Getting Started
How to register a company in the UK for free
A practical walkthrough of our funded company formation offer, its bank account condition and the costs to plan for after incorporation.
By Free Business Registration Ltd · 4 min read
Free company registration means someone covers the incorporation fee. With our offer, we cover the £100 Companies House fee in return for you opening an eligible business bank account with our partner. Here is what to check and how the application works.
In this guide
1. Check whether the offer suits you
- Opening the eligible partner account is a condition of the funded formation; it is not simply an optional extra.
- Bank account approval and Companies House approval are separate decisions. Neither is guaranteed by submitting our form.
- If you already have an account, are not UK resident or are unsure about eligibility, contact our team before applying.
- You can register directly with Companies House instead; its standard online incorporation fee is £100. Compare the conditions, not just the headline price.
2. Prepare your company details
- Choose a suitable name and check it against the Companies House rules. A name search is a preliminary check, not a reservation or trademark clearance.
- Decide your business activities and SIC codes, registered office, directors, shareholders and share structure.
- A director must be at least 16. The same person can be a director and shareholder, but your structure must reflect the actual ownership and control.
- Check the current director and PSC identity-verification requirements. Personal codes for Companies House are separate from any bank identity checks.
3. Send your details and complete the bank application
- Use our registration form to provide the requested company and director information, then review the formation terms.
- After submitting, you continue to our banking partner to complete its application. The provider may ask for more information or documents.
- Optional services are separate from the incorporation offer. Check their scope, charges and renewal conditions before choosing them.
4. Review, submission and incorporation
- Our team checks your details and arranges the Companies House submission. Respond promptly if we need information or corrections.
- Processing depends on the bank application, verification and Companies House checks. Do not plan around a guaranteed same-day completion.
- Once approved, your incorporation certificate and company documents are sent digitally. Keep them with your company records.
5. Plan for running the company
- The funded incorporation does not remove your ongoing duties as a director. Maintain records, meet filing deadlines and check which taxes apply.
- The Companies House confirmation statement currently costs £50 online or £110 on paper, with the first statement in each 12-month payment period.
- Banking charges depend on the provider’s terms. Accountancy, optional services and any late-filing penalties are separate costs.
- Speak to an accountant if you need help deciding whether a limited company suits your circumstances. Incorporating does not automatically reduce your tax bill.
Official guidance
This is general guidance. Check the current official rules and get advice for your circumstances before making tax, legal or financial decisions.