How to Register a UK Company in 2026: Costs

How to Register a UK Company in 2026: Costs, Steps and Timeline

If you're planning to register a UK company, the two questions you probably want answered first are: how much will it cost, and how long will it take? In 2026, both answers changed. This guide breaks down the exact fees, the current timeline, and what's different from last year, so you know precisely what to budget and when to expect your certificate of incorporation.

How Much Does It Cost to Register a UK Company in 2026?

There's one statutory fee, paid directly to Companies House, and it depends on how you file.

Online Filing Fee

The standard route costs £100. This is the fee almost every founder should use — it's the cheapest option and the fastest turnaround. It doubled from £50 on 1 February 2026.

Same-Day Filing Fee

If you need your company registered urgently, same-day filing costs £156. This option is only available through approved filing software, which is why it's mostly used by formation agents rather than individuals filing directly.

Paper Filing Fee

Filing Form IN01 by post costs £124 — more expensive and slower than filing online, so it's worth avoiding unless you have a specific reason you can't file digitally.

How Long Does It Take?

• Online filing: usually approved within 24 hours
• Same-day filing: approved the same working day, if submitted before 3pm
• Paper filing: 8–10 working days

The fee that applies is the one in force on the date your application is processed, not the date you submit it — so leave a buffer if you're filing close to a fee-change date.

What's Changed in 2026

Two changes explain both the new price tag and the extra step in the process.

Mandatory Identity Verification

Since 18 November 2025, every director and every person with significant control (PSC) must verify their identity before a company can be incorporated. This is done either directly through Companies House via GOV.UK One Login, or through an authorised agent. It's a legal requirement introduced under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, and applications without it simply won't be accepted.

Higher Companies House Fees

The registration fee rose from £50 to £100 on 1 February 2026. Companies House has said the additional revenue funds its new powers to check filed information and verify identities — so the higher fee and the new verification step are directly connected.

How to Register a UK Company: The Full Process

1. Choose your company type and check your name is available
2. Verify the identity of all directors and PSCs
3. Set your registered office address and registered email address
4. Appoint directors and shareholders, and decide your share structure
5. Assign a SIC code for your business activity
6. File Form IN01 with Companies House
7. Receive your certificate of incorporation

DIY vs Using a Formation Agent

Filing directly with Companies House costs only the statutory fee, but you're responsible for getting every field right yourself. A formation agent typically bundles the £100 fee into a package that also includes a registered office address, help completing identity verification, and support with your first filings — often worth the extra cost if this is your first time registering a company or you don't have a UK address to use.

Common Mistakes That Delay Registration

• Filing before completing identity verification for every director and PSC
• Using a registered office address that isn't a genuine "appropriate address"
• Choosing a company name too similar to an existing one
• Missing or mismatched details between the application and supporting documents

Final Checklist Before You File

• Company name checked and available
• Identity verification completed for all directors and PSCs
• Registered office address and registered email address ready
• Directors, shareholders and share structure confirmed
• SIC code selected
• £100 filing fee ready to pay

Get these right, and there's no reason your application shouldn't be approved within 24 hours.