UK company formation
A UK Ltd company is the cheapest reputable formation globally. Companies House charges £12 to file; the entire process is completed online in under 24 hours; the UK Ltd has a globally recognized brand and EU + US banking acceptance. The catch is that Companies House operates a fully public UBO register. Every beneficial owner with 25%+ control is published on a publicly searchable database. For founders who don't care about public disclosure, UK Ltd is the most efficient formation on the platform.
- Tier
- REPUTABLE
- Formation
- 1 business days
- Apostille
- Supported
- UBO register
- Public
- EU list
- Off both EU lists
- FATF list
- Off the FATF lists
Figures verified February 2026 · Sources: EU Annex I/II and FATF list status, detailed in Plain talk below.
Can a non-resident form a United Kingdom company?
Yes. A non-resident can form a United Kingdom entity. United Kingdom is a REPUTABLE jurisdiction. It onboards at a bank without the reflexive offshore-flag conversation. Formation is $149 all-in / ₿0.00187186 / 187,186 sats, paid in Bitcoin or USDT, and takes 1 business days.
- Tier
- REPUTABLE
- From price
- $149 all-in
- Formation time
- 1 business days
- EU / FATF status
- off both EU lists, off the FATF lists
- Public UBO register
- Yes
- Apostille
- Supported
What makes United Kingdom different
- £12 Companies House filing fee + ~$135 total OffshoreGuy service = the cheapest reputable formation on the planet.
- 1-day formation: Companies House processes filings within 24 hours.
- Globally recognized brand: UK Ltd companies bank everywhere.
- Easy EU and US banking acceptance.
What you are actually buying with United Kingdom
REPUTABLE means institution-grade acceptance. A compliance desk onboards this entity without the reflexive enhanced-due-diligence conversation an offshore flag triggers.
UK Ltds bank well almost everywhere. The main constraint is director residency. Some UK banks require a UK-resident director. See the Banking page for named rails.
Companies House publishes UBO information. If you're privacy-sensitive, this disqualifies UK Ltd immediately.
UK corporate tax (25% standard rate as of 2026) applies to UK profits. The UK Ltd is not a tax-minimization structure.
What we collect, and what United Kingdom filing requires
- Email, country of residence, intended use statement
- OFAC + EU + UN sanctions screen
- Companies House requires PSC (Person with Significant Control) disclosure: published publicly
- Director and secretary information: published
The honest note: This is the trade-off. UK Ltd offers cheap, fast formation but the price is public disclosure of beneficial ownership. If you care about anonymity, pick Wyoming or NM instead.
Where United Kingdom entities bank
UK Ltds bank well almost everywhere. The main constraint is director residency. Some UK banks require a UK-resident director. See the Banking page for named rails.
Full banking rankingWhen this jurisdiction is right (and wrong)
If you don't need anonymity and you want the cheapest reputable formation globally, UK Ltd is the answer. The total Year-1 cost is under $200 including our service fee.
If you're a non-EU founder selling into the UK or EU and want a UK-domiciled invoicing entity, UK Ltd is the natural choice. VAT registration is straightforward.
If you need a UK Ltd specifically for HMRC purposes, e.g., to access UK tax credits, to operate as a UK employer of record, to take UK government contracts, UK Ltd is the only path.
Companies House publishes UBO information. If you're privacy-sensitive, this disqualifies UK Ltd immediately.
UK corporate tax (25% standard rate as of 2026) applies to UK profits. The UK Ltd is not a tax-minimization structure.
Some UK banks require a UK-resident director. If all your directors are non-UK, expect more friction during account opening.
Common United Kingdom questions
Will my name appear on Companies House?
Yes if you hold 25%+ control (Person with Significant Control rules) or are a director. Companies House is fully public and searchable.
Do I need a UK-resident director?
Not for company formation. Some UK banks require one for account opening; that's a separate question.
What's the total Year-1 cost?
$149 covers the £12 Companies House fee, the formation licensed agent service, and our service fee. Year-2 onward is $99/yr for confirmation statement filing.
Can I form a UK Ltd in Bitcoin?
Yes via OffshoreGuy. Companies House itself requires fiat. We pay the £12 from our operating account; you settle the bundled invoice in BTC, Lightning, or USDT via BitSettle.
How does UK Ltd compare to Estonia OÜ?
UK is cheaper to form and bank, but offers no e-residency / digital-nomad framework. Estonia is the better digital-nomad fit; UK is the better straight commercial entity.