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Company Formation & Secretarial

Company registration, registered office services, confirmation statements, director changes, share allotments, and ongoing Companies House compliance.

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Written by Asrah Abbas, ACA / ACCA — Principal at Westfin Accountants Ltd
Chartered accountant with 12+ years of UK practice experience. Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
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In plain English

Company formation is the legal incorporation of a private limited company at Companies House under the Companies Act 2006. Westfin handles end-to-end setup: name check, registered office, director and shareholder structure, model articles, share class design, VAT and PAYE registration, and the first-year compliance calendar — typically live within 48 hours.

Key thresholds & rates (2026/27)

Specific numbers matter when planning. These are the figures we work with day-to-day, sourced from current HMRC and Companies House guidance.

  • Companies House standard incorporation fee: £50 (online)
  • First Confirmation Statement (CS01) due within 14 days of the first anniversary of incorporation
  • First Corporation Tax accounting period: starts when company becomes active, max 12 months
  • Identity Verification (post-March 2024 reforms): required for all directors and PSCs

Statutory references

We work to the published HMRC, Companies House and FRC guidance. The primary sources we cite when advising clients:

Worked example

Worked example — founder + investor 2-class share structure

A London founder bringing in a £150k angel investment wants a clean cap table. Westfin incorporates with Ordinary shares (founder, 100,000 shares £0.0001) and A-Ordinary shares (investor, ~12,500 shares £0.0001 with a £150,000 share premium). Bespoke articles cover drag-along, tag-along, pre-emption, and bad-leaver provisions. SEIS advance assurance obtained from HMRC. Total cost vs a corporate lawyer: ~70% lower.

What's Included

Limited company registration (same-day service)

Registered office address provision

Confirmation statements (annual returns)

Director and shareholder changes

Share capital and allotments

Dormant company accounts

Why Choose Our Company Formation & Secretarial

Fast company setup (same day)

Professional registered address

Companies House compliance

Limited liability protection

Tax-efficient structure

Ongoing support and reminders

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does it take to form a limited company?

We offer same-day company formation. Once we have your chosen name, director details, and shareholding structure, we can register your company with Companies House within hours.

Do I need a registered office address?

Yes, all UK companies must have a registered office address in the UK where official correspondence is sent. We provide a professional registered office service if you prefer not to use your home address.

What is a confirmation statement?

A confirmation statement (previously annual return) must be filed with Companies House every 12 months confirming company details are correct. We manage this filing to ensure you remain compliant.

Ready to Get Started?

Speak to our specialists about Company Formation & Secretarial