- The cheapest UK formation routes now start at around £103 all-in, including the £100 Companies House fee.
- LTD Companies covers the essentials cheaply, while Sleek manages formation, accounting and tax end to end.
- Companies House fees rose on 1 February 2026, making the all-in cost the figure that matters most.
The best company formation services in the UK for 2026 are LTD Companies for the cheapest essentials, and Sleek for a fully-managed end-to-end company formation service with all the bells and whistles.
Most essential routes start between £103 and £148 all-in, with the £100 Companies House fee included. For founders who want everything managed end to end, Sleek’s company formation service sits in a different category, which we cover separately below.
Also, as a note, the Companies House fee doubled on 1 February 2026, so the all-in cost now matters more than the headline price.
Best company formation services in the UK for 2026
The best service depends on whether you want the cheapest essentials, the fastest setup, or full ongoing support. There is no single winner, because these providers solve different problems.
So, here are our ranked picks for the essentials, with Sleek covered in its own section afterwards because it is a different type of service.
Rank | Provider | Best for | Entry price (all-in) |
1 | Cheapest essentials with a route to accounting | ~£103 (£2.99 +VAT + CH fee) | |
2 | 1st Formations | Polished pure formation product | ~£102.99 |
3 | Rapid Formations | Budget all-inclusive package | ~£103.59 |
4 | Tide | Setup bundled with free banking | ~£14.99 inc. CH fee |
Prices are the lowest publicly listed rates at the time of writing and can change, so verify before buying. Agent fees attract 20% VAT; the £100 Companies House fee does not.
How we compared them: the criteria
We judged each provider on the factors that actually affect founders, not just the sticker price. A cheap formation can become expensive once you add the services you genuinely need.
The criteria we used:
- All-in cost, including the Companies House fee and VAT on agent fees
- What is included as standard versus charged as an add-on
- Year-two renewal costs, where the real expense often hides
- Speed of incorporation and identity verification handling
- Whether a route to ongoing accounting and compliance exists
For a clear picture of the registration process itself before you compare providers, our step-by-step guide to registering a company walks through what Companies House requires.
The leading UK formation providers
The UK essentials market splits into dedicated formation agents and digital banks that form companies cheaply. Each suits a slightly different founder, and our top pick offers a clear route to grow into full support later.
- LTD Companies is our top pick for the essentials. Its Starter package begins at £2.99 +VAT plus the £100 Companies House fee, with Privacy at £19.99 +VAT and Privacy + Admin at £39.99 +VAT for added address protection and company secretarial support. What sets it apart is the option to add accounting later through the same provider, so you are not forced to find a separate accountant the moment you start trading. You can compare its full formation packages directly.
- 1st Formations is a strong pure formation product, with over a million companies formed and a high Trustpilot rating. Its Digital Package starts at roughly £102.99 all-in, with same-day processing as standard. It is well suited to a one-off setup where you do not need ongoing support.
- Rapid Formations is a close budget rival, with a Basic Package from around £103.59 and an All Inclusive package at roughly £147.99 that adds VAT, PAYE and a year of company secretarial support.
- Tide registers your company for around £14.99 including the Companies House fee, provided you open a Tide business account at the same time. It suits single-director, single-shareholder UK-resident companies that want banking and formation in one flow.
Always check the year-two renewal price, not just the year-one headline. Address and compliance services that are free in year one often renew at £100 or more annually.
Where Sleek fits: fully managed formation plus accounting
Sleek is deliberately not in the ranked list above, because it’s a different type of service. While the agents above register your company and step back, Sleek manages your business end to end from day one.
Sleek’s Essential Formation package is £245 +VAT with government fees included. From there, its Business Compliance and Full Management tiers fold in a dedicated accountant, bookkeeping, year-end accounts, a Xero subscription, and ongoing accounting, plus access to specialist services like VAT filing, payroll, and R&D tax credits.
The distinction matters for your decision:
- Choose an essentials provider like LTD Companies if you want a low-cost setup and will handle or add accounting on your own terms.
- Choose Sleek if you want formation, accounting, tax and advisory under one roof, so nothing is left for you to chase separately.
In short, LTD Companies gets you incorporated affordably and can scale up when you are ready, while Sleek is built for founders who want to be looked after completely from the start.
Formation-only vs formation plus accounting
The biggest decision is not which agent is cheapest, but whether you want formation only or formation with ongoing support. This shapes your real cost across the first year.
A pure formation, through any of the agents above, registers your company and hands you the documents. You then arrange accounting separately, which typically adds £840 to £1,800 a year.
A managed route folds that in. With Sleek, a dedicated accountant, bookkeeping and your year-end filings are handled from the outset, so there is no second supplier to source.
For a company that will not trade for several months, a cheap formation is hard to beat on entry price. For a company trading immediately, a managed route avoids a second search. If you are weighing up your wider plan first, our startup business plan template helps you map the costs.
What you’ll pay, including Companies House fees
Every UK company pays the same Companies House fees regardless of which provider you choose, so these are unavoidable and worth budgeting for separately.
The current digital fees, effective 1 February 2026, are set by Companies House and confirmed on GOV.UK.
Companies House fee | Digital | Paper |
Incorporation | £100 | £124 |
Confirmation statement (annual) | £50 | £110 |
Voluntary strike-off (DS01) | £13 | £18 |
On top of these, agents charge their own fee plus 20% VAT. A new company that incorporates online and later files its first confirmation statement will pay £150 to Companies House alone in year one, before any agent or accountant costs.
For the full picture of what late or missed filings can cost, see the Companies House and HMRC penalties guide.
Identity verification: what’s changed in 2026
Identity verification is now mandatory for directors and people with significant control, following changes under the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act. This reshapes how formation works in 2026.
New directors and PSCs must verify their identity at the point of appointment. Existing officeholders have a transition window running to 18 November 2026, after which enforcement begins.
Most formation providers are now Authorised Corporate Service Providers, meaning they can verify your identity and file on your behalf as part of the setup. This is one reason using a provider is often smoother than filing direct. Our guide to Companies House identity verification explains exactly what you need to provide.
Which provider is best for you?
The right provider comes down to your situation, not a single overall winner. Match your priority to the pick below.
- Choose LTD Companies if you want the cheapest essentials with the option to add accounting through the same provider later.
- Choose 1st Formations if you want a polished, document-rich one-off formation with a strong track record.
- Choose Rapid Formations if you want a low-cost all-inclusive package with VAT and PAYE registration included.
- Choose Tide if you want the cheapest setup and are happy to open a Tide business account alongside it.
- Choose Sleek if you plan to trade from day one and want formation plus accounting, tax and advisory fully managed.
If you are deciding between a budget agent and a full-service provider, the Sleek vs 1st Formations comparison breaks down the two approaches in detail.
How Sleek helps with company formation
Sleek forms your company end to end and gives you a dedicated UK accountant from day one, so you skip the separate hunt for an accountant after incorporation. Government fees are included in every package, with no hidden upsells.
For founders planning to trade immediately, that fully managed setup, covering formation, accounting, tax and advisory, is where Sleek earns its place alongside the cheaper essentials providers.
Disclaimer: The preceding information is not legal advice. This content is aimed to provide general guidance. For more formal or legal advice, contact Sleek directly.
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FAQs on best company formation services UK
Is it cheaper to form a company directly with Companies House?
Marginally, but rarely worth it. Filing direct costs £100, while Tide forms your company for around £14.99 by absorbing most of the fee, and agents like 1st Formations charge a few pounds on top. For very little extra you gain error-checking, identity verification and a full document pack, which reduces the risk of rejection.
Do company formation prices include the Companies House fee?
Sometimes. Tide and Sleek include the £100 Companies House fee in their package price. Most agents quote an agent fee separately, then add the £100 fee plus 20% VAT on the agent portion. Always check whether a headline price is all-in or agent-fee-only before comparing two providers.
How long does UK company formation take?
Usually the same day or within 24 hours. Most digital formations are submitted to Companies House and approved within 3 to 24 hours. Same-day processing is standard with some providers and a paid add-on with others. Identity verification must be completed before incorporation can be confirmed.
What is the difference between a formation agent and a full-service provider?
A formation agent registers your company and provides the documents, then steps back. A full-service provider like Sleek registers the company and continues with bookkeeping, accounts, tax, VAT and payroll. Agents suit one-off setups; full-service suits founders trading from day one who want ongoing support.
Can I switch to an accountant after forming my company elsewhere?
Yes. You can incorporate through any provider and bring in an accountant later. Sleek can take over at any point, handle the data transfer, and register as your tax agent with HMRC. There is no need to restructure or re-file your company to do this.
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Do non-UK residents pay more to form a UK company?
Often, yes. Non-resident packages cost more because they bundle a registered UK address, banking referrals and mail forwarding that residents may not need. Expect non-resident packages to start around £200 plus the £100 Companies House fee, depending on the provider and services included.
Are cheap company formation services reliable?
Generally yes, if the provider is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider. LTD Companies, Tide, 1st Formations and Rapid Formations all hold ACSP status. A low price does not mean low quality; it usually means fewer bundled extras. The risk is paying for add-ons later that a higher tier would have included.
