, his profile doesn't show his actual address - he uses a business mailing address in London.

We provide a London Virtual office, which you can use as your company's virtual business address so you're not sharing your personal details. We'll also scan and forward on any company mail your receive.

For only £25/month, we can take care of your mail and keep your home address off of public records.

You'll get a registered central London office address in Faringdon (EC1R) which you can use as your correspondence address, and also on your website and marketing materials to establish a more professional presence in London.

We include free company registration with this and will manage all your incoming mail.

3. GoForma Accounting Package

Ok, this is the last plug we'll provide. If neither the potential free registration with a community account or our London virtual office company registration doesn't appeal, you can sign up for an accounting package with us.

We provide all your key basic filing requirements (confirmation statements, annual accountants, basic payroll, corporation tax, P11D) for £59/mo + VAT. This also includes access to FreeAgent accounting software and their mobile app for sending invoices easily.

If you need help with more complex requirements like filing VAT return and Self Assessments then we also provide this and more for £89/mo + VAT.

Not only do you get your company registration included, you also get a free 30-day trial, free accounting consultation and you can even WhatsApp your accountant.

You can explore this further at the links below:

4. Accounting Providers

It's good to explore other accounting providers and get a quote as you'll need support with your annual accounts, confirmation statements, corporation tax and corporation tax filings.

As said above, this is something we can help with, from only £59/mo + VAT (you also get a £10/mo discount with select bank accounts).

Assessing whether an accountant will provide a free company registration with your new package can be a good indicator of how much value they provide.

Some providers will include it but others can charge £50 or more. DO NOT pay that much for a business registration!

Here's a few places to find some accounting providers that can included free company registration:

5.Business Address and Virtual Office Providers

As mentioned above, when you register your new UK Limited Company, your correspondence and director address will appear on your company profile.

For some it doesn't matter but for others it can be a security concern. As an example, we recently registered a company for someone who has a company with expensive audio equipment. They wanted to use our London address as they had heard that burglars look for specific SIC codes (industry codes that describe your company activity) on Companies House and can see where you might be storing your equipment

Our office has round the clock security (and their equipment isn't here) so it provided some safety to them.

There are a range of Virtual Office providers like Regus, DaVinci, ServCorp and Hoxton Mix where you can find locations. Some of them provide your company registration for free.

Companies House Registration

If none of the free company registration options are appealing then you can register your company quickly with the "old school" way of forming it directly with Companies House.

6. Register your company at Companies House

The process to register a limited company with Companies House is fairly simple and takes about 24 hours once you submit your application.

To register a company with Companies House in the UK, you need to follow these steps:

Choose a company name: Select a unique and suitable name for your company. Make sure it adheres to the guidelines provided by Companies House, such as avoiding prohibited or sensitive words and ensuring it is not already registered by another company.
Determine your company structure: Decide on the company structure that best suits your business. The common options include a private limited company (Ltd), a public limited company (PLC), or a limited liability partnership (LLP).
Prepare the required information: Gather the necessary information and documents, including your registered office address, director(s), shareholder(s), SIC code, and statement of capital.
Complete the incorporation form: Visit the Companies House website or use an authorized online formation service to complete the relevant incorporation form. The most common form for company registration is the IN01 form.
Submit the application: Submit the completed form, along with the required fee, to Companies House. The fee can vary depending on the method of application and the level of service chosen.
Await confirmation: Companies House will review your application and, if everything is in order, they will register your company. You will receive a Certificate of Incorporation confirming your company's registration number and the date of incorporation.

It costs £50 and you can register a company here.

Third-Party Providers

7. Use a Tide Business Bank Account

You'll need a business bank account for your new company to properly track your income and expenses. There's a range of different business bank accounts available, but one of the fastest to set up is a Tide business bank account.

With our unique relationship at Tide, we're also able to offer £50 when you open a paid or free business bank account with them.

Opening a business account takes just a few minutes. The process is completely digital, and you'll have no transaction fees for your first year (which then rise to 20p per transaction).

Get £50 with Tide ->

Limited Company Formation Agents

8. Use Companies House Recommended Agents

Companies House has a list of recommended agents who integrate with their software (some of these are free company formation tools) and that you can use for your own business.

These Companies House Accredited Agents are service providers who have met certain criteria and standards set by Companies House and can offer formation and filing services to individuals and businesses who want to register or manage companies with Companies House in the UK.

Companies House Recommended Agents can assist with various company-related tasks, including company formation, annual filings, and maintaining company records. They also have expertise in dealing with the registration process and ensuring compliance with Companies House regulations and requirements.

While using a Companies House Recommended Agent is not mandatory, it can be advantageous for those who prefer professional assistance and want to ensure compliance with Companies House regulations. It's important to research and choose a reputable and reliable agent, considering factors such as their experience, track record, customer reviews, and pricing structure.

The prices can vary for each provider but they can offer things like rapid company formations.

Companies House provides a list of recommended agents on their website. You can find a list of registration agents here.

9. Use Company Registration Agents

Company Registration Agents, also known as Company Formation Agents or Company Incorporation Agents, are service providers that specialize in assisting individuals and businesses with the process of registering a company.

Hiring an agent can be a pretty quick way to get your company registered and the often have a few partnerships with various banks and insurance providers; plus, they can help you navigate the complexities of legal requirements and administrative procedures involved in establishing a new company (ensuring compliance with the relevant laws and regulations).

We also have partnerships with the below Companies which we have tried and tested:

We'd recommend definitely double checking their TrustPilot reviews before as some don't always have the best quality score.

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