Forming a UK limited company is one of the cheapest ways in the world to get a real, credible business up and running. But the prices you see online are all over the place, from “free” to a couple of hundred pounds, and it is hard to tell what you actually need to pay. The truth is simpler than it looks: there is one official fee, and everything else is optional.
This guide breaks down the genuine cheapest way to form a UK LTD company in 2026, what the real costs are after the recent fee changes, and where the “free” and “£2.99” offers quietly add money back on. We will keep it plain and use simple examples.
The cheapest way to form a UK LTD company in 2026 is to register directly with Companies House online for £100. That single government fee is the only payment legally required to incorporate. Formation agents can be cheaper at the till when they absorb the fee as a loss-leader, but always check what is bundled, and what renews later. Filing it yourself, directly, is the true floor price.
- Key terms explained simply
- The real cost to form a UK LTD in 2026
- The genuine cheapest route
- Why “free” formations are not free
- When a formation agent is worth it
- Hidden and ongoing costs to expect
- How to form your company, step by step
- If you are not a UK resident
- Money mistakes to avoid
- Frequently asked questions
Key Terms Explained Simply
Before the numbers, here are the words you will keep running into. Learn these five and the rest of the guide reads easily.
Key Takeaways
- The only fee legally required to form a UK LTD is the Companies House online charge of £100 (up from £50 on 1 February 2026).
- Registering directly at Companies House is the true cheapest route. No package is required.
- “Free” and “£2.99” formations usually recover the cost through paid add-ons or renewals; read what is bundled.
- A formation agent is worth paying when you need a registered office address, privacy, or a bank referral.
- Budget for the yearly confirmation statement (£50) as an ongoing cost. Filing your accounts is free.
- Identity verification is now mandatory for directors, so build that step into your plan.
The Real Cost to Form a UK LTD in 2026
Let us start with the number that matters. The only fee the government requires to incorporate a company is the Companies House registration fee. As of 1 February 2026, that fee changed, so a lot of older guides now quote the wrong price.
| How you file | Companies House fee (2026) | Speed |
|---|---|---|
| Online (digital) | £100 | Usually within 24 hours |
| Same-day (software) | £156 | Same working day if filed early |
| Paper (post) | £124 | 8 to 10 days |
For almost everyone, the online route at £100 is the right choice: cheapest and fast. The online fee doubled from £50 to £100 on 1 February 2026, part of funding new anti-fraud measures at Companies House, confirmed on the official Companies House pages. Paper is slower and costs more, and same-day only matters if you are in a genuine rush.
The increase is not a random price hike. It funds stronger checks at Companies House under new rules, including mandatory identity verification for directors. In practice, this means a cleaner, more trusted company register, and one extra ID step when you form.
The Genuine Cheapest Route
Here is the honest answer to “what is the cheapest way.” Register your company yourself, directly on the government’s own website, and pay the single £100 fee. Nothing else is required to have a fully legal, working limited company.
You do not need a package. You do not need to pay anyone to do it. The government’s service walks you through it, and you choose your company name, your director, your shareholders, and your registered address as you go. For a straightforward single-owner company, most people finish the form in under an hour.
Priya wants to start an online wholesale business. She goes to the official Companies House service, enters her details, pays £100, and by the next morning she has a registered UK limited company with its own company number. Total spend: £100. She skipped every add-on because she used her own home address and set up her own free business bank account separately.
That is the floor. If your situation is simple and you are a UK resident happy to use your own address, £100 all-in is achievable. Everything above that price is you paying for convenience or privacy, which is fine, as long as you know that is what you are buying.
Why “Free” Formations Are Not Free
You will see formation agents advertising company setup for “free,” “£2.99,” or some other tiny number. It sounds cheaper than going direct. Usually it is not, once you look closely.
The £100 Companies House fee is fixed. No agent can waive it, because it goes to the government, not them. So when an agent advertises a price below £100, one of a few things is happening:
- The fee is added at checkout. The headline “£2.99” is the agent’s service, and the £100 gets added on the next screen.
- It is a loss-leader tied to something paid. “Free” formation often requires you to open a specific business bank account, or comes with a registered address that renews at a yearly fee.
- Cheap now, pricey later. The first year is discounted, then services auto-renew at full price. Read the renewal terms carefully.
A “free” or near-free formation is not a scam, it is a marketing offer with a catch. The catch is usually a renewing service or a required bank signup. Always find the total first-year cost and what renews, not just the headline price. Sometimes the bundle is genuinely good value. Sometimes going direct for £100 is cheaper overall.
When a Formation Agent Is Worth It
Going direct is cheapest, but a formation agent can still be worth the money in specific cases. Paying a little more is sensible when you get something you genuinely need.
| You might want an agent if… | Because |
|---|---|
| You do not want your home address public | Agents offer a registered office address so your home stays off the public register |
| You are not a UK resident | Agents provide a required UK registered address and handle the paperwork |
| You want a bank account set up alongside | Many bundle a business bank referral into the process |
| You want mail handling and reminders | Packages often include filing reminders and mail forwarding |
| You just want it done for you | Convenience has a value; some people happily pay for a hands-off setup |
The key is to pay an agent for a real benefit, like a registered address you actually need, not just to do the £100 filing you could do yourself in an hour. Privacy is the most common genuine reason, because your registered office address appears on the public record.
Hidden and Ongoing Costs to Expect
Forming the company is a one-off cost. Running it has a few small ongoing ones. None are large, but knowing them upfront stops surprises.
| Cost | Roughly | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Companies House incorporation | £100 | One-off, at formation |
| Confirmation statement | £50 | Every year |
| Filing annual accounts | Free | Every year (the filing itself is free) |
| Registered office address (if you buy one) | Varies | Yearly, optional |
| Accountant (if you use one) | Varies | Monthly or yearly, optional |
| Business bank account | Often free | Many have no monthly fee |
So the true minimum to keep a company running is small: the yearly confirmation statement at £50. Filing your accounts is free. Everything else, an address, an accountant, is optional and depends on how much help you want.
The Simple Maths
Cheapest possible year one: £100 to form, plus £50 for the confirmation statement when it is due, so about £150 in government fees for your first year, if you do everything yourself and use your own address. Anything above that is convenience you are choosing to buy.
How to Form Your Company, Step by Step
The direct route is genuinely simple. Here is the whole process from start to finish.
If You Are Not a UK Resident
Good news: you do not have to live in the UK to own a UK limited company. Non-residents form UK companies all the time, and the UK is one of the easiest and cheapest places in the world to do it. The £100 fee is the same for you.
There are two practical differences. First, you still need a UK registered office address, so most non-residents use a formation agent’s address service for this. Second, opening a business bank account as a non-resident takes more care, and is often the trickiest step. We cover both in detail in our guides to setting up as a non-resident, and you can find UK-ready suppliers in our directory of wholesale distributors in the UK.
If you are weighing up whether a company is even the right structure, or how VAT fits in once you start selling, see our guide on whether you need VAT to sell wholesale on Amazon UK. It pairs naturally with forming your company.
Money Mistakes to Avoid
Most people overpay to form a company not because it is expensive, but because of a few avoidable traps. Skip these and you pay the true lowest price.
| The mistake | Why it costs you | Do this instead |
|---|---|---|
| Assuming “free” means free | Fee added at checkout or via renewals | Find the total first-year cost before buying |
| Buying add-ons you do not need | Padded packages inflate a £100 job | Start with just the formation; add services later if needed |
| Paying for same-day when you are not in a rush | £156 vs £100 for speed you do not need | Use the standard online route |
| Following an old guide with the wrong fee | Prices changed on 1 February 2026 | Use the 2026 figures: £100 online |
| Forgetting the yearly confirmation statement | A missed filing risks penalties | Diary the £50 confirmation statement each year |
| Paying a service for your free EIN-style tasks | Some filings are free at source | Do the free government steps yourself |
The Practical Takeaway
The cheapest way to form a UK LTD company in 2026 is to register directly with Companies House online for £100, using your own address if you are a UK resident. Skip the packages unless you need a registered address, privacy, or non-resident support. Budget £50 a year for the confirmation statement, and ignore any guide still quoting the old £50 formation fee. Do that, and you have paid the genuine lowest price for a real, credible business.
Once your company is formed, the next step is stock. You can browse verified wholesalers by category and location in the WholesaleSeeker directory, or if you plan to supply other businesses, you can list your own business and reach buyers searching for wholesale partners.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to form a UK limited company in 2026?
Register directly with Companies House online and pay the single £100 fee. That is the only payment legally required. Formation agents can sometimes appear cheaper by absorbing the fee, but check what is bundled and what renews later. For a UK resident using their own address, £100 all-in is achievable.
How much does it cost to register a company with Companies House?
As of 1 February 2026, it costs £100 to register online, £156 for same-day (software) filing, and £124 by paper. The online £100 route is cheapest and usually completes within 24 hours. The fee doubled from £50 on 1 February 2026.
Are “free” company formations really free?
Not usually. The £100 Companies House fee is fixed and cannot be waived, so a “free” or “£2.99” offer typically adds the fee at checkout, requires you to open a specific bank account, or includes a service that renews at a yearly fee. Always check the total first-year cost and renewal terms.
Do I need a formation agent, or can I do it myself?
You can do it yourself directly on the government website, which is the cheapest route. A formation agent is worth paying only if you need something specific, like a registered office address for privacy, non-resident support, or a bundled bank referral. For a simple UK-resident setup, doing it yourself is easy.
What are the ongoing costs after forming a company?
The main ongoing cost is the annual confirmation statement, which is £50 a year. Filing your annual accounts is free. Optional costs include a registered office address and an accountant. A business bank account is often free. So the true minimum to keep a company running is about £50 a year.
Can a non-UK resident form a UK limited company?
Yes. You do not need to live in the UK to own a UK company, and the £100 fee is the same. You will need a UK registered office address, which most non-residents get through a formation agent, and opening a business bank account takes more care as a non-resident.
How long does it take to form a UK company?
Online registration is usually completed within 24 hours. Same-day filing (£156) can be done the same working day if submitted early. Paper filing is slower, taking around 8 to 10 days. For most people, the standard online route is both cheapest and fast enough.
This guide explains costs and steps in plain language to help you plan. It is not legal or tax advice, and fees can change. Always check the current figures on the official gov.uk and Companies House pages, or speak with a qualified accountant, before you register.
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