UK Company Registration Cost: What You Pay Once and What You Pay Every Year

The cost of registering a UK company has several parts, and only some of them are paid once. This guide lists what you pay for, so you can compare quotes properly. It gives no single figure, because government fees change and every provider prices differently. Check gov.uk for the current Companies House fee. Our own prices are on the UK company registration page.

What you pay once

• The Companies House fee. Set by the government and changed in recent years. Check the current amount on gov.uk.
• The service fee. What a formation provider charges to prepare and file the application and the company documents.
• Optional extras. Printed or certified documents, or a company seal, if you want them.

What you pay every year

• A registered office address. Often cheap or included in the first year, then a renewal price. See UK registered office address.
• The confirmation statement fee to Companies House.
• Accountant or bookkeeper fees for the annual accounts and tax return, if you use one.
• Corporation Tax on profits, and VAT if the company has to register.

How to compare quotes

1. Ask whether the Companies House fee is included or extra.
2. Ask what the registered office costs after the first year.
3. Ask whether VAT registration, if you need it, is included or separate.
4. Ask what is not covered, for example identity verification or the yearly filings.

Is a cheap quote cheap?

A low first price can hide a high renewal price or a list of extras. Add up the first year and the second year before you decide. For the full list of requirements, see documents required to register a UK company, and for the case for a UK company, the benefits of UK company registration. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.

Related guides and pages

• UK company registration for non-residents
• GOV.UK: set up a limited company
• Companies House
• Benefits of UK company registration for non-residents
• Documents required to register a UK company
• UK registered office address: what counts
• UK company vs US LLC for non-residents

Frequently asked questions

What is included in the Companies House fee?

It is the government fee to register the company. It changes from time to time, so check the current amount on gov.uk.

Are there costs after registration?

Yes. A confirmation statement fee each year, a registered office renewal, accountant fees if you use one, and Corporation Tax and VAT where they apply.

Is VAT registration included?

With most providers it is a separate service. VAT is only needed when the company's taxable turnover passes the threshold, or if you choose to register earlier.

Why do quotes differ so much?

Some include the government fee and the registered office, some do not, and some charge more at renewal. Ask for the list of what is included.

How can I compare quotes fairly?

Add up the first year and the second year for each, including the registered office, and ask what is not covered.