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Register your business in the UK
You'll need to register your business in the UK.
Sole traders
The easiest way to start a business in the UK is to become a 'sole trader'. This means that only you own the business and you can work alone or employ other people.
You will need to register for 'self-assessment' tax, which means you (or your accountant) calculate your own tax.
To become a sole trader you must:
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register for self-assessment with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
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trade under your own name or choose a business name
Limited companies
You can set up a private limited company to run your business in the UK. You must appoint people to run the company (called 'directors') and register (or 'incorporate') it with Companies House.
As a director of the company, you are also an employee. This means that personal income and business income are separate when it comes to paying tax.
To set up a limited company you need to:
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have a name and address for the company
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register with Companies House
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have at least 1 director
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have at least 1 shareholder
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have articles of association (agreed rules about running the company)
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set up your company for Corporation Tax
Business partnerships
In a partnership, you and your partner (or partners) personally share responsibility for your business.
With a business partnership you need to:
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register for self-assessment tax
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name your business according to certain rules
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run the business as an individual
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share profits between partners
Register as an overseas company
Last updated: 10 May 2019
You must register an overseas company with Companies House if you want to set up a place of business in the UK.
Visit GOV.UK for information on registering as an overseas company, including:
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who must register
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how to register
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where to get support
Register your company
Use this service to register your company with Companies House. You will be registered for Corporation Tax at the same time.
There’s a different way to register for Corporation Tax if you’ve already registered with Companies House.
You’ll get a ‘certificate of incorporation’. This confirms the company legally exists and shows the company number and date of formation.
You’ll need at least 3 pieces of personal information about yourself and your shareholders or guarantors, for example:
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town of birth
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mother’s maiden name
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father’s first name
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telephone number
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national insurance number
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passport number
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If you do not want to use ‘limited’ in your company name you must register by post.
You can also use this service to:
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register for PAYE to tell HMRC you’re employing staff (including yourself if you’re the only director)
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continue an application if you’ve already started registering