save on the COmpanies house registration Fee
Save Companies House Fee (£50) By Choosing A Business Account That Pays Some Or All Of The Government Fee For You.
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- Check if your company name is available and apply in minutes.
- Receive your certificate of incorporation and be set up within one business day.
- Get a free business bank account with your registration.
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Monthly Fee
Free -
Free Banking Duration
Ongoing -
Bank Transfers
20p -
Overdraft
-
Interest
4.07% AER
Product Features
- Create and send invoices for free
- Multi-business – hold up to 5 business accounts
- Automated 30-day cash flow forecasts
Eligibility Criteria
- For registered business account: you must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership
- For sole trader account: you must be a UK based sole trader/freelancer
- For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
- Hassle-free company registration and free business account
- Anna can support with Virtual offices, mail forwarding & confirmation statement filing
- Registration of your company as an employer with HMRC upon your request
- You can also open an ANNA business account with multiple directors simultaneously.
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Monthly Fee
Free -
Free Banking Duration
Ongoing -
Bank Transfers
From 20p- Domestic: 20p per bank transfer
- International: £5 per SWIFT transaction (+1% currency conversion fee)
- Free direct debits
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Overdraft
-
Interest
None
Product Features
- 1 debit card included (£3 per extra card) – 1% cashback on selected categories
- Personal payment link for accepting payments online (1% commission)
- Instant invoice generator and savings pots facility (fees apply)
- Landlords / property investors get a free 12 month subscription to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)
- FastTrack to Credit – Boost your credit score and get access to credit after 3 months activity
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
- Business must be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
- Not available to charities
Alternatively Register Direct With Companies House
Register directly with Companies House for £50
Register a company and save in 3 simple steps
It’s a legal requirement for Ltd companies to have a business bank account.
Step One
Compare Offers
Compare business bank providers that offer Companies House registration with a business bank account.
Step Two
Select & Save
Select a provider below that will register your business for LESS than the Companies House fee
Step Three
Get Incorporated
Receive your limited company certificate of incorporation AND your business bank account, often within 24 hours.
Register Your Business With Companies House For Less!
As a business owner in the UK, understanding what Companies House is important. Perhaps you are just starting out, or moving from a sole trader status to a limited company set up, either way, you will need to register your business at Companies House. It serves as the official register for UK companies and from May 2024 the registration fee was set at £50 (from £12). This is company formation, and it is also a legal requirement is to hold a separate business account for your finances
Anew service has emerged from some of the UK business bank account providers. They will register your business at Companies House, for less than the Companies House fee, and set up your business account. Their hope is, by helping you early in your business journey by saving you money, you will become a longer term business customer. So it makes great sense to explore these offers before registering your business.
It’s All In The Name
First up is your business name. You will need to check that this is available for you to use and not registered to another UK business. This service is available via either the business account provider you have chosen to help you register your business, or you can do this yourself via the government website here. Some of the business account providers that offer company formation services, can also help with generating alternative business names, if the one you want is already taken.
Which Business Account Do I Need?
Business bank account providers who offer company formation services, also offer a range of accounts for you to choose from. These start from free basic accounts to more complex offerings that may charge monthly fee’s. These might work out more cost effective depending on the sort of business you run and the type of transactions you will put through your business account, so explore options based on your business set up and needs. There will usually be a number of add on services and features to these business accounts that might appeal, such as accounting software, invoice generators and admin services.
What Company Formation Service should I pick?
The basic company formation service offered by the business account providers will get you up and running, and for now that might be all you need. However, each usually brings to the table a range of potentially helpful additional services. These will vary between the different providers but you can expect to see features such as virtual office addresses, confirmation statement filing & VAT registration. Make sure you work out if you really need this extra help and if the cost is right for you at this stage of your business set up.
How do I get Started?
With key information decided, pick the business bank account company formation service from the list above. To get started you will need an address for your business, business description details and director/shareholder details such as nationality, date of birth and ID. You can add additional directors at a later date with Companies House if needed.
You can have your company formation certificate in as little as one day!
Other information:
Sole Trader or Limited Company?
If you are not sure if you need to register your business it may help to understand the key differences between being a sole trader or a limited company. The main difference is, if you are a sole trader you are one legal entity. If you set up as a limited company, the business will separate and become a legal entity away from the director(s) and shareholder(s). There are a number of reasons you may take this step and the best set up for your business will depend on a few factors (such as size) and it will determine how your business must operate going forward, for example, how you pay tax.
Being a sole trader is a more simplistic set up, in both how you file your taxes with HMRC and your accounting. However, you are also personally responsible for any liabilities, debts or litigation. Whilst your business finances are completely private, this may well limit your growth in attracting both new business or investors. Profits, pensions and taxes are all more geared towards personal set ups and therefore tax advantages cannot be explored.
As you might expect, being a limited company flips things the other way. You gain a number of tax advantages, and can explore ways to make these work best for your business, especially with the help of an accountant or business advisor. Being registered also means your business can be assessed by potential customers and partners, you protect your business name and can sell or allocate shares. These benefits are set against a more complex background of financial and tax management.
The right choice is very much based on your business set up and longer term needs. Remember, you can change your mind! If you choose an options that does not work for you, you are able to move between the two set ups (fee’s may apply) so nothing is set in stone.
More About Companies House
Companies House is the UK’s official company registry, and it makes information accessible to the public and various stakeholders. This includes investors, creditors, and customers, who can verify a company’s legal status, ownership, and financial health. By promoting transparency and accountability, Companies House allows stakeholders to gain insights into a company’s operations and performance. The financial information contained in Companies House helps facilitate investments, inform decision-making, enable business transactions, and hold company directors accountable for their actions.
If you’re considering setting up a limited company and becoming a director, it’s important to grasp the associated duties and responsibilities. Some of the main ones are:
- Filing annual accounts with Companies House each year (trading or not).
- File any changes to your company, such as updates to the registered office, changes in directors, or details about people with significant control (PSC’s).
- Submit a Confirmation Statement to Companies House each year. This serves as a snapshot of your company’s information, confirming that the details on record are accurate and up-to-date.
Filing your documents on time is vital for several reasons. It demonstrates your commitment to transparency and compliance with legal obligations and enhances your company’s credibility with stakeholders, customers, and investors. Missing filing deadlines can negatively impact your credit score. This can be particularly detrimental if you’re seeking loans or other forms of credit.
To learn more about your role as a company director and your responsibilities, visit the Companies House website for additional resources.
About This Information
Our articles, guides & reviews are provided as generic information only. Any expressed view, product or service mentioned within these does not constitute as financial advice or recommendation by us.
Be mindful that information may have changed since publication.