Guides
How to Start a Business in the UK
24 July, 2024 · 15 mins
Register a company in the UK
The simple, hassle free way to register a company
Starting a business? You can register a Limited Company for free and open a business account with ANNA at the same time. It’s quick, easy and free!
Company name
Simple pricing
We offer several pricing options for your company registration
Basic
Covers all the essentials to incorporate your company without any hassle. We’ll handle the company registration for you so you’re set up for success from day one
Hassle-free company registration
Let us take care of setting up your business
Company registration
£50
£19 one-off +VAT
Business Secretary
Covers your company’s registration fee but also provides all the tools you need to manage your business; whether it’s keeping your company’s details up-to-date or making important changes, we’ve got you covered
Everything in Basic
Hassle-free company registration and free business account
Business account
A Pay-As-You-Go ANNA business account
Virtual office
Keep your address private and get same day mail scanning to your inbox worth £180/year
Basic admin
Easy receipt capture, instant invoicing, xls VAT filing and accounting software sync up
VAT registration
We’ll set up VAT Registration on your behalf (whenever your business needs it)
PAYE registration
We’ll register your company as an employer with HMRC, so you and your employees can take a salary (whenever your business needs it)
Changes to limited company details
Registered office address, SIC code update, company name change (Companies House fees apply)
Share management service
Issue and transfer of shares, documentation management and record updates to stay compliant with Companies House
Confirmation statement
Avoid late fees! Get reminders and file your confirmation statement directly with the ANNA app
Company registration
Free
£50 Companies House fee is on us!
Advanced Register bundle
£310
£119 a year +VAT
Total Support
Designed for entrepreneurs who want a fully managed business experience; covers everything from incorporation to ongoing administrative tasks, tax assistance, and more. This all-inclusive package provides the support you need to start and seamlessly grow your business
Everything in Business Secretary plan
Company registration and all required formation services
Business plan for your business account
All the essentials to get your business growing worth £149/year
+Taxes
All your taxes covered (Payroll, VAT filing and Corporation Tax) worth £288/year
Company registration
Free
£50 Companies House fee is on us!
All-in-one bundle
£750
£395 a year +VAT
Basic
All the essentials to incorporate your company without any hassle. We’ll handle company registration for you, so you’re set up for success from day one
Hassle-free company registration
Let us take care of setting up your business
Basic business account with no fees
Business account with no monthly fees – pay for what you use
Useful add-ons for your business
We’ll take care of all your company admin – from taxes and bookkeeping to invoicing and payroll (subject to extra fees)
Basic
£0
Company registration
£50
Companies House fee
Business Secretary
Covers your company’s registration fee but also provides all the tools you need to manage your business; whether it’s keeping your company’s details up-to-date or making important changes, we’ve got you covered
Everything in Basic
Hassle-free company registration and free business account
Business account
A Pay-As-You-Go ANNA business account
Virtual office
Keep your address private and get same day mail scanning to your inbox worth £180/year
Basic admin
Easy receipt capture, instant invoicing, xls VAT filing and accounting software sync up
VAT registration
We’ll set up VAT Registration on your behalf (whenever your business needs it)
PAYE registration
We’ll register your company as an employer with HMRC, so you and your employees can take a salary (whenever your business needs it)
Changes to limited company details
Registered office address, SIC code update, company name change (Companies House fees apply)
Share management service
Issue and transfer of shares, documentation management and record updates to stay compliant with Companies House
Confirmation statement
Avoid late fees! Get reminders and file your confirmation statement directly with the ANNA app
Business Secretary
£310
£119 a year +VATCompany registration
£50
Companies House fee is on us!
Total Support
Designed for entrepreneurs who want a fully managed business experience; covers everything from incorporation to ongoing administrative tasks, tax assistance, and more. This all-inclusive package provides the support you need to start and seamlessly grow your business
Everything in Business Secretary plan
Company registration and all required formation services
Business plan for your business account
All the essentials to get your business growing worth £149/year
+Taxes
All your taxes covered (Payroll, VAT filing and Corporation Tax) worth £288/year
Total Support
£750
£395 a year +VATCompany registration
£50
Companies House fee is on us!
Useful add-ons for your new business
Additional services you might need to accompany your company registration with ANNA
Virtual office address
Use the Prime London address for all mail, including official government correspondence. Keep your personal address private and avoid spam and scam letters. Same-day mail scanning straight to your email.
from £7.50 per month
+Taxes
All essential taxes for small businesses covered. Take the stress out of tax admin by letting ANNA do the work for you
£3 per month for 3 months £24 per month after that
VAT Registration
We’ll take care of the paperwork and submit the HMRC application on your behalf
£19.50 one-off fee
Confirmation statement filing
ANNA can help you to file your company’s confirmation statement (annual return) with Companies House, to make sure it’s 100% accurate and completed before the deadline
£44.90 per filing
PAYE registration
We’ll process PAYE registration with HMRC on your behalf and help you obtain necessary documents to pay yourself or your employees a salary
£12.90 one-off fee
Director management service
We handle adding or removing company directors, ensuring you meet all legal requirements, update Companies House records, and keep everything running smoothly
£14.99 one-off fee
Company cancellation cover
Have changed your mind and decided you no longer need your company? We’ll close it for you within the first 12 months of forming it.
£24.99 one-off fee
Add-ons available during sign up. Prices shown do not include VAT
Register a company in 3 quick simple steps
Choose your company name
Tell us about yourself and your new company
Get your company registration and business account
The reviews are in
Do I need a business bank account?
Limited companies need business accounts
If you operate as a Limited Company, you’re legally obliged to have a separate business account for your business finances
Why register a company?
When you start a new business there are a few options you can take. The most common are operating as a sole trader or a Limited Company.
To operate as a Limited Company, you need to register with Companies House. That usually costs £50, but we’ll do it for you for free when you select our Enhanced or Total Support plan.
We can register your company in 5 minutes and you should receive your certificate of incorporation within hours.
To operate as a Limited Company, you need to register with Companies House. That usually costs £50, but we’ll do it for you for free when you select our Enhanced or Total Support plan.
We can register your company in 5 minutes and you should receive your certificate of incorporation within hours.
What company types are there and which one should I choose?
There are a number of different company types available in the UK.
- Private Limited Company (Ltd) by shares: A company owned by private shareholders with limited liability, meaning their personal assets are protected if the company faces financial difficulties.
- Company Limited by Guarantee: Typically used by non-profit organisations, members' liability is limited to a predetermined amount they agree to contribute in the event of the company being wound up.
- Public Limited Company (PLC): A company whose shares are publicly traded on the stock exchange, allowing the general public to become shareholders.
- Community Interest Company (CIC): A company established to benefit the community or pursue social and environmental objectives, with profits reinvested for public good rather than distributed to shareholders.
- Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): A hybrid between a partnership and a limited company, offering limited liability protection to its partners.
The most common of these company types is a Private Limited Company (Ltd) by shares. There are over 2 million such companies in the UK. At the moment ANNA is currently only registering single director Private Limited Companies limited by shares.
Can I set up a business with multiple directors?
Yes, you can establish a business with multiple directors (or shareholders) through ANNA’s business formation service. You can also open an ANNA business account with multiple directors simultaneously.
How many directors does a limited company need?
A limited company typically needs at least one director, but can have more if you want. There’s no limit to how many directors a single company can have, but at ANNA we have a limit of registering up to four directors. If you need to register more, drop us a message at formations@anna.money
What documents do I need to register my company?
Registered office address
You'll need a registered UK office address, where official communications, like letters from Companies House, can be sent. You can also choose a virtual office address provided by ANNA’s partners. They can forward your post.
Business details
We'll need some basic details, including a brief description of what your company does, and some government-friendly SIC codes. You can change these later if needed.
Director and shareholder information
You’ll need to provide your name, nationality, date of birth, occupation, address and proof of identity.
I’ve completed the registration process, now what?
After you finish the application we submit it on your behalf to Companies House. It takes 1–3 days for most of the companies to confirm their registration and we’ll send you your documents as soon as that happens.
Your next step is to open a business account. It’s mandatory for limited companies in the UK to have their own separate bank account.
What is a virtual office?
The virtual office service offers you a professional business address to use for your business activities and receive mail, all without disclosing your personal address. This address will be publicly displayed on Companies House and can be accessed by anyone. Although a virtual office is not a physical location where you can work from, you can register your business with a virtual office address and utilise it for all your business correspondence. The biggest advantage is that it helps keep your personal address private, preventing it from being listed on the public register. Additionally, using a virtual office address instead of your personal one can enhance the credibility of your contracts, website, and more.
We partner with Hoxton Mix to provide our virtual office services. Hoxton Mix is conveniently located in Shoreditch, London, and their virtual office service is particularly suitable for entrepreneurs, freelancers, and startups seeking a prestigious business address in the City of London. Enjoy the benefits of a sought-after address without the need to rent physical office space, and boost your professional image among potential clients.
What if someone sends mail to my virtual office address?
Hoxton Mix provide same day mail handling and forwarding service. They’ll also scan your official government documents and send them to you via email, giving you digital copies of all important business information. You can get your mail wherever you are – whether that’s at home in the UK or abroad on business – and your business address will remain the same regardless.
Official written communications will be scanned from the following organisations:
- Companies House
- HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
- Government Gateway
- Inland Revenue
- Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)
- Court documents (including Tribunals Services)
- Department of Work & Pensions (DWP)
- Intellectual Property Office (IPO)
- Office for National Statistics
Any mail received that doesn’t come from an official governmental body, or that cannot be scanned (like credit cards, parcels etc) can be forwarded on for an additional cost upon request. Any mail you don’t want forwarded on will be destroyed after 21 days.
Are company formation costs tax deductible?
The costs associated with the company incorporation are considered as one-off capital expenses or CapEx, which is the same as the cost of acquiring, upgrading, and maintaining the company's physical assets like property, equipment, buildings, technology, or even plant and machinery.
The capital expenses, unlike revenue expenses, are not tax deductible. For an expense to be deductible, it must be directly related to the trade. Examples of revenue expenses are salaries, rent, electricity and water bills, gas, advertising, phone bill, raw materials expenses etc. Company formation costs do not meet this criteria, because they happen before the company starts trading.
However, all the costs related to keeping the company's share register, the printing of annual accounts, the holding of shareholders’ annual meetings etc. are treated as trading expenses and are tax deductible.
In addition, if you paid for the company incorporation cost with your personal money, the company can reimburse you.
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ANNA business account
If you’ve registered your business with ANNA Company Registration, the fastest and easiest option is to open an ANNA business account. All you need to do is verify your ID and provide proof of address and your business account will be ready to go!
An ANNA business account is perfect for newly formed companies. You get a debit Mastercard, your own unique payment collection link and the ability to pay cash into your account, as well as local and international payments, an in-app invoice generator and receipt scanner, multiple expense cards for employees and up to 40% cashback on select categories.
An ANNA business account is perfect for newly formed companies. You get a debit Mastercard, your own unique payment collection link and the ability to pay cash into your account, as well as local and international payments, an in-app invoice generator and receipt scanner, multiple expense cards for employees and up to 40% cashback on select categories.
ANNA +Taxes
ANNA can make business taxes a breeze. ANNA +Taxes ensure that you never miss a deadline, and we specialise in helping you minimize your tax burden so you don’t pay more than you have to.
ANNA +Taxes calculates your income, expenses, Corporation Tax and VAT, reminds you of your deadlines and can even file your taxes for you. And if you’ve got a question, you can ask our tax experts.
+Taxes is perfect for newly-formed companies as it allows you to start on the right foot. You can focus on growing your business and leave the paperwork and tax admin to us.
ANNA +Taxes calculates your income, expenses, Corporation Tax and VAT, reminds you of your deadlines and can even file your taxes for you. And if you’ve got a question, you can ask our tax experts.
+Taxes is perfect for newly-formed companies as it allows you to start on the right foot. You can focus on growing your business and leave the paperwork and tax admin to us.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a company?
Registering a business online with Companies House will cost you £50. But ANNA can register a company for you absolutely free – just select Enhanced or Total Support plan. You also get a business account with bookkeeping software
Does ANNA register companies with Companies House?
Yes, ANNA registers companies directly with Companies House.
Do I need a business bank account for my business?
If you operate as a Limited Company, you are legally obliged to have a separate business account for your business. You cannot use a personal bank account.
What documents do I need to register a Limited Company?
To register a limited company you will need:
- Registered Office address – don’t worry if you don’t have one – we can provide you with the virtual address
- Business Activity – You need to tell Companies House about your new company's business activity. You do this by choosing a SIC code (Standard Industrial Classification code) which describes and classifies business activities e.g. manufacturing or agriculture
- Director’s Details
- Full name
- Date of Birth (you must be at least 16 years old)
- Occupation
- Nationality
- Residential address (this isn’t kept on the public register)
- Service address (residential or other address)
- Shareholders’ Details
- Full name
- Date of Birth
- Residential address (this isn’t kept on the public register)
- Service address (residential or other address)
- Nationality
- Nature of control (eg. The person holds more than 50% to 75% of shares.)
- Three Security Details (these act as an online signature)
- First three letters of mother’s maiden name
- First three letters of father’s forename
- First three letters of town of birth
- Person with Significant Control (PSC) Details
- Full name
- Date of Birth
- Residential Address (this isn’t kept on the public register)
- Service Address (residential or other address)
- Nationality
- Nature of control (eg. The person holds more than 50% to 75% of shares.)
How long does it take?
It normally takes 1 business day, but in some cases it can take up to 48 hours. Companies House doesn’t operate over the weekends, so Friday applications might take longer.
How to receive a Certificate of Incorporation?
Your Certificate of Incorporation will be sent to the same email you used to register your company.
