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United Kingdom

Set up a UK private limited company (Ltd) with £1 minimum capital and no resident-director requirement. A credible, low-cost European entity that investors and banks already understand.

EU/UK-facing SaaSFintechHolding companiesLow-cost European entityFast incorporation
Corporate tax
  • 25% main rate
  • 19% small-profits rate (subject to conditions)
Headline rate · re-verify annually
Setup time~48 hours via Companies HouseGov. filing via licensed partner
Is it right for you?

United Kingdom fits if…

The clearest signal you’re in the right jurisdiction - or that another one deserves a look.

01

You're building EU/UK-facing SaaS or fintech

A UK Ltd is a structure your customers, partners, and processors already trust. It pairs well with UK and EU banking rails and a deep talent pool, so you can sell and hire without explaining your entity first.

02

You want a credible European entity, fast and cheap

With £1 minimum capital, no resident-director rule, and incorporation in about 48 hours, you get a recognised European company without a big upfront commitment or local presence.

03

You need a clean holding company

The UK is a well-understood jurisdiction for holding structures, with an extensive treaty network and corporate norms that investors and acquirers read without friction.

Compare

How United Kingdom stacks up.

The jurisdictions founders weigh against United Kingdom, side by side - tax, speed and all-in cost at a glance.

You’re viewing
United KingdomEurope
Corporate tax
  • 25% main rate
  • 19% small-profits rate (subject to conditions)
Setup time
~48 hours via Companies House
From
From £936
Current jurisdiction
Ireland

12.5% trading rate plus EU passporting if you need an in-the-bloc base for regulated or EU-sales activity.

View Ireland
EstoniaEurope
Corporate tax
  • 0% on retained/reinvested profits
  • 22% on distribution (2025)
Setup time
~2 days, fully online via e-Residency
From
From €1,678

Fully digital incorporation and e-Residency for remote founders who never want to set foot in an office.

View Estonia
SingaporeAsia
Corporate tax
  • 17% headline
  • ~8.25% effective on first S$200k via partial exemption
Setup time
About 10 days
From
From S$5,234 (~$4,130 USD, excl. 9% GST)

Better fit if your customers, team, or fundraising centre on APAC rather than Europe.

View Singapore
The operating reality

Tax, structure & compliance - the facts you’ll be asked about.

Corporation tax (main rate)25% on profits over £250k
Corporation tax (small-profits rate)19% on profits under £50k
Marginal reliefTapered rate between £50k and £250k
VAT20% standard rate
VAT registration threshold£90k taxable turnover
Tax authorityHM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Build your package

Take the full bundle - or just what you need.

Select the complete formation bundle, or mix and match individual services in United Kingdom. One checkout, one invoice.

Complete bundle
From £936
Year 1, all-in
One invoice · one partner

What’s included

  • UK Ltd incorporation via Companies House
  • Registered office address
  • Standard articles and share issuance
  • Companies House filing fees
  • Bank account introductions (Wise, Revolut, Tide, or high-street)
  • First-year confirmation statement support
Or add individual services à la carte

Compliance & filings

Tax & payroll

Banking & substance

How it works

From signed engagement to operating company.

A licensed local partner runs each step. You sign once and watch it progress.

01
Day 1

Onboarding & KYC

  • Choose company name and confirm availability
  • Collect director and shareholder ID for verification
  • Set share structure and registered office
02
~48 hours

Incorporation

  • File with Companies House
  • Receive certificate of incorporation
  • Set up statutory registers and articles
03
Days 3-10

Banking & tax setup

  • Bank account introductions (Wise, Revolut, Tide, or high-street)
  • Register for corporation tax with HMRC
  • VAT and PAYE registration if needed
FAQ

What founders ask before incorporating in United Kingdom.

Do I need to live in the UK or have a resident director?

No. The UK has no resident-director requirement, so you can incorporate and own a UK Ltd from anywhere. You'll need a UK registered office address, which CorpSec provides.

How fast can the company be set up?

Incorporation at Companies House typically takes about 48 hours once we have your name choice and verified ID. Banking and tax registrations follow over the next several days.

What corporation tax will my company actually pay?

The headline rates are 25% on profits over £250k and a small-profits rate of 19% under £50k, with marginal relief tapering between the two. Your effective rate depends on profit and conditions; we'd point you to HMRC and a tax adviser for specifics.

Can I really open a bank account as a non-resident?

We make introductions to providers like Wise, Revolut, Tide, and high-street banks. These are introductions, not guaranteed accounts, but a UK Ltd is well understood by these providers, which helps.

Will investors be comfortable with a UK company?

Yes. The UK Ltd is a familiar structure for VCs and angels, with established precedent for equity rounds, options, and SAFE-style instruments, so you spend less time explaining the entity in diligence.

When do I have to register for VAT?

VAT registration becomes mandatory once taxable turnover passes £90k in a rolling 12-month period. The standard VAT rate is 20%. You can also register voluntarily earlier if it suits your business.

Let’s get your United Kingdom company Build your package filed, banked and fully compliant.

A licensed local team handles every step. Talk to a specialist

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