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Registration of a UK company (in England). Service offer

Major advantages of doing business in the UK. Time frame for setting up business in the UK. Company incorporation. Administration of the company. Fees.

Major advantages of doing business in the UK:

The world’s largest financial centre with impeccable business reputation.

Developed and stable economy.

Not an offshore jurisdiction. The UK is not on the OECD or FATF blacklists.

Quick company incorporation, with no need to travel.

Flexible common law system, which is an important factor for making shareholders agreements and developing complex mechanisms for company management by directors and shareholders.

Time frame for setting up business in the UK:

Company incorporation – from 2 weeks;

Bank account opening – from 1 month (depending on the bank).

Company incorporation

Incorporation in the UK of a Private Company Limited by Shares includes the following steps:

1) It is necessary to select:

  • company name to be checked for its availability[1] (at least 3 names), such name:
    • must not be identical or similar to the name of any existing company;
    • must end with a suffix denoting the type of entity (“Limited” or “Ltd”);
  • company structure (director, shareholder, beneficial owner, attorney);
  • share capital and distribution of shares between the shareholders;
  • activity and geography of business.

2) Paying fees for services

3) It is necessary to provide the documents for the directors / shareholders / beneficial owners / attorneys[2]:

  • proof of ID (passport / ID card);
  • proof of address (utility bill).

At the meeting, it is necessary to show the original documents for verification or produce notarized copies.

4) Preparing a package of documents for company incorporation, having the documents signed by the directors and shareholders

5) Filing an application for incorporation of the company

Incorporation of a new company takes about 2 weeks from the date of filing with Companies House, including the time required to prepare an apostilled set.

The set of documents delivered to the client upon incorporation of a UK company includes:

  1. Certificate of Incorporation – original.
  2. Minutes of Subscribers Meeting – original.
  3. Minutes of First Meeting of Directors – original.
  4. Memorandum and Articles of Association – original.
  5. Share Certificate – original.
  6. Apostilled set including: a copy of Certificate of Incorporation, copy of Minutes of Subscribers Meeting, copy of Minutes of First Meeting of Directors, copy of Memorandum and Articles of Association, and an original Power of Attorney (if a professional director is appointed).
  7. Company seal.

Administration of the company

Every UK company must annually submit an Annual Return to Companies House. The Annual Return is a snapshot of the company and should include the following information:

  • company name;
  • registration number;
  • date that the Annual Return is made up to;
  • principal business activity of the company;
  • type of company, for example, private or public;
  • registered office address of the company;
  • address at which the company keeps its company documents, if other than the registered office, and what documents these are;
  • details of the company secretary (individual or legal person), if any;
  • details of all the directors of the company (individuals or legal entities).

If the Annual Return is not delivered, the Registrar might assume that the UK company is no longer operational and might take steps to strike it off the register.

UK companies are required to maintain accounting records and keep them at the registered office or any other location that the directors may think appropriate. The records must be available to the company officers for inspection at all times.

If a company keeps records outside the UK, it must send accounts and returns at least every six months and keep them in the UK. Those documents must disclose the financial position of the company and enable the directors to prepare accounts that comply with the requirements of the Companies Act and the International Financial Reporting Standards.

Private companies must keep accounting records for 3 years from the date of their making. Public companies must keep records for 6 years.

All UK companies are required to prepare annual accounts reflecting the financial position of the company and the results of its financial activities for the year.

Accounts must normally include:

  • a profit and loss account;
  • a balance sheet signed by a director on behalf of the board;
  • notes about the accounts;
  • group accounts (if applicable).

Accounts must also be accompanied by:

  • a director’s report signed by the secretary or director, including an analysis of activities (or a strategy report) if the UK company does not qualify as small;
  • an auditor’s report stating the name of the auditor, signed and dated by the auditor (unless the UK company is exempted from audit).

If a UK company is not eligible for exemption from audit (see below), then its accounts must be audited by an auditor and a corresponding report must be attached to the accounts.

Until the first general meeting of shareholders, the directors may themselves appoint an auditor. Thereafter, auditors are usually appointed by the shareholders’ meeting. The auditor must be a member of a recognized supervisory body and be authorized by that body to act as auditor.

To qualify for an audit exemption, a UK company must be either a dormant company or a small company during the financial year. To qualify as small, a company must meet two of the following conditions:

  • The annual turnover must not exceed GBP 10 200 000;
  • The balance sheet total must not exceed GBP 5 100 000;
  • The average number of employees must be no more than 50.
We recommend that you contact your consultant at GSL Law & Consulting for detailed advice on the preparation and filing of accounts and taxation of a UK company.

Fees[3]

Services
Fees (USD)
Company incorporation and administration
Total cost of incorporation (including preparation and provision of the company’s original constitutive documents and their apostilled copies, share issue documents, and company seal, not including compliance fee)
2 000
Subsequent annual maintenance (starting from the second year), including provision of registered office, but not including compliance fee or preparation of accounts
1 070
Nominee director (for 1 year)
705
Nominee shareholder (same individual as director; for 1 year)
530
Making of one apostilled Power of Attorney
from 670
Certificate of Good Standing
245 (original)
740 (apostilled original)
Certificate of Incumbency
245 (original)
740 (apostilled original)
Obtaining a duplicate Certificate of Incorporation from Companies House
215
Obtaining a certified copy of Memorandum & Articles of Association from Companies House
280
Apostille of a document
705
Urgent apostille of a document
870
Changing the company’s name (includes preparation of documents and obtaining the original Certificate of Name Change)
from 485
Amending the company’s Articles of Association
from 485
Preparing documents to change the director
470
Preparing documents to change the shareholder (not including PSC register filing)
960
Preparing documents to change the LLP members (includes preparation of a new Limited Liability Partnership Agreement, but not PSC register filing)
940
PSC register filing
210
Courier delivery of documents from London
280
Postal service (12 months)[4]
670
Preparing and filing dormant accounts
1 250
Preparing and filing non-dormant accounts
100 – 400 / hour
(depending on time spent)
Compliance fee
Payable in the cases of:
- incorporation of a company,
- renewal of a company,
- liquidation of a company,
- transfer out of a company,
- issue of a power of attorney to a new attorney,
- change of director / shareholder / beneficial owner, except the change to a nominee director / shareholder,
- signing of documents.
350 (standard rate, includes the check of 1 individual)
+ 150 for each additional individual (director, shareholder, or beneficial owner) or legal entity (director or shareholder) if such legal entity is administered by GSL
+ 200 for each additional legal entity (director or shareholder) if such legal entity is not administered by GSL
450 (rate for high-risk companies, includes the check of 1 individual)
100 (signing of documents)

[1] Companies House can reject any name that it considers inappropriate or that coincides with or is similar to the names of existing companies.

[2] The Registered Agent / Compliance Officer has the right to request other documents and information for the persons in the company structure.

[3] The fees are valid as of July 2024.

[4] With postal address in London.

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USD 2 000
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