How to register a business in England: A step-by-step guide
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Business registration is the legal process of officially establishing your company as a recognised entity in England. It gives you the right to trade, open business accounts and enter into contracts under UK law.
Proper registration protects your business name, establishes your legal structure and ensures compliance with UK tax and regulatory requirements. Without registration, you can’t legally operate or claim business expenses – and you risk significant penalties from His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
If you’re unfamiliar with the UK registration process, this blog will help. With the right steps, your business can be fully registered and operational in a few days.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- Before you register your business: Choose the right business structure
- How to register your business in England
- How WorldFirst’s all-in-one multi-currency account can help newly registered businesses grow globally
Need to manage global payments for your newly registered business? Open your World Account for free today.
Before you register your business: Choose the right business structure
Your business structure will impact how you register your business, so let’s break down the main options so you can find the best fit.
- Sole trader: Best for freelancers, consultants and businesses with limited financial risk. No registration fees and minimal paperwork requirements. You keep all profits after tax, but remain personally liable for all business debts and legal issues.
- Limited company: Required as a minimum for most business ventures. This structure creates legal separation between you and the business and enables easier access to investment, business loans and international banking services. It’s a more complex tax structure, but it offers greater flexibility for profit distribution and international expansion.
- Business partnership: This structure permits two or more people to share profits, losses and decision-making responsibilities. It requires clear partnership agreements to avoid conflicts over profit sharing and business decisions. Each partner remains personally liable for business debts.
- Limited partnership: Involves general partners, who are fully liable for business debts, and limited partners, who are only liable up to their investment amount. Best for investment‑heavy businesses, where the limited partners provide funds and the general partners handle operations. Profits and losses are shared based on agreement.
- Limited liability partnership (LLP): Best for professional services like accountants, lawyers and consultants, as well as joint ventures and businesses where you need flexibility and protection. In an LLP, members are not personally liable for business debts. Profits are taxed individually like a business partnership rather than facing corporate tax rates. You’ll need at least two members and an LLP agreement.
- Overseas company: Best for foreign companies that plan to set up a place of business in the UK or regularly carry out business activities here. Registration helps them access UK markets, banking services and legal protections while keeping their international business structure. Note that some types of companies – like partnerships and unincorporated bodies – can’t register as overseas companies.
Determining your business structure is the first step to registering your business in England. Now, let’s get into what you will need to do next.
How to register your business in England: A step-by-step guide for each business type
You need to register your business with the right authority before you start trading in England. Here’s a straightforward guide for each type of business structure.
Registering as a sole trader
Being a sole trader is the simplest route for freelancers, consultants and small businesses. You’re required to register as a sole trader if you:
- Earn more than £1,000 in a tax year
- Need to prove you’re self-employed (to claim Tax-Free Childcare, for instance)
- Want to make voluntary Class 2 National Insurance contributions to help you qualify for benefits and State Pension
- Need to register as a subcontractor for the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) or as a share fisher
Here’s how to register as a sole trader:
- Choose a business name. You can trade under your own name or pick a different business name. Sole trader names must not include “limited,” ”Ltd,” “limited liability partnership,” “LLP,” “public limited company,” or “plc.” It must not be offensive or be too similar to another company’s trademarked name.
- Get a National Insurance Number. You’ll need this to register for Self Assessment. If you don’t have one, you can apply for a National Insurance number through the government website.
- Register for Self Assessment with HMRC. How you register will depend on your circumstances. HMRC provides a tool to determine the right registration method for your situation.
Registering a limited company
Limited companies offer more protection and credibility, but require more paperwork and ongoing responsibilities.
- Appoint company directors. You need at least one director to run the company. Directors are legally responsible for running the business and ensuring company accounts and reports are properly prepared. Directors must be 16 years of age or older. Directors’ names and personal information will be publicly available.
- Decide who the shareholders are. Shareholders are the legal owners who invest capital and receive a share of profits. A company limited by shares must have at least one shareholder, who can also be a director. If you’re the only shareholder, you’ll own 100% of the company. There’s no maximum number of shareholders.
- Identify people with significant control (PSC). You must identify anyone with significant control over your company, such as anyone with more than 25% of the shares or voting rights. This information becomes part of your public record.
- Choose a company name. Your name can’t be the same as or too similar to another registered company’s name, and it can’t be offensive. Your registered name must usually end in either “Limited” or “Ltd.”
- You can trade using a different name from your registered name. This is called your “business name” and must not include “limited,” ”Ltd,” “limited liability partnership,” “LLP,” “public limited company,” or “plc.” It also can’t contain a sensitive word or expression unless you get permission.
- Prepare your company documents. You’ll need several documents that set out how your company operates, including a memorandum of association, articles of association, statement of capital and statement of guarantee.
- Understand your record-keeping requirements. There must be a clear separation between the company’s finances and those of the owners and directors. You must keep records about the company itself, plus financial and accounting records
- Register your company with Companies House. You can register online, by post, using an agent or through third-party software. Online registration costs £50, while postal registration costs £71. You’ll be automatically set up for Corporation Tax and receive a certificate of incorporation once processed. For registration, you’ll need:
- An official company address
- Confirmation of your people with significant control (PSC)
- A chosen SIC code that identifies what your company does
- At least three pieces of personal information about yourself and your shareholders, such as town of birth, mother’s maiden name or telephone number
Registering a business partnership
Partnerships let two or more people share business ownership, profits and responsibilities. Here’s how to register a business partnership:
- Choose a business name. As with a sole trader, business partnership names can’t include terms that suggest it’s a limited company or any other business structure. It also can’t be offensive or the same as an existing trademark.
- Choose a nominated partner. The nominated partner is responsible for managing the partnership’s tax returns and keeping business records. This person becomes the main point of contact with HMRC.
- Register with HMRC. The nominated partner must register the business partnership for Self Assessment with HMRC, either online or by post. They’re responsible for sending the partnership tax return. Each individual partner must also send their own Self Assessment tax returns.
- Register for VAT (Value-Added Tax), if required. You must register for VAT if your VAT taxable turnover exceeds £90,000.
Registering a limited partnership
Limited partnerships bring together general partners and limited partners. To register, you’ll need to:
- Decide roles of partners. You need at least one general partner with unlimited liability and one limited partner, whose liability is limited to their investment amount.
- Choose a name. You can trade under your own names or choose a business name. You don’t need to register your name separately, but you must include all partners’ names and the business name on official paperwork like invoices and letters. Business names must not use wording that implies a different business structure or legal status, and they can’t be offensive or match an existing trademark.
- Get a registered physical address. This must be your main place of business. It will be publicly available.
- Register the LP with Companies House. Submit form LP5 by post along with the £71 fee. Companies House typically registers your limited partnership within five days of receiving your application.
Registering a limited liability partnership
LLPs offer flexibility and protection, combining elements of partnerships and limited companies.
- Create your LLP agreement. You need at least two designated members (individuals or companies). The LLP agreement sets out operational rules, including how profits are shared among members, who needs to agree on decisions, members’ responsibilities and how members can join or leave the LLP.
- Choose a name. Your name must end in “Limited Liability Partnership” or “LLP” and follow Companies House naming rules.
- Set up your registered office. You need a registered office address in the UK plus an email address.
- Register with Companies House. You can use third-party software or register by post. Online registration costs £50, same-day service costs £78 and postal registration costs £71. Paper applications typically take longer to process.
- Register for Self Assessment with HMRC. Each member must register individually for tax purposes.
Registering as an overseas company
The registration process is slightly different for overseas companies.
- Choose a UK business address. You need a UK address for registration purposes.
- Prepare registration documents. This includes a certified copy of the company’s constitution and latest accounting documents.
- Register with Companies House as an overseas company. Submit form OS IN01 within one month of opening for business and pay the £71 fee.
How WorldFirst’s all-in-one multi-currency account can help newly registered businesses grow globally
Once you’ve registered your business, you’ll need a business account if you don’t have one already.
While a standard business bank account works fine for local operations – and you may get away with a personal account if you’re a small sole trader – it often falls short once you start doing business internationally.
When your customers, suppliers or team members are based around the world, you have to deal with multiple currencies and cross-border payments. Traditional banks make this harder with high fees, slow transfers and limited global capabilities.
That’s where WorldFirst comes in. With our World Account, newly registered businesses can open a fully functional, multi-currency account online – immediately after registration. It’s designed to help you trade, pay and grow globally from day one without the friction of traditional banking systems.
Here’s how WorldFirst can help your new business go global from the start.
Immediate account access without traditional banking hassles
Most new entrepreneurs face delays and red tape when trying to open a business bank account with traditional banks. You typically need to schedule appointments, provide extensive documentation and wait weeks for approval. Many banks require local residency, proof of address and even personal guarantors.
With WorldFirst, you can open a World Account online within 24 hours of business registration, even as an international entrepreneur. There’s no need for residency requirements, local references or branch visits that traditional banks demand.
You get local account details in GBP immediately, plus instant access to 20+ other currencies as your business expands. This means you can start receiving payments in pounds while simultaneously preparing for international growth – all from the same platform.
The entire process happens online. Submit your business registration documents and personal ID, and you’ll be approved quickly without the bureaucracy that slows down traditional banking relationships.
Read more: UK online business bank accounts for non-residents: 4 top options
Built for international growth from day one
Many newly registered businesses plan to sell globally, but traditional banks limit this ambition with single-currency accounts and complex international transfer processes.
WorldFirst provides local receiving accounts in major markets, which eliminates the need to establish separate banking relationships in each country you want to do business. Instead of opening a US bank account to receive dollar payments or a European account for euros, you get local account details in 20+ currencies with one World Account.
Meanwhile, integrations with 130+ marketplaces mean you can start selling on Amazon, eBay, TikTok Shop or Etsy internationally immediately after registration. Your marketplace earnings flow directly into your World Account in the local currency, avoiding the delays and fees of traditional international transfers.
In short, there’s no need to manage multiple accounts across different banks and currencies to collect international business payments. You can get paid in USD from American customers, EUR from European clients and AUD from Australian buyers, and have them all flow into the same account dashboard where you can track, convert and manage your funds.
Read more: How to start selling on Amazon
Affordable global payments with no account fees and competitive FX rates
Startups often operate on tight budgets, and traditional banking fees can eat into early profits before you’ve even established steady revenue streams.
WorldFirst charges no setup fees or monthly fees and has no minimum balance requirements – a major advantage when you’re dealing with initial investment costs and uncertain cash flow. In contrast, traditional banks often have minimum balances or charge monthly maintenance fees.
With a World Account, you’ll also benefit from competitive FX rates with fees capped at 0.50% for major currencies. That’s significantly lower than traditional banks’ 2–4% markups. When you’re converting currencies regularly, these savings add up quickly and directly improve your profit margins.
Plus, free virtual World Cards can be used to pay expenses without additional costs, while earning cashback at the same time. You can issue up to 20 virtual cards for different expense categories or team members, and enjoy zero FX fees when paying in 15 major currencies from your WorldFirst account balance.
Read more: Cross-border business payments: Everything you need to know
Comprehensive business management tools simplify operations
As your business grows, financial admin can become a significant time drain, especially when you’re operating across multiple currencies and managing international suppliers or customers. With WorldFirst, you get one login that lets you manage currencies and stay on top of your cash flow.
Integration with Xero and NetSuite simplifies accounting and tax compliance. Your international transactions automatically sync with your software, eliminating manual data entry and reducing the risk of errors during tax preparation.
Real-time multi-currency reporting helps you track performance across different markets without switching between multiple banking platforms. You can see your USD sales performance alongside your GBP expenses and CNH supplier payments, giving you complete visibility over your global operations.
Finally, our batch payment feature makes payouts to global partners easier. Instead of processing individual international transfers through traditional banking systems, you can pay multiple recipients simultaneously and save valuable time.
Read more: The best way to pay Chinese suppliers: A guide for cross-border businesses
Go global from day one with WorldFirst
Registering your business in England is only the beginning. Once your company is legally established, the next step is setting up the right financial foundation to support your growth – especially if you plan to sell or source internationally.
With the World Account, newly registered businesses can access a fully functional multi-currency account within 24 hours, making it easy to collect payments, pay suppliers and manage funds across borders. You get local receiving account details in 20+ currencies without needing a local presence or residency in each country where you do business.
No long waits, no local residency requirements and no surprise banking fees. It’s the smart way to handle your global business finances.
Open your World Account for free and start growing your business globally from day one.
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