Do I have to visit the UK to register my new UK company?
No. Mint Formations makes it easy for you to
register a company
. You can officially register your UK limited (or
LLP
or
LPB
) company from wherever you live in the world, and you don't have to be a UK citizen or resident to incorporate your new UK business.
You can complete the entire registration process online by following our simple four-step process.
What are the basic requirements for an overseas resident to register a UK company?
Your company should have one director and one shareholder aged over 16. The same person can be both a director and a shareholder. The company should also have a
UK registered office address
(included with our international packages). These are the only basic requirements for an overseas resident to register a UK company.
Do I need a solicitor or accountant to register a company?
You can
register a company
yourself by using our simple and secure online registration system — you do not need a solicitor or accountant. Our prices start from just £9.99 and you can save as much as £400 in solicitor and accountant fees by working with Mint Formations.
How does the process of company registration work?
We can help register your UK company quickly and easily from wherever you are using our online company registration system. You don’t need to sign any paperwork or even be physically present. The registration process is entirely online and you can also get help from our live chat support agents at any time during the registration.
What if I make a mistake?
If you make a mistake after submitting your application, don’t worry! Any mistake could be fixed and, in most cases, it won’t cost you to make corrections. Our support team is here to help you make changes following your company formation.
However, it can be a time-consuming process, and your submission may be rejected if there are mistakes. We advise our customers to double-check their application before submission to ensure there are no obstacles to you forming your company and starting trading. To reduce the risk of mistakes, our international package comes with a pre-submission review, where our experts will manually review your application for any errors and correct them before submitting it to Companies House.
I’m not sure about something. Can I speak to one of your staff?
Of course! You can call us at any time on 020 7112 8684 or chat with us online.
How do I place an order?
Getting started couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is:
-
Choose a company name
-
Select a package
-
Choose any add-ons and complete payment
-
Enter your company registration details and submit
How long will it take to complete the whole process?
Filling in your application takes a matter of minutes, but getting your company registered could take anywhere between three and 48 hours. This completely depends on how busy Companies House is on any given day. Most companies are formed the same day, but if it’s a particularly busy day, it could take up to 48 hours.
Want guaranteed same-day formation? Select our fast-track service and submit your application before 14:00 GMT to register your company today (working days only).
What address should I use to register my new company?
All companies are legally required to have a
registered address in the UK
. This must be a physical address in the UK, not a post box, and is where all official communication will be sent. Your company address will be publicly available for anyone to view, which is why many customers opt to use our prestigious London address as their registered office address.
Is it possible to register a limited company without revealing my home address?
Companies House requires all directors to supply two addresses: a residential (home) address, which is kept private, and a business (service) address, which is accessible via the public records on the Companies House website. You can choose to use your home address as your service address, but this will be available to the public. If you want to keep your home address off the public record but don’t have an alternative address, you can opt for our business address service, either on its own or as part of our Privacy, Premium, All-Inclusive and International company formation packages.
Do I need to register my company for VAT?
Unless your company’s annual turnover exceeds (or is expected to exceed) the VAT threshold of £85,000, you do not need to register your business for VAT. If your turnover does not exceed this amount, registering for VAT is entirely optional. Some businesses choose to do this for various reasons, including to improve their credibility and reach a wider client base.
What are the benefits of registering for VAT?
-
Having a VAT-registered company increases trust among suppliers and customers and enhances your credibility
-
VAT registration gives an impression of a well-established company. This is particularly useful for new businesses
-
VAT-registered companies can reclaim VAT on purchases
-
VAT-registered companies can charge VAT on products or services
We can help you register your business for VAT. The entire process typically takes between 10 and 14 days.
Do I need to sign any paperwork for company registration?
No. Our company formation service is 100% online and there is no need to supply any documentation or signatures. Just follow our simple step-by-step process to register your business.
Can you help setup my business email account?
Now that you are a business owner, you don't want to use a generic Yahoo or Gmail email address. While perfect for your personal account, your business needs something more professional. We’ll set up a business email account so you can increase your credibility and take your communication with customers and clients to the next level. You can select this option during checkout as a standalone service, or it’s available as part of our various company formation packages.
What documents will I get via email after my company registration?
Once your new company is registered by Companies House, you will receive an email containing:
-
Your certificate of incorporation
-
Memorandum and articles of association
-
Share certificates for each shareholder
-
A company register with first entries
I am not a UK resident. Can you refer me for a merchant account?
Yes, we can refer you to Worldpay payment gateway for a merchant account. However, please note that you need a UK business bank account to open a merchant account.
What are the business banking options for non-UK residents?
Even though many high street banks refuse business bank accounts for companies with overseas resident directors, we have negotiated special arrangements with select banking partners to open your business bank account once you register a limited company. We offer two types of business accounts: a virtual bank account and a high street bank account. Depending upon your country of residence, requirements and your budget, we can advise on the right banking option for you.
Our service includes an initial consultation, introduction and help setting up your UK bank account. We will collect your information and apply on your behalf. You must buy our international premium package with a business bank account to receive this service.
Note: This offer is available only for Mint customers who register their new company using Mint Formations. There may be additional charges applicable if the chosen bank wants to do due diligence and conduct screening checks.
Can I register a dormant company?
There is no special provision to register a dormant company at Companies House. However, you can make it dormant by informing HMRC that you have not started trading and have no plans of doing so in the immediate future. You can do this only once you’ve received your Unique Tax Reference (UTR number). If you do not have a UTR number, this will be sent to your registered office address normally around three to four weeks after you’ve registered your new company.
When will I get my authentication code?
You will receive your authentication code as soon as your company is approved by Companies House. This will be available for you to view in your online company manager portal.
What are your annual renewal charges?
The registration fee is a one-time cost, so you only need to pay once. However, our address services are priced annually — if you opt for these, you can choose to renew them. Our package price covers your entire first year. Our other services are renewable for the following costs:
-
Registered office service: £35 + VAT (for 12 months)
-
Director's address service: £24 + VAT (for 12 months per officer)
-
Business address service: £99 + VAT (for 12 months)
How is Mint different from other UK formation agencies?
There are many company formation agencies in the UK, and almost all offer similar services, prices, packages and timescales when it comes to registering your new UK company. So how are we different from other formation agencies? Most registration companies in the UK operate like a faceless corporate. We’re like the family-owned business in your neighbourhood that you’ve known for 20 years and trust. We have helped people start businesses from scratch and understand the anxiety that every business owner experiences when starting a new company. That’s why we take care of your company incorporation as if we were registering a business of our own. You’ll receive friendly and caring support whenever you need it — no question is too small or trivial, and we’re happy to answer every one with a smile. Most other agencies require you to do all the legwork, struggling to understand all the terms, rules, legislation and industry jargon. We keep it simple. If you want to do it yourself, great — but we’ll still be there every step of the way to guide you through it. Want to go completely hands-off? We’ll happily do it for you. Our friendly and personal touch and dedication to making your entrepreneurial journey easy are how we differ from other agencies. Want to see the Mint difference for yourself? Why not get a
free consultation with an accountant
? Give us a try and you’ll quickly see why we stand apart from the rest.
How do our prices compare to other companies?
Our prices are fair, competitive and, like for like, the best in the industry. The company registration packages that we have carefully put together provide fantastic value for money. We not only offer the best prices, but we have also negotiated great deals with our partners, which offer products and services at a greatly reduced price exclusively for Mint customers.
We continually strive to improve the services we offer our customers, but one thing that we never do is deliberately entice you with a low price and shock you with extras at a later stage.
How does your free business phone number work?
Our International company formation package gives you a free business phone number, offered exclusively to Mint Formations customers by our affiliate partner. A business phone number has multiple benefits. You can separate your personal calls from your business calls and improve your credibility — no need to hand out your mobile number or a local number to clients in another city or country. All calls will be forwarded to your chosen mobile or landline phone. When a customer or client rings your business number, you’ll receive an alert that it’s a business call. You can choose to answer the call, reject it or take a message. No office, contract or extra handsets needed! Your free business phone number includes call recording and an online portal for easy access to manage your call forwarding and access your voicemails on the go.
Never miss a business call — wherever you are — stay connected with your customers and offer a new level of sales and support assistance.
When will I be able to start trading?
As soon as your company is registered, we will send you an email containing PDFs of your formal documents. As soon as you get our confirmation email, you’re ready to start trading!
What are the points to remember when registering a UK limited company?
-
Your company name should end with “Limited” or “LTD”
-
A minimum of one director and one shareholder should be appointed (one person can be both)
-
The directors and shareholders can be any nationality and reside anywhere in the world
-
The new company’s registered office address should be in the UK (our international packages include a registered office address in central London)
-
All names and address of all appointments (directors or shareholders) should be submitted
-
The minimum share capital for a UK limited company is £0.01 — there is no upper limit
-
The minimum number of shares issued is one (one shareholder operating as director and owning the single share will own 100% of the company)
Can you help me step by step while I do the registration online?
Yes, our live agents are always available via live chat and telephone to walk you through the entire process. We’ll take you through step by step, making the company formation process a breeze.
I am not a UK resident. Can you refer me for a business bank account with Barclays or Lloyds bank?
No. Barclays and Lloyds banks do not offer business bank accounts for non-UK resident directors, so we cannot refer you for an account with these banks. However, we do have arrangements with several providers so that you can open a UK business bank account.
