What Information Do You Need to Register a UK Company?

Starting a business in Britain is exhilarating but many founders muddle through the same point, what exactly is needed to register a UK company? The silver lining is that the process is pretty standardized. When you have the proper information prepared ahead of time, registering is a breeze and far less daunting. Generally, you register through Companies House and typically, as long as the company is not dormant you will be registered for Corporation Tax at the same time. You may also need a Companies House personal code, after identity verification, depending on your circumstances.

This guide covers UK company registration requirements in simple terms, should you be about to start your next business venture. It goes into the depth founders, freelancers, international applicants and small business owners typically want to know before sending the application in. Instead of having to correct mistakes later, you can construct a proper checklist initially.

Why this matters before you apply

Registering as a UK company is more than just choosing a name and paying a fee. You are required to supply vital information on what the company is, how it’s structured, who runs it, its official contact details and business activity. Companies House also provides some of that information on the public register, so getting it right really does matter from day one. Get details on Company Registration Service.

1. Company name

The very first requirement is your company name. It has to comply with UK naming rules and must not be identical to an existing registered name. The words we speak may be sensitive or restricted at certain times, meaning if you want to use them then extra evidence or approval could be necessary. These rules for companies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are set out in Companies House guidance on incorporation and names.

A strong company name should be:

• easy to remember
• legally acceptable
• relevant to your business activity
• suitable for branding, domain names, and future growth

Quick Table: Main Information Needed to Register a UK Company

Requirement	What you need to prepare	Why it matters
Company name	Proposed legal name	Must meet name rules and avoid restricted use
Registered office address	Official UK address for the company	Used for formal company correspondence
Registered email address	Active company email	Required for Companies House contact
Director details	Full name, service address, residential address, nationality, occupation	Needed to identify officers
Shareholder details	Names and share allocation	Shows company ownership
PSC details	People with significant control	Legal transparency requirement
SIC code	Nature of business code	Describes what the company does
Articles & memorandum	Company constitution documents	Required for incorporation
Statement of capital	Share structure and value	Required for companies limited by shares

2. Registered office address

You must provide a registered office address when forming the company. This is the company’s official legal address. It receives formal letters from Companies House, HMRC, and other authorities. You must also provide a registered email address, and while the email address is required, it is not published on the public register.

For many small businesses, this is where early confusion starts. Your registered office does not always need to be the same as your trading address, but it must meet Companies House rules for the part of the UK where the company is registered.

3. Director information

Every private limited company must have at least one director. When registering, you need director details such as:

• full name
• nationality
• occupation
• date of birth
• service address
• usual residential address

Companies House requires directors to provide both a correspondence address and a home address. The correspondence or service address appears on the public register, while the usual residential address is kept on a private register and is only available to certain public authorities.

That is why founders should think carefully before using a home address as a public service address. It can be done, yes, but it is not always the best privacy choice.

4. Shareholder information and share structure

If you are registering a private limited company by shares, you must supply shareholder information and the company’s statement of capital. This includes who owns the shares, how many shares are issued, and the value of those shares. Companies House lists the statement of capital as one of the core documents or details needed when registering a company.

Simple Example of Share Setup

Shareholder	Number of shares	Percentage owned
Founder A	70	70%
Founder B	30	30%

This looks simple, and it often is. Still, the share split affects ownership, control, dividends, and future investment, so it should not be guessed in a hurry.

5. People with significant control (PSC)

You also need details of any person with significant control, often called a PSC. In simple terms, a PSC is someone who owns or controls the company, such as a person holding more than 25% of the shares or voting rights. Companies House requires companies to identify PSCs and report them.

This step is important because it supports transparency. If you ignore PSC rules, the issue can grow into a compliance problem later. So, even for a small family business or two-person startup, you should work this out clearly before filing. Looking for a Company Registration in London?

6. SIC code for your business activity

A SIC code is the code that describes what your company does. Companies House requires you to choose at least one SIC code when you register the company, and its condensed SIC list is the one used for filing. If the company has multiple activities, you can use up to four SIC codes.

Examples:

• software development
• online retail
• management consultancy
• construction services

Choosing the wrong code will not always destroy your application, but choosing the right one makes your record cleaner and more accurate.

7. Articles of association and memorandum

To incorporate a company, you need constitutional documents. These include:

• memorandum of association
• articles of association

The memorandum is the legal statement from the initial shareholders or guarantors agreeing to form the company. The articles are the written rules for running the company. Companies House also provides model articles that many standard private limited companies use.

For straightforward small businesses, the model articles often work well. However, where there are several founders, special voting rights, or investor arrangements, custom articles may be smarter.

8. Identity verification and personal code

Current Companies House guidance says you may need the Companies House personal code received after verifying your identity before you register the company. This is one of the newer compliance points many applicants overlook when they rely on old blog posts.

So, if you are preparing a fresh application, make sure you check identity verification requirements before submission. One missing verification step can slow the process down more than people expect.

9. Registration fee

There is also a filing fee. As of the current Companies House fee schedule, digital incorporation costs £100, while paper incorporation costs £124.

Fee Comparison Table

Method	Current fee
Online / digital incorporation	£100
Paper filing	£124

That is one reason many applicants choose the online route. It is simpler, quicker, and usually easier to track. Get details on Company Registration in USA.

10. Corporation Tax setup after incorporation

In many cases, when you register the company with Companies House, you will also be set up for Corporation Tax at the same time unless the company is dormant. If that does not happen, you must add Corporation Tax services to your business tax account. HMRC also says you must tell them within 3 months of starting your tax accounting period if the company is active and within the charge of Corporation Tax.

So yes, the only first step is registration. Once the company is incorporated, it also requires ongoing compliance.

11. Ongoing information you must keep up to date

Once the company is formed, you need to continue filing with Companies House in terms of annual accounts, confirmation statements and changes in directors/PSCs/registered office or share structure. Annual accounts to be filed for all companies — dormant or otherwise. Looking for a Company Registration in Bahrain?

Post-Registration Snapshot

Requirement	Typical duty
Annual accounts	Must be filed with Companies House
Confirmation statement	Confirms key company details
Corporation Tax return	Filed with HMRC if applicable
Changes to company records	Must be reported promptly

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Essential Information for UK Company Registration

If you have come here asking “what details do I need to register a UK company?, your question summarised is simply this: You require the corporate name of the company + registered office + registered email address of the business + all director details + all shareholder information + PSC information for shareholders if applicable. SIC code/codes & incorporation documents (mem %art). You have to also set your sights beyond registration and be ready for tax, and annual filing obligations.

When all of this is put together ahead-of-time, the registration process is much smoother. And frankly, that little bit of preparation will save a lot of back-and-forth later.

FAQs About Registering a UK Company