How Long Does it Take to Register a Limited Company?

In the UK, depending on how and when you apply, your new company can be registered with Companies House on the same day, even within as little as 3 hours. If you choose to use our company formation service, we will submit your order and provide your Certificate of Incorporation and a Company Registration Number within 3 to 24 hours. This is made possible with our same-day registration service and the use of electronic company registration technology. In this article, we will explain everything you need to know about how long it takes to register a limited company in the UK, the different methods you can use, what can cause delays, and the information you will need to apply.

How can I register a limited company in the UK?

To register a company with the official registrar of companies, Companies House, there are two main methods:

• Use a company formation agent – can register your company within 3 hours
• Apply through the Companies House website – will typically register your company within 24 – 48 hours.

How you choose to register your company will largely depend on the urgency of your matter, whether you want to handle the process on your own or have it done for you, and whether you require additional business services. Some company formation agents, such as Uniwide Formations, provide a range of other business services in addition to company registration that many businesses use to handle aspects of their administration, as we explain below.

What is a company formation agent?

A company formation agent is a third-party service provider that specialises in handling the complete process of company registration with Companies House on behalf of applicants. As a company formation agent, Uniwide Formations offers a range of additional business services to make running your company as simple and efficient as possible. These services include:

• Same-day company formation
• Provision of an online client portal to set up new companies, import existing companies and manage them online.
• Company name checks
• Identity verification
• Company secretarial services, including filing documents
• Registered address service, and
• Document services

How long will it take to register a limited company if I use a company formation agent?

Using our fast company incorporation service, we can submit your company registration order and provide your Certificate of Incorporation and a Company Registration Number in as little as 3 hours. To ensure that your company registration is completed on the same day, it is important to ensure that:

• Your company registration order is placed on our system on a normal working day in the UK, i.e. Monday to Friday.
• Your order is submitted before our Same Day cutoff time of 1:30 pm UK time.
• You pass our identity verification checks.

Because we handle your identity verification checks, we will do all we can to make sure that this is completed as quickly as possible. If there are any complications in verifying your identity, we will resolve them promptly. 

How long will it take to register a limited company if I apply through Companies House?

If you choose to register your limited company through the Companies House website, they will typically complete the process within 24 to 48 hours. This assumes that you submit your application on a weekday. It may take longer to process your application (i.e. 3 to 5 days) if there are problems with your application. This may occur if there are issues with verifying your identity or with the information you provide.

It can take longer to register a company through Companies House if you send a postal application. If you apply by post, Companies House advise that your company registration may take as much as 8 to 10 working days to complete.

Comparing company registration times

The following summarises the difference in company registration processing times and the key considerations for Uniwide Formations and Companies House:

	Uniwide Formations	Companies House
Time to process application	Between 3 and 24 hours	Online: 24 to 48 hours Post: 8 to 10 working days
Methods available	Online only	Online, post or third-party software
Key considerations	For same-day applications, orders must be submitted before the 1.30 pm cutoff on a normal working day. ID verification checks must be passed successfully.	Assumes that the information provided is correct and the fee paid ID verification checks must be passed successfully

How can I speed up the process of registering a limited company in the UK?

The fastest way to register a company in the UK is by using the services of a company formation agent such as Uniwide Formations. Our Same Day service guarantees that we will get your application to Companies House in time for them to process your company application that same day. In order to provide the fastest possible service (i.e. our Same Day registration service), it is important to ensure that:

• We have been supplied with all of the information needed by the cutoff time of 1.30 pm. If you miss this deadline, then we can refund the charge for this service upon request.
• There are no errors or missing details in the information you provide us
• Your identity is verified successfully – if you need to provide additional information, please ensure this is done as soon as possible.

Please note: If Companies House process your application that day but rejects it because of any errors or mistakes, and therefore, cannot register your company, this will still count as the application being processed on that same day. One way to avoid any delays or complications is to request that we complete a “Pre-Submission Review” on your behalf. 

What is a “Pre-Submission Review”?

As mentioned above, one of the best ways to avoid any delays with your company registration is to request that we complete a “Pre-Submission Review” on your behalf. This check will be carried out by a member of our specialist team who has the experience to quickly spot any issues that may require attention. If any errors or problems are found, we will ensure that these are promptly resolved. By taking this approach, you can be assured of the fastest possible turnaround of your company registration application.

A pre-submission review will pick up problems with spelling, company names, missing information, company addresses, and company director information. If amendments are needed, we will let you know immediately, allowing the necessary changes to be made.

When is the best time to register a limited company?

If you wish to use our same-day company registration service, it is advisable to ensure that your order is submitted and the identity verification process is successfully completed in the morning. Here are the key points to consider:

• Our same-day service cutoff is 1.30 pm, however, by completing your order and ID checks earlier, you can ensure that if any issues arise, they can be resolved in good time. 
• If you miss the 1.30 pm cutoff but submit your order to us by 5.30 pm, we will place it on the priority list for the next day. 

Submitting applications to Companies House during weekends or public holidays will also lead to delays in your registration being processed.

What factors may delay the registration of my company?

Your company registration may be delayed if:

• The information you provide is missing or incorrect. 
• You have used a company name that is the same or too similar to another, or you have not met the company name rules
• You submit your application outside of normal business hours
• You don’t make the necessary payment 
• Your identity cannot be verified successfully

To avoid any of these situations from occurring, we provide a pre-submission check service whereby a member of our expert team will review your application. If they spot a problem, for example, if the name does not meet the requirements, you will be informed so that the necessary changes can be promptly made before submission.

What information do I need to register a company?

To register a company in the UK, you must provide the following information:

• Company Name – we provide a free name search tool to check if your preferred company name is available.
• Registered Office Address
• Service address
• Business Activity type – i.e. SIC code (Standard Industrial Classification), which describes and classifies business activities
• Details of directors and company secretary 
• Shareholder Details, and
• Details of persons with significant control (PSCs)

In addition, you will also need to provide proof of identity and address in order to meet the “Know Your Customer” (KYC) requirements. 

Final words

As we have outlined in this article, it is possible to register a company through a company formation agent or through Companies House. Depending on which method you choose, it can take anywhere from 3 hours to several days to register a company in the UK. The key to ensuring that your application for company registration is processed without delay is submitting a complete application that is free of errors and meets the requirements defined by Companies House.