Ready made company cost in the UK
There is no single price for a UK shelf company. Here is what the quotation is made of, and what it costs to keep the company afterwards.
What you are paying for
A ready made company costs more than a new registration because someone has already formed it and kept it compliant. The price reflects three things: the work of forming and maintaining the company, its age, and the transfer service that puts it into your name correctly.
We quote on request because a six-month-old company and a ten-year-old company are very different products. You always receive a fixed figure in writing before paying.
The four price drivers
- Age. Every year a company sits on the shelf, its confirmation statement and dormant accounts have been filed. Older companies are scarcer and cost more.
- Name. Keeping the existing name is cheapest. A change of name adds a small filing fee and a resolution.
- Extras. VAT registration, a registered office, a company secretary or certified and apostilled documents.
- Speed. Same-day filing services at Companies House cost more than standard processing.
One-off costs at transfer
- The company itself and the transfer service
- Stamp duty of 0.5% on the price paid for the shares, where the consideration is over £1,000, paid to HMRC by the buyer
- Change of name, if you want one
- Certified copies or apostilles, if a bank or overseas authority needs them
Annual running costs to budget for
- Registered office address, if you do not have your own UK address
- Confirmation statement fee payable to Companies House each year
- Annual accounts, and a Corporation Tax return once the company is trading
- Bookkeeping, payroll and VAT returns, depending on activity
- Identity verification for each director and person with significant control, which is free directly with Companies House or charged by an authorised agent
Shelf company or new company on cost alone?
If price is the only factor and you are in no hurry, a new incorporation is cheaper. A shelf company earns its price when you need an entity today, or when the incorporation date matters. Our comparison guide covers this in detail.
Get an exact figure
Tell us the age you need and any extras, and we will send a fixed written quotation for UK ready made companies. It is free and without obligation.
This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules differ by country and change over time.
Ready to take ownership of your company?
Tell us the jurisdiction, age and timeline you need. We reply with current availability and a written quotation.