Find the Right Company Formation
Provider in the UK

Yes. UK company formation is fully accessible to non-UK residents, with no citizenship or residency requirements for directors or shareholders of a UK Private Limited Company. A non-resident founder can own 100% of a UK company, act as its sole director, and operate the business entirely from outside the United Kingdom without any physical presence in the UK.

The only mandatory UK requirement is a registered office address in the UK, which must be a physical address in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. Professional formation agents provide this as part of a standard UK company formation package. Binderr connects non-resident founders with vetted UK formation agents who handle the full process remotely.

A UK Private Limited Company (Ltd) is a separate legal entity incorporated under the Companies Act 2006 and registered at Companies House. It has its own legal personality, can enter contracts, hold assets, and incur liabilities independently of its shareholders. Shareholders' liability is limited to the value of their shares, meaning personal assets are protected from company debts.

A UK Ltd requires at least one director and one shareholder, both of whom can be the same person. There is no minimum share capital requirement. The company must maintain a registered office address in the UK, file an annual Confirmation Statement with Companies House, and submit annual accounts. It is subject to UK corporation tax on profits arising in the UK.

A UK Private Limited Company (Ltd) is a corporation with shareholders and directors, subject to UK corporation tax on its profits. A UK Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) is a separate legal entity but is treated as transparent for tax purposes, meaning profits are allocated directly to members and taxed at the member level rather than at the entity level. There is no corporation tax on an LLP's profits.

UK LLPs are widely used by professional services firms such as law firms, accountancy practices, and consultancies, as well as by fund structures and joint venture vehicles. An LLP requires at least two designated members and is governed by a members' agreement rather than articles of association. Founders choosing between a UK Ltd and a UK LLP should consider their tax position, investor requirements, and governance preferences.

The Companies House registration fee for a UK Private Limited Company is £50 for online registration, making it one of the lowest incorporation costs in the world. Same-day incorporation is available for £78. Formation agents typically charge an additional service fee covering document preparation, registered office address provision, and delivery of the full incorporation package.

Ongoing annual costs include a registered office address service, annual Confirmation Statement filing fee of £34 online, and accountancy or compliance costs depending on business activity. UK company formation is among the most cost-efficient in the world, particularly for early-stage founders and international businesses seeking a credible UK entity at low cost.

Standard online UK company formation through Companies House typically takes between 24 and 48 hours. Same-day incorporation is available if the application is submitted before 3pm on a working day. In practice, most straightforward UK Ltd formations are approved by Companies House within a few hours of submission when filed electronically.

Once incorporated, the company receives a Certificate of Incorporation, Memorandum and Articles of Association, and share certificates. The full process from submitting information to receiving your incorporated company documents typically takes 1 to 2 working days when using a professional UK formation agent. Binderr connects you with vetted UK formation agents who handle the process end to end.

UK Private Limited Companies pay corporation tax on their taxable profits. The main rate is 25% on profits above £250,000. A small profits rate of 19% applies to profits under £50,000, with marginal relief available for profits between these thresholds. Companies with no UK trading activity and profits arising entirely outside the UK may have limited or no UK corporation tax liability, depending on their structure and residency.

UK companies with taxable turnover above £90,000 must register for VAT. PAYE applies if the company has employees. The UK holds over 130 double tax treaties, reducing withholding taxes on dividends, interest, and royalties paid to foreign shareholders. Non-resident founders using a UK company in an international structure should obtain professional tax advice on both UK and home country obligations.

UK Private Limited Companies must file an annual Confirmation Statement with Companies House confirming the company's registered details, including directors, shareholders, and registered office. Annual accounts must be filed with Companies House and HMRC each year. The accounts filing deadline is 9 months after the accounting reference date for private companies. A corporation tax return must be filed with HMRC within 12 months of the accounting period end.

UK companies must also maintain a People with Significant Control (PSC) register, which identifies individuals who own or control more than 25% of shares or voting rights. This information is filed publicly at Companies House. Non-resident founders managing a UK company from abroad should work with a licensed UK accountant or company secretary to ensure all statutory deadlines are met.

Yes, though traditional UK high street banks often require an in-person branch visit and proof of UK address, which creates a practical barrier for non-resident founders. Many non-resident directors find that major UK banks decline their applications or impose lengthy onboarding processes that assume physical presence in the UK.

The practical solution for most non-resident founders with a UK company is to use UK-friendly business banking platforms and fintech providers that are purpose-built for remote account opening. These providers accept international directors, process UK company accounts fully online, and offer multi-currency functionality suited to cross-border trading. Binderr helps match your UK company with the right banking solution based on your business profile.

Companies House is the UK's official government registrar for companies, responsible for incorporating all UK companies and maintaining the public register of company information. It is an executive agency of the Department for Business and Trade. Every UK Private Limited Company, LLP, and public company is registered at Companies House and assigned a unique Company Registration Number (CRN).

Companies House maintains a publicly searchable database of all UK companies, including their registered details, filed accounts, director information, and People with Significant Control records. This transparency is a key feature of the UK company formation framework and is one of the reasons UK Ltd status is so widely trusted by banks, investors, and commercial counterparties globally.

Yes. Every UK company must have a registered office address in the UK, which must be a physical address in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland depending on where the company is registered. This address is publicly listed on the Companies House register and is used to receive official government correspondence and legal documents. A PO box is not accepted as a registered office address.

Non-resident founders use a professional registered office address service, which is routinely included in UK company formation packages offered by licensed formation agents and company secretaries. This allows the founder to maintain a compliant UK registered office without any physical presence in the country. Binderr connects you with vetted UK formation providers who include registered office services as part of a complete incorporation package.